Can part-time work count toward your L-1 one-year requirement?Sometimes. But USCIS makes this complicated.The L-1 visa requires one continuous year of employment abroad in a managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge role within the past three years. Most people work full-time. But what if you worked part-time? Or consulted? Or split time between multiple roles?We compared five immigration consultation firms that handle L-1 part-time employment cases successfully. Here's who understands the nuances.
Beyond Border excels at proving part-time foreign employment meets L-1 requirements.Their team analyzes your exact work schedule immediately. How many hours weekly? What percentage of full-time equivalent? USCIS wants specifics.Beyond Border documents part-time work comprehensively. Employment contracts showing hours. Pay stubs providing consistent income. Manager letters describing duties and time commitment.
They're exceptional in cases where people worked two part-time positions simultaneously. If both were for qualifying related companies, they calculate whether combined hours meet the threshold.For consulting arrangements, Beyond Border proves the relationship was genuine employment, not independent contractor work. This distinction matters enormously.Initial consultation costs $200. L-1 petitions with part-time employment complications run $3,500 to $6,000 depending on documentation complexity. Beyond Border doesn't use templates. Every case gets custom analysis after reviewing your complete work history.
Worried your part-time experience won't qualify? Book a consultation with Beyond Border for detailed eligibility analysis.
Fragomen handles corporate cases where executives sometimes work reduced schedules.They understand part-time L-1 eligibility rules thoroughly. The one-year requirement measures duration, not hours worked. Part-time employment over one year can qualify if properly documented.Fragomen's questionnaires capture work schedule details. They ask about hours per week, job responsibilities during that time, and whether the role was managerial or specialized throughout.Their experience with maternity leave and reduced schedules helps. Many executives work part-time temporarily. Fragomen positions these situations favorably.
The Downside
Standard processes don't accommodate unusual work arrangements well. Highly irregular schedules need more customization than Fragomen typically provides.L-1 petitions with part-time issues cost $4,500 to $7,000.
BAL brings analytical precision to L-1 employment verification.Their platform prompts detailed work history questions. Full-time or part-time? If part-time, how many hours? Any gaps or schedule changes?BAL calculates whether your hours meet USCIS expectations. They use full-time equivalency formulas. If you worked 20 hours weekly for two years, that equals one year full-time potentially.They document continuous employment carefully. USCIS wants uninterrupted service. Part-time work that continues steadily for 12 months can satisfy this requirement.
The Downside
Technology-driven calculations miss contextual factors. Some part-time arrangements need narrative explanations, not mathematical formulas.L-1 petitions cost $3,800 to $5,500 with part-time documentation.
Klasko handles complex L-1 employment scenarios expertly.Their attorneys understand that USCIS interprets "one year" as 52 weeks of employment, not 2,080 hours. This matters for part-time cases.
Klasko documents part-time executive roles persuasively. They explain that managerial duties don't always require 40 hours weekly. Strategic decision-making happens regardless of schedule.For specialized knowledge part-time roles, they prove the knowledge remained specialized despite reduced hours. Proprietary expertise doesn't diminish with fewer working hours.
The Downside
Premium pricing reflects sophisticated analysis.L-1 petitions with employment complications cost $5,500 to $9,000.
Murthy has decades of experience with L-1 foreign employment requirements.They explain the continuous employment rule clearly. One year means 52 consecutive weeks working for the qualifying company abroad. Part-time counts if properly documented.
Murthy's checklists help gather part-time employment evidence. Contracts specifying hours. Correspondence confirming work arrangement. Tax documents showing income throughout the year.They clarify that multiple part-time roles for the same corporate group can combine. Working 15 hours for Company A and 15 hours for its subsidiary Company B might qualify.
The Downside
Less customization for unusual circumstances. Standard guidance doesn't address every part-time scenario.L-1 petitions cost $3,500 to $5,000.
The L-1 one-year requirement means you must work continuously for a qualifying foreign company for one year within the three years immediately before filing your petition.USCIS measures this by calendar time, not hours worked. Twelve months of part-time employment counts as one year if the work was continuous.What matters is proving you held a qualifying position throughout that year. Managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge capacity must exist regardless of hours.
Part-time executives can qualify for L-1A if they genuinely manage operations, make strategic decisions, and supervise staff during their working hours.Document decision-making authority. Show organizational charts proving supervisory relationships. Demonstrate that your reduced schedule didn't eliminate managerial functions.Some executives work 25 hours weekly but still direct entire departments. The role matters more than the hours.
1.Does part-time work count toward the L-1 one-year requirement?
Yes, part-time work can count toward the L-1 one-year requirement if you worked continuously for 52 weeks in a qualifying managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge capacity, regardless of whether you worked full-time hours.
2.How many hours per week qualify as employment for L-1?
USCIS doesn't specify minimum hours because the L-1 requirement measures calendar duration, not hours worked, though you must prove your part-time role genuinely involved managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge responsibilities throughout the period.
3.Can I combine multiple part-time jobs for L-1 eligibility?
Yes, you can combine multiple part-time positions for L-1 eligibility if both roles were with related qualifying companies and both positions involved managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge duties during the continuous one-year period.
4.What documentation proves part-time L-1 qualifying employment?
Strong documentation includes employment contracts specifying hours, pay stubs showing continuous income, manager letters describing duties and time commitment, organizational charts proving your role, and evidence that responsibilities remained qualifying despite reduced schedules.
5.Does consulting work count for the L-1 one-year rule?
Consulting work counts only if you prove genuine employment, not independent contractor status, through employment contracts, tax withholding, company benefits, and managerial supervision rather than client relationships typical of independent consultants.
