Q. I have a manufacturing business in Brampton, Ontario. I wish to expand my business to the USA. I am a Canadian citizen. My business has been running for over 10 years. Do I need a L-1 Visa?
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A. Depending on whether you or your employees wish to actually work in your business in the US, you may or may not require an L-1 Visa. Further in order to qualify for an L1 Visa, the applicant has to either be an executive, manager or a person of “specialized knowledge” and has to have been working for the Canadian company for at least one year within the last three years proceeding the Visa application. There are other requirements for L-1 Visas which can be found here.
L-1 Visas can fall under NAFTA for Canadian citizens which means you can obtain the Visa at a US/Canada port of entry rather than applying for it at a US Service Center. L-1 Visas are generally valid for one year for “start up” ventures and can be extended for a total of 7 years for executives or managers and 5 years for persons of specialized knowledge. In some cases, L-1 Visas can also be transferred to an application for US Permanent Residence (Green Card) through he adjustment of status process.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
