How specialized knowledge employees qualify for the L-1B intracompany transfer visa with requirements, evidence, and costs for 2026.
How specialized knowledge employees qualify for the L-1B intracompany transfer visa with requirements, evidence, and costs for 2026.
The L-1B visa allows multinational companies to transfer employees with specialized knowledge from foreign offices to U.S. operations. The employee must have worked for the foreign entity for at least 1 continuous year within the past 3 years in a specialized knowledge capacity. The I-129 filing fee is $1,385 ($695 for small employers), plus $600 Asylum Program Fee and $500 fraud fee. Premium processing costs $2,805 ($2,965 after March 1, 2026). Maximum stay is 5 years.
The L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge of the company's products, services, technology, or procedures.
The employee must have 1 continuous year of employment with the foreign affiliate within the past 3 years.
There is no annual cap, no lottery, and no degree requirement.
The I-129 filing fee is $1,385 ($695 for small employers), plus $600 Asylum Program Fee and $500 fraud fee.
Premium processing costs $2,805 ($2,965 after March 1, 2026) for a 15 business day decision.
The L-1B maximum stay is 5 years (compared to 7 years for L-1A).
L-1B holders pursue green cards through EB-2 or EB-3 pathways (not the EB-1C, which is reserved for L-1A managers/executives).
The L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge of the company's products, services, technology, or procedures.
The employee must have 1 continuous year of employment with the foreign affiliate within the past 3 years.
There is no annual cap, no lottery, and no degree requirement.
The I-129 filing fee is $1,385 ($695 for small employers), plus $600 Asylum Program Fee and $500 fraud fee.
Premium processing costs $2,805 ($2,965 after March 1, 2026) for a 15 business day decision.
The L-1B maximum stay is 5 years (compared to 7 years for L-1A).
L-1B holders pursue green cards through EB-2 or EB-3 pathways (not the EB-1C, which is reserved for L-1A managers/executives).
The L-1B is a nonimmigrant work visa for intracompany transferees with specialized knowledge. It allows multinational companies to transfer employees who possess advanced knowledge of the company's products, services, research, systems, or proprietary techniques from a foreign office to a U.S. office.
The L-1B is governed by 8 CFR 214.2(l). Like the L-1A, it has no annual cap and no lottery. It is a dual-intent visa, allowing holders to pursue permanent residency.
Learn more about the L-1B visa
USCIS defines specialized knowledge as either:
Special knowledge of the company's products, services, research, equipment, techniques, management, or other interests and their application in international markets
Advanced knowledge of the organization's processes and procedures gained through significant experience with the organization
1 continuous year of employment with the foreign entity within the past 3 years
Must possess specialized or advanced knowledge of the company
Must be coming to the U.S. to use that specialized knowledge
Qualifying corporate relationship (parent, subsidiary, branch, affiliate)
Both entities actively doing business
U.S. entity must demonstrate need for the specialized knowledge
Detailed description of the employee's specialized knowledge
How the knowledge was gained (training, experience, proprietary systems)
Why the knowledge is not readily available in the U.S. labor market
Comparison to similar employees showing the knowledge is truly specialized
Training records, certifications in proprietary systems
Corporate relationship evidence (ownership documents, org charts)
Employment verification from foreign entity
Job descriptions for both foreign and U.S. positions
Evidence of U.S. business operations
Item | Cost / Timeline |
|---|---|
I-129 filing fee | $1,385 ($695 small employers) |
Asylum Program Fee | $600 ($300 small employers) |
Fraud prevention fee | $500 |
Premium processing | $2,805 ($2,965 after March 1, 2026) |
Standard processing | 3-6 months |
Premium processing | 15 business days |
DS-160 fee | $205 |
Visa Integrity Fee | $250 |
Initial duration | 3 years (1 year new office) |
Maximum stay | 5 years |
Feature | L-1A (Manager/Executive) | L-1B (Specialized Knowledge) |
|---|---|---|
Role | Managerial or executive | Specialized knowledge |
Maximum Stay | 7 years | 5 years |
Green Card Path | EB-1C (direct, fast) | EB-2/EB-3 (requires PERM) |
Evidence Focus | Managerial duties, subordinates | Knowledge uniqueness, training |
Approval Rate (FY2025) | ~92.4% | Lower than L-1A |
Filing Fee | $1,385 | $1,385 |
Learn more about the L-1A visa
USCIS requires evidence that the knowledge is not commonly held in the industry. Describe proprietary systems, unique processes, or company-specific expertise that distinguishes this employee.
Vague descriptions of duties without connection to specialized knowledge trigger RFEs. Tie every duty to the specific knowledge the employee possesses.
Explain why the knowledge cannot be obtained by hiring a U.S. worker or through training.
Provide training records, certifications, and internal documents showing how the employee gained the specialized knowledge.
