Is a program designed to make it easier for U.S. employers to sponsor a large number of work visas for alien workers. Only multinational companies or organizations can use this program. A company that qualifies for this program can get one “blanket” approval of visas for an appropriate number of executive, managerial, and professional employees.

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This program has the following requirements:

• You must already be employed with a multinational company that has a plant or office in the United States for the blanket petition program to apply to you

• Once a foreign employee has completed the maximum allowable period in the U.S., they are supposed to leave the U.S. for one year, and

• The foreign employee can only renew their L-1 visa if they continue working for the U.S. company during that one year out of the U.S.

• You don’t have to work for the U.S. company full time to qualify for an L-1 visa but you must be hired by the U.S. company full time. But you need to be working for them on a regular basis

• You can get an L-1 visa even if you divide your work between the U.S. and your home country.

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The company has to meet the following requirements to petition for L-1 visas for its employees:

• The company must be engaged in commercial trade or services

• The company has an office from which it has been conducting business for a year or more

• The company must have at least three foreign and domestic subsidiaries, branches, or affiliates

• The company must have successfully sponsored foreign workers through the L-1 visa in the previous 12 months

• The number of U.S. based employees of the company must be at least 1,000 or the company must have U.S. affiliates or subsidiaries that have not less than $25 million in sales.

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Attending conferences, meetings and attending training is not engaging in regular and systematic activities, which means you are not eligible for an L-1 visa if these activities are the reason why you are coming to the United States.