An L-1 Visa, an intracompany transferee visa, allows managers, executives and “specialized knowledge” employees who work outside the United States for a company that has an affiliated entity inside the U.S. to come to the U.S. and perform services for that entity. It is a nonimmigrant visa, meaning it expires eventually and is not equivalent to permanent residence or a green card. L-1 Visa holders have the right to work legally in the U.S. for up to 3 years, with the possibility of 2 two-year extensions. One of the added benefits is that the holder’s spouse or minor children may also obtain visas to the U.S. If you are a foreign national working for a multinational United States company, please read on, then contact an experienced work authorization permit lawyer in Milwaukee, WI to learn what you should know about an L-1 Visa in Wisconsin.
Who qualifies for an L-1 Visa in Wisconsin?
In order to qualify, the sponsoring company must have employed the applicant outside the United States for a minimum of one continuous year out of the past three years and is now transferring him or her to the U.S. to work as a manager, executive or specialized knowledge worker. The United States company to which the sponsoring company is transferring the applicant must be a parent, branch, subsidiary, affiliate or joint venture parent of the non-U.S. employer.
The applicant must meet one of the following criteria in order to qualify for an L-1 Visa:
- Manager: Someone who manages all or part of the organization, supervises and controls others, hires and terminates personnel and has the authority to make day-to-day decisions.
- Executive: Someone whose primary role is to direct the management of the organization, set goals or policies, possesses extensive decision-making authority and receives only general supervision or direction from higher-level authorities.
- Specialized knowledge worker: An employee with knowledge related to the company, including its products, services, research, equipment, techniques, management or other interests and its application in international markets, or advanced knowledge of the company processes and procedures. This knowledge must not be widely held throughout the industry or even within the company.
You would be well advised to reach out to a skilled family immigration lawyer in Milwaukee, WI if you fit any of the above descriptions. Our firm will assist you in preparing and filing the correct paperwork as prescribed by United States immigration law. Please give us a call today, so we can handle the legal work.
Contact our experienced Wisconsin firm
John Sesini is an experienced immigration attorney with offices in Green Bay and Milwaukee Wisconsin. Our firm understands what is at stake when it comes to immigration law matters, which is why if you have any questions, you should not hesitate to contact the Sesini Law Group, S.C., and schedule your initial consultation with our firm today.