Intracompany Transferees
Specialized Knowledge

L-1B status may be granted on application to USCIS (the former INS to an individual who has been employed outside the United States for one (1) year within the past three (3) years before s/he entered the United States and who has specialized knowledge of the employer�s product or its application in international markets or an advanced level of knowledge of the processes and procedures of the company who will be employed in the United States by the parent, branch, affiliate, or subsidiary of the foreign employer.

L-1B status is initially granted for a maximum of three (3) years and can be subsequently extended once, for another two (2) years, for a total of five (5) years.

The spouse and unmarried children under twenty-one (21) of an L-1 employee are entitled to apply for L-2 status as derivatives of the primary employee.� The spouse of this employee (but not his/her children) is also eligible to apply for work authorization after arriving in the United States.

An L-1 employee is entitled to have dual intent, which means he or she is able to maintain the L-1 status as a temporary worker while at the same time pursuing permanent residence, otherwise known as applying for a Green Card.