Disclaimer: OpenSphere is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal counsel. Immigration laws change frequently; always consult with a licensed immigration attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Not sure which visa is right for you? Take OpenSphere's free visa evaluation to get a personalized recommendation in minutes.
The L-1B is a nonimmigrant work visa for intracompany transferees with specialized knowledge. It allows multinational companies to transfer employees who possess advanced knowledge of the company's products, services, research, systems, or proprietary techniques from a foreign office to a U.S. office.
The L-1B is governed by 8 CFR 214.2(l). Like the L-1A, it has no annual cap and no lottery. It is a dual-intent visa, allowing holders to pursue permanent residency.
Learn more about the L-1B visa
USCIS defines specialized knowledge as either:
Special knowledge of the company's products, services, research, equipment, techniques, management, or other interests and their application in international markets
Advanced knowledge of the organization's processes and procedures gained through significant experience with the organization
1 continuous year of employment with the foreign entity within the past 3 years
Must possess specialized or advanced knowledge of the company
Must be coming to the U.S. to use that specialized knowledge
Qualifying corporate relationship (parent, subsidiary, branch, affiliate)
Both entities actively doing business
U.S. entity must demonstrate need for the specialized knowledge
Detailed description of the employee's specialized knowledge
How the knowledge was gained (training, experience, proprietary systems)
Why the knowledge is not readily available in the U.S. labor market
Comparison to similar employees showing the knowledge is truly specialized
Training records, certifications in proprietary systems
Corporate relationship evidence (ownership documents, org charts)
Employment verification from foreign entity
Job descriptions for both foreign and U.S. positions
Evidence of U.S. business operations
Item | Cost / Timeline |
|---|---|
I-129 filing fee | $1,385 ($695 small employers) |
Asylum Program Fee | $600 ($300 small employers) |
Fraud prevention fee | $500 |
Premium processing | $2,805 ($2,965 after March 1, 2026) |
Standard processing | 3-6 months |
Premium processing | 15 business days |
DS-160 fee | $205 |
Visa Integrity Fee | $250 |
Initial duration | 3 years (1 year new office) |
Maximum stay | 5 years |
Feature | L-1A (Manager/Executive) | L-1B (Specialized Knowledge) |
|---|---|---|
Role | Managerial or executive | Specialized knowledge |
Maximum Stay | 7 years | 5 years |
Green Card Path | EB-1C (direct, fast) | EB-2/EB-3 (requires PERM) |
Evidence Focus | Managerial duties, subordinates | Knowledge uniqueness, training |
Approval Rate (FY2025) | ~92.4% | Lower than L-1A |
Filing Fee | $1,385 | $1,385 |
Learn more about the L-1A visa
USCIS requires evidence that the knowledge is not commonly held in the industry. Describe proprietary systems, unique processes, or company-specific expertise that distinguishes this employee.
Vague descriptions of duties without connection to specialized knowledge trigger RFEs. Tie every duty to the specific knowledge the employee possesses.
Explain why the knowledge cannot be obtained by hiring a U.S. worker or through training.
Provide training records, certifications, and internal documents showing how the employee gained the specialized knowledge.
Disclaimer: OpenSphere is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal counsel. Immigration laws change frequently; always consult with a licensed immigration attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Not sure which visa is right for you? Take OpenSphere's free visa evaluation to get a personalized recommendation in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies as "specialized knowledge" for the L-1B?
Specialized knowledge means advanced or special knowledge of the company's products, services, technology, or procedures that is not commonly available in the U.S. labor market. Examples include expertise in proprietary software systems, unique manufacturing processes, or company-specific management methodologies gained through significant experience with the organization.
What qualifies as "specialized knowledge" for the L-1B?
Can L-1B holders get a green card?
Yes, but the path is different from L-1A holders. L-1B holders pursue green cards through the EB-2 or EB-3 categories, which typically require PERM labor certification and have longer processing times. L-1B holders cannot use the EB-1C multinational manager pathway. Some L-1B holders qualify for the EB-2 NIW as a self-petition alternative.
Can L-1B holders get a green card?
What is the maximum stay on an L-1B visa?
The L-1B maximum stay is 5 years. The initial petition is approved for up to 3 years (1 year for new offices), with extensions in 2-year increments up to the 5-year maximum. After reaching the maximum, the employee must remain outside the U.S. for 1 full year before being eligible for a new L-1B.
What is the maximum stay on an L-1B visa?
How does L-1B processing time compare to H-1B?
L-1B standard processing takes 3-6 months, similar to H-1B (3-8 months). Both offer premium processing for $2,805 ($2,965 after March 1, 2026) with a 15 business day guarantee. The key advantage of L-1B is no lottery or annual cap - petitions can be filed year-round, while H-1B is limited to the annual registration period.
How does L-1B processing time compare to H-1B?
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