Am I eligible for a L2 visa??

[Sunshiine 1]

Hi there!

So I am jumping straight to it

My boyfriend might be getting a job transfer to America on a L1 visa, as an Assistant Manager. Now the trouble is to get me over to come with him.

My boyfriend is not an American citizen (he holds a Dutch passport, and so do I), hence would he (or his work) be able to request a L2 visa for me, despite him not being an American citizen?

We would of course need to marry for me to be eligible for a L2 visa, which we would be planning to do. But now, my boyfriend's parents are convinced that the company will not be willing to take on my boyfriend for the position as they would then also need to arrange and pay for my visa. Would this really be true?

Thanks to anyone who can help me with these questions

Edited December 4, 2013 by Florentine

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

No American gets a visa at all, so of course if he is going for L1 he is not a US Citizen.

An L2 is for a spouse of dependent of a L1 visa holder. So you, as a girlfriend, cannot get a L2. If you got married, you could get one.

He should ask his employer if the company would arrange a dependent visa.

[JayJayH 546]

If you marry your boyfriend, and his L-1 is approved, then yes, you are eligible for an L-2 visa.

As far as the company "not wanting to" hire your boyfriend - I can't answer that.

[RhettVoe 282]

Hard to imagine a company so cheap that it would risk losing a good employee over $200 or $300 and an extra air fare.

[Sunshiine 1]

Hard to imagine a company so cheap that it would risk losing a good employee over $200 or $300 and an extra air fare.

Wow, So a L2 visa would only cost the company $200-300? We didn't imagine it would cost them so little to arrange this!

Haha, Yes Harpa, that does make sense, kind of a stupid question to ask.

Maybe another stupid question, is the company only able to arrange a L2 visa for me, or would that be something I would be able to arrange myself along with my then-to-be-husband once we are in America once he has the L1 visa? Or would this process take much longer rather than letting the company take care of it?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You don't go to America without the visa. Get the visa first.

[Sunshiine 1]

Once my boyfriend gets his L1 visa, would we be able to get my L2 visa ourselves, or does this have to be arranged by the company?

Thanks all for replying so quickly!!