L-1 Visa for Business Owners: Grow in the U.S. Market

key Takeaways:

• The L-1 visa lets founders transfer to a U.S. office—ideal if you’re asking what is L1 visa or how does L1 visa work
  
• You must meet L1 visa eligibility: 1 year abroad in a managerial role with a qualifying company.
  
• To learn how to get L1 visa, file Form I-129 and consider premium processing to cut L1 visa processing time
  
• L1 visa benefits include no lottery, no cap on how many L1 visas per year, and green card access.
  
• How long is L1 visa valid? L1A: up to 7 years, L1B: up to 5—with possible extensions.
  
• Beyond Border helps with L1 blanket visa, costs, and next steps like L1 to H1B or green card.

Hey there, startup heroes! Have you ever daydreamed about launching your startup in the U.S.?  You’re not alone – the U.S. market is a magnet for ambitious founders. You might even have heard terms like “startup visa US” or “founder visa USA” tossed around. The truth is, one of the most powerful “startup visas” in the U.S. toolkit is the L-1 visa so what is L1 visa It’s a ticket for founders and managers of an existing overseas company to open or run a U.S. branch. Sound complicated? This article summarises: Steps, requirements, and insider tips to use the L-1 visa to bring your startup stateside.

If you decide you’d rather have an expert guide you, our Beyond Border team is just a click away to help you explore Beyond Border

Who can apply for L-1 visa 

So, do you qualify? The rules sound strict but make sense how to get L1 visa. Here’s the short list:

‍Qualifying company relationship: Your U.S. branch (or new office) must be legally connected to your foreign startup – as a parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch. In plain words, your U.S. entity and your overseas company share ownership or control.‍

One-year employment: You (the founder/executive) must have worked for that foreign company for at least 12 continuous months in the last 3 years.  (So if you launched the company abroad at least a year ago and have been full-time, you’re good.)

Managerial role: When you apply, you must be coming to work in a managerial or executive capacity. That means making high-level decisions, managing budgets/teams, etc. It doesn’t count if your main job was entry-level coding or sales – it should be a leader role at the overseas office, and you’ll have a similar role in the U.S. branch.

If all that sounds like a headache, don’t panic – Beyond Border can answer your “Wait, what exactly qualifies?” questions. Simply reach out to us and we’ll clarify your situation.

‍What’s the timeline and cost?

Here’s the usual process in bite-sized steps of how much time L1 visa processing take

Prepare the L-1 petition: Your lawyer (or Beyond Border’s team) will gather documents about your companies (foreign and U.S.), your role, org charts, finances, etc. If you work with a tech-friendly team like Beyond Border, they’ll hustle to get your petition ready fast (we aim to draft and file within about 1 month of getting your documents).

File the Form I-129: USCIS   this  is the official USCIS form your employer files. At filing, you pay USCIS fees (which you can estimate using USCIS’s fee calculator). Typical government fees are a few hundred dollars (or more with premium processing).

Premium processing (optional):  You can pay an extra fee (~$2,500) for premium processing. This is like putting your case on the fast track – USCIS guarantees a decision in about 15 business days for most visas. (That’s roughly 3 weeks, count federal holidays and weekends.) We usually recommend premium processing if you need a quick answer

Get the visa stamp: Once USCIS approves the petition, you (the founder) will apply for an actual L-1 visa stamp at a U.S. consulate in your home country (if you’re outside the U.S.) or change status if you’re already in the U.S.

Arrive in the U.S.: With the visa stamp in hand, you can enter the U.S. as an L-1A manager. You’ll get an initial stay of up to 1 year if your U.S. office is brand new, or up to 3 years if it’s an existing branch. (Extensions can take you up to 7 years total)

Money talk:

‍So, how much does L1 visa cost .roughly, you should budget for lawyer or service fees in the range of $8,000–$10,000 USD for the whole L-1 visa process, exclusive of government filing fees. USCIS fees themselves vary (you pay per person, per application), but you can look them up on the USCIS site or use the USCIS fee calculator. Running the numbers, if you add a $2,500 premium fee plus government fees (~$700 for I-129, maybe more for visa stamp), you’re in the ballpark of $12K+ total. Remember that Beyond Border’s technology and experience can often shorten drafting time, and we stand by our 98% success rate on these case's.  It’s an investment in your future U.S. presence, and pro tip: a good petition that carefully documents your role can save money by avoiding RFE delays down the road.

L-1 visa benefits 

L-1A (Intracompany Transferee): This lets you move as a manager/executive without needing to invest in the U.S. business. There’s no “lottery” or annual cap (unlike the H1-B) – you can apply year-round and not worry about drawing names. If you already own or run a startup abroad and want to expand, L-1A is often easier than O-1 or E-2 unless you have extraordinary achievements (for O-1) or huge capital (for E-2). Plus, L-1A can later lead to an EB-1C green card (a great bonus).

Have more questions about which visa fits your situation? Just shout – our Beyond Border experts love guiding founders through these options. When you’re ready, let’s explore your specific case together at Beyond Border

L-1 Visa FAQs 

1. What is L1 visa and how does L1 visa work? L1 visa lets multinational companies transfer employees to their U.S. branch. It works when you’ve worked abroad with the company for at least a year and move to the U.S. in a managerial or specialized role.

2. What is L1 visa in USA and what is L1 visa means? In the U.S., the L1 visa means a temporary work permit for internal company transfers. It's used for managerial or highly skilled roles and supports global mobility within companies

3. How to get L1 visa and how much time L1 visa processing take? To get an L1 visa, your employer files a petition. Processing takes 1–5 months, or just 15 days with premium processing. Preparing clear documentation speeds it up.

4. Can L1 visa apply for green card and can L1 visa be converted to H1B? Yes, L1 visa holders especially L1A can apply for a green card. You can also convert L1 to H1B, but that requires a new petition and going through the H1B cap.

5. What are L1 visa benefits and is L1 visa easy to get? L1 visa benefits include no annual cap, quicker green card path, and spouse work rights. It’s easier to get than H1B if your company and role qualify.

6. What is L1 blanket visa and how many L1 visas per year? An L1 blanket visa lets large companies transfer multiple employees under one approval. There's no limit on how many L1 visas per year, making it more flexible than H1B.

7. How long does L1 visa take and how long is L1 visa valid? L1 visa approval usually takes 1–5 months. L1A is valid up to 7 years, and L1B up to 5 years, with extensions available.

8. How much does L1 visa cost and can L1 visa be extended? The base fee is $460, but total costs can reach $6,000. Yes, L1 visas can be extended—up to 7 years for L1A and 5 years for L1B.

9. How does Beyond Border help with the L1 visa and L1 blanket visa process? Beyond Border simplifies your L1 visa journey—from figuring out what is L1 visa in USA to getting your documentation ready for faster approvals. Whether you're applying for a regular L1 or an L1 blanket visa, our expert team helps you avoid delays, reduce errors, and boost your chances of success. We also guide you on how to get L1 visa extensions or explore green card options later.

Want even more detail or ready to get started?  Contact Beyond Border and we’ll break down your L-1A path step by step to expand your business in the U.S.