L1 Visa process duration

[FirasAloui 0]

Hi all,

First I apologize if this question has been answered already. I did some research but couldn't find enough details about the process.

My employer just started the process of L1 sponsorship and I was wondering what are the steps that the application will go through and how long i should expect it to take.

Thanks in advance.

[BlueSteel 3]

This is the stuff required for an L1 packet.

U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION

NAFTA L-1 Intra Company Transferee Eligibility Checklist

& Guidelines for Presentation of L-1 Petitions to CBP

This list is intended to be used as a guide to assist Canadian L-1 intracompany transferees and their prospective U.S. employers in preparing applications for NAFTA L-1 admission. The information below will assist you to gather and organize documents and information to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that an individual Canadian worker meets the requirements for L-1 admission into the United States. The suggested evidence listed herein should not be considered all-inclusive, nor is all listed documentation required for approval of your application. CBP reserves the right to make a final decision regarding your admission after all documents and facts are considered. For more detailed information regarding L-1 eligibility criteria, refer to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations at 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(l).

NOTE: Despite meeting all criteria for L-1 eligibility, CBP may still find L-1 applicants inadmissible pursuant to INA § 212(a) for other reasons (e.g. certain criminal convictions, fraud/misrepresentation, etc.). Applicants who are deemed inadmissible must obtain I-192 and/or I-212 waivers prior to L-1 admission.

REQUIRED FORMS, FEES AND COMPANY LETTER OF SUPPORT

□ Form I-129 with L supplement, in duplicate original (if filing an individual worker petition); or

□ Form I-129S in triplicate (if filing for admission under an approved blanket L-1 petition)

□ Form G-28 (if represented by an attorney)

□ Fees: $325 petition fee (plus $500 fee if petition is for applicant’s first-time L-1 status with the U.S. company) – payable via credit card at U.S. Port of Entry

□ Signed offer of employment letter from U.S. entity on company letterhead, describing corporate relationship between U.S. and foreign companies; applicant’s education and work experience; applicant’s prior employment abroad for foreign company in executive, managerial or specialized knowledge role; and job description for proposed U.S. position with detailed description of executive, managerial or specialized knowledge duties.

EVIDENCE OF QUALIFYING CORPORATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN U.S. AND FOREIGN COMPANY

NOTE: If the applicant seeks admission pursuant to a blanket L-1 petition, note that the qualifying relationship requirement would have been established already in the Blanket I-129 (LZ) petition, and would not have to be re-established in the I-129S petition.

□ Share register, share certificates, annual report(s), U.S. or foreign corporate tax return(s), corporate affidavits, joint venture agreements, and/or other information showing common corporate relationship/ownership of U.S. and foreign company

□ (Optional) Company organizational chart, showing the relationship between U.S. and foreign company.

DOCUMENTS FROM FOREIGN COMPANY

□ Evidence that the foreign company will be doing business for the duration of L-1 admission, such as customer invoices, receipts, and/or contracts with customers, annual reports, tax returns, business licenses, advertising materials, photos of office premises, lease agreement, bank statements, etc.

□ If the applicant’s foreign position was managerial, include a foreign company organizational chart, showing the applicant’s position in the hierarchy of the foreign entity.

DOCUMENTS FROM U.S. COMPANY

□ Evidence that the U.S. company will be doing business for the duration of L-1 admission, such as customer invoices, receipts, and/or contracts with customers, annual reports, tax returns, business licenses, advertising materials, photos of office premises, lease agreement, bank statements, etc.

□ If the applicant’s U.S. position will be managerial, include a U.S. company organizational chart, showing the applicant’s position in the hierarchy of the U.S. entity.

□ If the U.S. company is a “new office” (open for less than one year), include proof of setup of U.S. office, and projected ability of U.S. company to support L-1 position and pay L-1 salary within one year.

EVIDENCE OF APPLICANT’S INDIVIDUAL ELIGIBILITY FOR L-1 ADMISSION

□ Proof of Canadian citizenship in the form of one of the following:

□ Canadian passport; or

□ Trusted Traveler Card (NEXUS, SENTRI, Global Entry or FAST); or

□ Enhanced Driver’s License (issued by a Canadian province)

□ Evidence that applicant has at least 12 continuous months of full-time employment abroad with a the foreign company within the three years preceding application for admission into the United States, such as:

□ Year-End Earnings Statement (Form T-4 (Canada), W-2 (U.S.), or other comparable foreign earnings document); or

□ Evidence of salary payment for a continuous 12-month period

□ Only for L-1B blanket petitions, degree certificate evidencing applicant’s completion of a bachelor’s or higher degree related to U.S. position

DOCUMENTS FOR L-2 DEPENDENT APPLICANTS (IF APPLICABLE)

□ Marriage certificate

□ Long-form birth certificate showing parents’ names

□ Adoption record or other proof of parent-child relationship, if applicable

□ L-2 visa for non-Canadian dependent(s), if applicable

Hope that helps.

Edited November 11, 2015 by BlueSteel

[BlueSteel 3]

Oh and each document needs to be in duplicate and original. No photo copies.

[Boiler 45,486]

4 to 6 weeks seems normal, but the Company Lawyer is the one to ask.