Employment opportunities are often how foreign nationals legally enter the United States. People with advanced degrees, such as physicians and technology specialists, may qualify for competitive visas. Many times, employees seeking work visas must take the risk of accepting a job with a new business.
Professionals who have already established themselves with their employers may not want to give up their seniority or benefits. If their company also operates locations in the United States or intends to do so in the near future, they may be able to keep their job and secure a work visa.
Transfer visas are available
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers L visas in cases where companies with international reach want to bring foreign workers to the United States. An L-1A visa may allow a manager or executive to enter the United States to accept a job domestically.
The L-1B visa program allows experienced workers with information about company operations to work for their employer in the United States, even though they may not hold a managerial or executive position. They do not need to help run the business if they have experience with specific company practices.
An L visa may last for one year in cases involving a new presence in the company or up to three years if the company already has an established presence. L visas are typically eligible for renewal, although there are limitations on the maximum stay allowed in an intracompany transfer scenario.
Working with an employment immigration attorney can help foreign professionals secure the permission they need to work domestically. L visas are often a viable option for those who do not want to leave their current employers to seek immigration opportunities.