Green card

Nonimmigrant visa

Multinational Executives and Managers

Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge

Corporate executives, High-level managers, Business owners

Specialized knowledge employees

• The U.S. job must be in an executive or managerial capacity.

• You must have been employed by a foreign branch, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of the U.S. sponsor.

• You must have worked for the foreign company for at least one year within the three years preceding the visa application.

• The sponsoring company must have been operating in the U.S. for at least one year.

• The U.S. position must require specialized knowledge (expertise that is distinct, advanced, and critical to the employer's operations).

• The U.S. sponsor must belong to a multinational group with a corporate presence in the U.S. and at least one other country.

• You must have been employed abroad as a manager, executive, or specialized knowledge worker by an entity of the multinational group for at least one year within the three years immediately preceding the visa application.

• The U.S. company must submit a detailed business plan, secure a physical location, and provide evidence of financial capability to support operations.

• Provides complete flexibility to work, live, and study in the U.S.

• No labor certification is required, simplifying the application process.

• Offers the fastest pathway to a green card among EB categories.

• The application process closely mirrors the L-1A visa process and uses similar documentation.

• Direct path to citizenship after 5 years.

• Enables international companies to establish a new U.S. office and transfer employees with specialized technical or proprietary knowledge.

• Does not require a prior track record of business operations in the U.S.

• Supports global business expansion by providing a pathway to the U.S. market.

• Facilitates a smooth transition to permanent residency.

• Focuses on the employee's role within the company rather than their overall career accomplishments.

• Requires sponsorship and a specific job offer from a U.S. company with a qualifying relationship to the foreign company.

• Limited to multinational executives and managers, significantly restricting eligibility.

• Offers fewer green card pathways compared to the L-1A.

• Requires at least 1 year of prior employment within the same corporate group, making it unsuitable for new hires.

• The initial visa is limited to one year and requires renewal with evidence of business progress.

• Maximum renewals are capped at 5 years.

• Requires extensive documentation, including a detailed business plan, proof of funding, and evidence of a physical location.

• Employment is limited to the same corporate group, with no options to switch employers.

Required

Required

Permanent residency

1 year (initial visa)

Every 10 years

2-year increments¹

10-18 months¹

2-6 months

45 business days²

15 business days

Yes

Yes

¹Applicants from India, China, or Mexico may experience longer wait times.

²Available only for the first stage of the process, while the second stage typically takes an additional 9-18 months.

¹Up to a total of 5 years in L-1B status.