The USA-L1A visa is an excellent option for business expansion, ideal for individuals looking to grow or launch operations in the United States. It also offers family inclusion, allowing spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 to qualify for L-2 visas, with spouses permitted to work in the U.S. A major advantage of the L1A is its dual intent feature, which allows applicants to pursue a green card without jeopardizing their current visa status. Unlike investor visas, there is no minimum investment required, meaning applicants are not obligated to make a capital contribution. Additionally, there is no labour market test, so there is no need to prove the unavailability of U.S. workers for the position.

To qualify for the L1A visa, the employer must have a qualifying relationship with the U.S. entity—such as a parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate—and must be actively conducting business in both the U.S. and at least one other country. The employee must have worked for the foreign entity for a minimum of one continuous year within the past three years and must be entering the U.S. to work in an executive or managerial capacity. If establishing a new office in the U.S., physical office space must be secured, and the business plan must show that the new office will support an executive or managerial role within one year.

The L1A visa process begins with the employer filing Form I-129 with USCIS, which includes submitting company documents and employee qualifications. Once approved, the employee must then apply for the visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy. Upon receiving visa approval, the employee is allowed to travel to the United States and begin work. For new offices, the visa is valid for one year, while for existing offices it is valid for three years. The visa can be renewed, with a total maximum duration of up to seven years. The total processing time for this process typically ranges from one to four months.