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United StatesWork permitsLast checked October 16, 2026

L-1A / L-1B Intracompany Transferee

The L-1 lets a multinational company move an employee from a related foreign office to its US office. L-1A covers managers and executives; L-1B covers staff with specialised knowledge. The employee must have worked for the related foreign company for one continuous year in the last three years. There is no annual cap, and spouses can work.

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3 entry rules for United States based on recent travel

These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.

Entry restrictions apply to 20 passports for United States

The government has suspended some or all visas for holders of these passports. Exceptions exist; see the source.

  • Afghanistan
  • Burkina Faso
  • Chad
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Haiti
  • Iran
  • Laos
  • Libya
  • Mali
  • Myanmar (Burma)
  • Niger
  • Palestinian Territories
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Yemen

Source: Proclamation 10949 - Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats (Federal Register, 10 Jun 2025)Source: Proclamation 10998 - Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the Security of the United States (Federal Register, 19 Dec 2025)Source: Proclamation 10998 full text (GovInfo)Source: U.S. Department of State - Suspension of Visa Issuance to Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United StatesSource: Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for FY2027 (Federal Register, 2 Oct 2026) - cites Proclamation 10998 as in force

Life in United States

Money

3

Currency

US Dollar

USD

US Dollar

Cost of living

100

Price level · US = 100

World Bank price levels, 2025

Tax

10–37%

Income tax (national)

social security 7.65%

Federal rates; most states and some cities add their own income tax. 37% starts above USD 626,350 (single, 2025).

Official rates, 2026 · headline only

Living

1

Happiness

6.8

#22 of 145 countries

World Happiness Report 2025

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Who it’s for

Managers, executives, and specialised-knowledge employees of multinational groups being transferred to a related US entity, including to open a new US office.

Eligibility

  • Qualifying relationship

    The US and foreign employers must be the same company or related as parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate.

  • Doing business in two countries

    The organisation must be, or will be, regularly doing business in the US and at least one other country for the whole L-1 stay. Just having an agent or office is not enough.

  • One year abroad

    You need to have worked for a qualifying organisation abroad for one continuous year in the three years before admission.

    Work abroad needed

    Continuous work
    One year
    Look-back period
    Three years
    • This is the general rule.
    Official wording

    The employee must generally have worked for a qualifying organisation abroad for one continuous year in the three years before admission.

A sneak peek at what's inside

  • Next requirementManagerial or executive role
  • Document checklistForm I-129 with L Classification Supplement
  • FeesForm I-129 L base fee (paper)

The full requirements are for members

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  • 5 more requirements
  • 8 documents
  • 8 fees
  • 7 steps
  • Processing times and conditions
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