ANG L1 nonimmigrant visa classification ay nagpapahintulot sa U.S. employer na maglipat ng mga empleyado mula sa kaakibat na kumpanya sa ibang bansa papunta sa kumpanya sa U.S. Ito rin ay nagpapahintulot sa kumpanya sa ibang bansa na walang kaakibat na kumpanya sa U.S. na magpadala ng executive o manager sa U.S., o empleyadong may specialized knowledge tungkol sa operasyon at mga proseso ng organisasyon upang makapagpatayo ng kumpanya sa U.S. May dalawang klase ng L1 visa o intracompany transferee: (1) L1A visa para sa intracompany transferee na nagtatrabaho bilang manager o executive; at (2) L1B visa para sa intracompany transferee na may specialized knowledge sa kumpanya.
Ang empleyado ay masasabing nagtatrabaho bilang executive kung mayroon siyang kakayahang gumawa ng mga desisyon na may malawak na epekto sa kumpanya. Ang empleyado ay masasabing nagtatrabaho bilang manager kung siya ay may kakayahang mangasiwa at magkontrol ng trabaho ng mga empleyadong propesyonal, o kaya siya ay may kakayahang pamahalaan ang organisasyon, or isang departamento, subdivision o bahagi ng organisasyon. Ang empleyado ay masasabing may specialized knowledge kung mayroon siyang special knowledge ng mga produkto, serbisyo, pananaliksik, kagamitan, pamahalaan, o ekspertong kaalaman sa mga proseso at pamamaraan ng kumpanya.
Ang L1 employer o U.S. employer ay kailangang may qualifying relationship sa kumpanya sa ibang bansa – maaaring ang US employer ay parent company, branch, subsidiary, o affiliate ng kumpanya sa ibang bansa. Ang L1A o L1B intracompany transferee ay kailangang nagtrabaho na sa kumpanya sa ibang bansa ng isang taon sa loob ng tatlong taon bago siya lumipat sa US employer.
Ang L1A o L1B intracompany transferee na pumupunta sa U.S. para magtayo ng bagong kumpanya ay mabibigyan ng hanggang isang taon na L1 visa. Kapag ang paglipat ng mga employado ay sa isang U.S. employer na mayroon nang business operation, ang mga L1A o L1B intracompany transferee ay mabibigyan ng hanggang tatlong taong visa. Para sa L1A employees, maaari silang mabigyan ng pagdaragdag na extension na dalawang taon, hanggang maabot ang maximum limit na pitong taon. Para sa L1B employees, maaari silang mabigyan ng pagdaragdag na extension na dalawang taon, hanggang maabot ang maximum limit na limang taon
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The L1 nonimmigrant visa classification allows a U.S. employer to transfer employees from one of its affiliated foreign company/office to one of its companies/offices in the U.S. It also allows a foreign company which does not yet have an affiliated US office to send an executive or manager to the U.S., or one with specialized knowledge relating to the organization’s interests for the purpose of establishing a U.S. company/office. There are 2 types of L1 visas or intracompany transferees: (1) L1A visa for intracompany transferees who work in a managerial or executive position; and (2) L1B visa for intracompany transferees who work in positions that require specialized knowledge.
An employee is considered to be working in an executive capacity if the employee is able to make decisions of wide latitude without much oversight. An employee is considered to be working in a managerial capacity if the employee is able to supervise and control the work of professional employees and to manage the organization, or a department, subdivision, function, or component of the organization. An employee is considered to have specialized knowledge when he has special knowledge of the employer’s product, service, research, equipment, techniques, management, or an advanced level of knowledge or expertise in the organization’s processes and procedures.
The L1 employer or U.S. employer must have a qualifying relationship with a foreign company – U.S. employer may be the parent company, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate of the foreign company. The L1A or L1B intracompany transferee must have been working at the foreign company for at least 1 year within the 3 years immediately preceding his admission to the US.
L1A or L1B intracompany transferees entering the US to establish a new office will be allowed a maximum initial stay of 1 year. If the transfer of employees is for an already existing U.S. entity, the L1A or L1B employees may be allowed a maximum stay of 3 years. For L1A employees, extension of stay may be granted in increments of up to an additional 2 years, until the employee has reached a maximum limit of 7 years. For L1B employees, extension of stay may be granted in increments of up to an additional 2 years, until the employee has reached a maximum limit of 5 years.
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ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is a Partner at LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM. Atty. Lindain and Atty. Samson are both licensed to practice law in California and in the Philippines. Both Attorneys were also professors. LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM aims to provide excellent and efficient legal representation to clients, and support clients in achieving their goals and dreams. As professors, Atty. Lindain and Atty. Samson wish to educate the younger generation, as it is through education and continuous study that one can achieve success and serve others.
Please visit our office: LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM
3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Call or text us: (213) 381.5710
Email us: [email protected].
