What is an L visa?

An L visa is a type of U.S. immigration visa used by companies to temporarily transfer employees from a foreign country to a qualifying U.S. employer. This type of visa is for those who wish to work in the U.S. and have a legitimate job offer in the form of an approval by the Department of Labor and/or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The L visa is designed for workers from abroad who possess specialized knowledge and ability, such as executive and managerial employees, or those with specialized skills in a certain field. This type of visa has been made available to help employers in the U.S. access the services of foreign workers in cases of a labor shortage or critical labor need. The L visa is handed out for a non-specific period of time, usually not beyond seven years. It may have a length of up to 3 years initially, and it can be renewed for an additional two-year period. L-1 visa holders are allowed to bring their immediate family members to the United States, and their spouses may obtain a work permit in some cases. In New York, the L visa has become increasingly important, as the state is home to one of the most diverse populations in the United States. Companies are using the L visa to fill roles they are unable to fill through domestic recruiting, as well as for knowledge transfer, such as transferring technology from one country to another.

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Una visa L es una visa de trabajo que se expide para aquellos trabajadores extranjeros que desean ingresar o permanecer en los Estados Unidos temporalmente para fines de negocios. Esta visa es emitida por el Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de Estados Unidos (USCIS). Esta visa se otorga principalmente a los trabajadores transferidos al interior de una empresa extranjera con sede en los Estados Unidos. También se otorga a los trabajadores transferidos dentro de la misma empresa o subsidiaria con sede en los Estados Unidos. Esta visa también se otorga a los empresarios extranjeros cuyo objetivo es establecer una nueva empresa en los Estados Unidos. La visa L también es conocida como la visa intracompañía. La persona a quien se le ha otorgado una visa L también puede obtener un permiso de trabajo H o un permiso temporal de trabajo si cumple con los requisitos del programa de trabajo temporal.

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