US Inadmissibility

It is possible for you to obtain a green card after having held an L-1 Visa. However, it’s important to note that L-1 Visas are nonimmigrant visas, which means they are intended for temporary stays in the US. In order to obtain a green card, you will typically need to go through a separate process. One potential pathway to a green card for individuals who have held an L-1 Visa is through the employment-based green card process. This process involves obtaining an employment-based immigrant visa, which is sponsored by an employer.

If you have held an L-1 Visa, you may be eligible to apply for an employment-based immigrant visa through a process called “dual intent,” which allows you to simultaneously hold a nonimmigrant visa (such as an L-1 Visa) and pursue a green card. It’s advisable to seek the guidance of an experienced immigration attorney to learn more about the specific requirements and steps involved in the process.

Premium processing is a service offered by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that allows you to expedite the processing of your immigration case. For an additional fee, you can request that your case be processed within 15 calendar days of receipt by the USCIS. This can be useful if you need a decision on your case as soon as possible, or if you need to meet a deadline for a specific purpose (such as obtaining a visa or starting a new job). The cost of premium processing for most petition types, including L-1 Visas, is $2,500 (as of Sept 2021).

It’s important to note that not all petition types are eligible for premium processing, and the USCIS may also suspend premium processing for certain petition types at its discretion. We advise you to check with the USCIS or a Motivus immigration attorney to determine whether premium processing is available for your specific petition type.

It is generally not possible to transfer an L-1 Visa to another company. L-1 Visas are employer-specific, which means they are tied to the employer that sponsored the employee’s visa. If an employee with an L-1 Visa leaves their current employer and begins working for a new company, they will typically need to obtain a new L-1 Visa through the new employer.

In order to obtain a new L-1 Visa through a new employer, the employee will need to go through the same process that they went through with their previous employer. This typically involves the new employer filing a petition with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the employee will need to meet the same eligibility requirements for an L-1 Visa that they did with their previous employer.

It’s important to note that the process of obtaining a new L-1 Visa can be complex, and it’s advisable to seek the guidance of a Motivus immigration attorney. They can provide you with more information about the specific requirements and steps involved in the process.