L1A

[SAN712 0]

Hi 

I currently work for SA company in a group position and want to relocate to US office 

 

Want to do the employer Petition myself for the company? Is this easy enough or do I have to go through  lawyer?  

[debbiedoo 2,339]

the employer has to petition for you

[Dashinka 23,243]

Agreed, this is going to be completely up to your employer and their lawyers to attempt to get an L-visa (or other work visa) for you to work in the US office. 

 

Good Luck!

[SAN712 0]

Thank you both for your prompt response. Thing is I do most of the admin work anyway... so I would be the one applying for a petition for the company and obviously the CEO will review etc and then sign. 

 

Just wondering if I can avoid the lawyers and have direct control of this with the US Immigrations office 

[debbiedoo 2,339]

19 minutes ago, SAN712 said:

Thank you both for your prompt response. Thing is I do most of the admin work anyway... so I would be the one applying for a petition for the company and obviously the CEO will review etc and then sign. 

 

Just wondering if I can avoid the lawyers and have direct control of this with the US Immigrations office 

if the company cant afford a lawyer, they cant afford to sponsor you.

 

they need to hire a lawyer. this is not a DIY petition

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

22 minutes ago, SAN712 said:

Thank you both for your prompt response. Thing is I do most of the admin work anyway... so I would be the one applying for a petition for the company and obviously the CEO will review etc and then sign. 

 

Just wondering if I can avoid the lawyers and have direct control of this with the US Immigrations office 

A lot of people have been trying to use L visas from smaller companies as backdoor immigration routes, and denial rates have been rising significantly as a result. An experienced lawyer would be best placed to understand exactly what is required for a successful petition. It’s not a case of filling in a form that you think has the right answers and expecting a rubber-stamp approval. 

[SAN712 0]

Thanks for info - We have an immigration lawyer - they are just taking forever to get the ball rolling so I thought we could do without them but I guess not 

 

Thank you for prompt responses - 

[Dashinka 23,243]

Just an FYI, the L1A is used for executives and management personnel, the L1B is used for other workers of international companies.  Also keep in mind that the L-Visa is not a dual intent visa (i.e. it is a non-immigrant visa).

 

 

[Boiler 43,433]

Get a new Lawyer.

[SAN712 0]

Yup L1A is for management  - I am the Group CFO 

Yup guess new lawyer is the only option 

 

Thanks

[Boiler 43,433]

Just now, Bill & Katya said:

Just an FYI, the L1A is used for executives and management personnel, the L1B is used for other workers of international companies.  Also keep in mind that the L-Visa is not a dual intent visa (i.e. it is a non-immigrant visa).

 

 

Well it is dual intent but another route to consider if a GC is the target is going straight for GC rather than a L then GC.

[SAN712 0]

do any of you know an Immigration lawyer i could use in SA? 

[Boiler 43,433]

Nope

 

US office does not have one?

[Dashinka 23,243]

7 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Well it is dual intent but another route to consider if a GC is the target is going straight for GC rather than a L then GC.

Correct, one can file AOS from an L1A/B without jeopardizing their L status.  I have a co-worker that did that from an L1B.  I chalk it (my brain fart) up to the time change. 

 

 

4 minutes ago, SAN712 said:

do any of you know an Immigration lawyer i could use in SA? 

Does your company currently transfer employees from SA to the US office on a regular basis?  Does your company want you to be in the US office?  It is sounding like this is just your idea which is fine, but if you want to work at the same company in their US office, the company needs to make that offer to you and then deal with all the paperwork needed to make it happen.

 

Good Luck!

[SAN712 0]

hi - thanks for comments  - We have 2 companies - one in SA and in US - both owned by a foreign company. I manage the overall finance for the group so both in SA and USA - currently I sit in SA but travel for meetings back and fourth. I need to be on an L1A visa cos then it allows me to work in both countries and makes it easier to be in the US - Green card will maybe be an option later on but right now cos of projects coming up, my services are needed more regularly in USA 

 

I have been requested to consider moving over and I am just gathering all the info i need so that the US company can file the petition.