What is the difference between L-1A and L-1B?

L-1A is for managers and executives (up to 7 years); L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge (up to 5 years).

Do I need a US office already for an L-1?

The US entity must have a qualifying relationship (parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate) with the foreign company; new-office L-1s are possible with additional requirements.

Can my family join me on an L-1 visa?

Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can obtain L-2 status, and your spouse may apply for work authorization.

Intra-Company Transfer Visas

L-1 Visa

A work visa that allows international companies to transfer managers, senior employees or personnel with specialized knowledge to their US affiliate.

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What Is the L-1 Visa?

The L-1 visa is an intra-company transfer visa that allows a company operating abroad to transfer a specific employee to a subsidiary, branch, affiliate or related structure in the US.

The application jointly assesses the qualifying relationship between the companies, the employee’s prior position, the US role definition, the managerial/specialized-knowledge role and operational need.

Trade-Based

An application route based on trade in goods, services or technology.

Renewable Structure

Periodic renewal may be considered as long as eligibility is maintained.

Family Included

Spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be included in the application.

Managerial/Key Role

A managerial, partner or essential-skill employee profile is important.

Benefits of the L-1 Visa

The L-1 visa offers a strong corporate route for companies with international growth plans to bring managers or key personnel to their US operation.

When the company structure and position definition are set up correctly, the L-1 becomes a strategic tool for US market entry, team transfer and long-term corporate positioning.

Commercial Expansion

Commercial relationships in the US market can be structured.

Renewal Option

Periodic renewal can be planned as long as the requirements are maintained.

Family Coverage

Joint planning can be done for spouse and children.

Company Focus

Commercial reality is placed at the center of the application file.

L-1 Visa Requirements

An L-1 application expects the applicant to have worked at a qualifying foreign company for at least one year within the past three years and to be transferred to a related company in the US.

The US position must qualify as managerial/executive for L-1A or specialized-knowledge for L-1B; the inter-company link and operational need must be supported by documentation.

Treaty Country

The applicant and the business must demonstrate a qualifying treaty-country connection.

Substantial Trade

Commercial activity must be regular and of meaningful volume, not one-off.

Predominantly US-Türkiye

A significant portion of trade must be between the US and Türkiye.

Role Alignment

A managerial, supervisory or key-skill role must be clearly demonstrated.

L-1 Application Process

The process begins with a review of the group company structure, ownership documents, organization charts, job definitions, payroll records and the US operation plan.

The company link, transfer rationale and nature of the position are then structured cohesively and convincingly in the application file.

Trade Analysis

Trade volume, direction and continuity are assessed.

Document Map

Company, invoice, contract and financial records are classified.

Application File

Forms and supporting narrative are prepared together.

Interview Preparation

The commercial model and application role are worked out in clear language.

How We Manage the Process

01.

Profile Assessment

We conduct a detailed situation analysis to determine the visa or investment route best suited to your background.

02.

File Preparation

Your entire official portfolio is prepared legally and convincingly in line with the current expectations of US authorities.

03.

Corporate Review

With no external outsourcing, we officially initiate all your legal processes under the direct control of our own corporate legal team.

04.

Operational Follow-up

Even after your entry into America, we remain by your side whenever you need — for company management, status maintenance or your investment.

Why Citil Law.

Tailored Strategy

We offer personalized solutions aligned with your goals.

Experienced Legal Team

We are by your side with our attorneys specialized in US immigration law.

Global Service

We serve through both our Istanbul and US offices.

Process Management

We manage and track the entire process from the first consultation to your visa approval.

Success Stories

"Our E-2 application process went far more smoothly than expected. We received professional support at every stage, from document preparation to the interview. We obtained our visa without issues in about 4 months."

Mehmet K.E-2 Visa

"For our L-1 application, we presented our documents and strategy far more systematically. At every stage we clearly understood which information was needed and why."

Ayse D.L-1 Visa

"Accurately reflecting our US business plan in the application file was critical for us. The Citil Law team prepared our file from both a legal and commercial perspective."

Burak S.L-1 Visa

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I find out which visa type I qualify for?

Your profile, goals, documents and US plan are evaluated together. After the preliminary analysis, a roadmap is clarified for L-1 or an alternative visa route.

How long does the visa application process take on average?

Timelines vary by file type, document readiness, the processing authority’s calendar and appointment/processing volume. Strategy, document collection and application preparation are planned on a per-profile basis.

Can my family members be included in my application?

Spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be included in the application. Work authorization options for the spouse and the status of family members are also assessed.

Which documents do I need to prepare?

Company documents, records showing trade volume, financial records, contracts, invoices, bank transactions and personal documents form the basis of the application file. The list is customized to your profile.

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