Monday, April 22, 2019

L-1 Vs H-1B Visa: Differences and similarities

L-1 visa comes with various advantages if you’re working with a multinational company. But under some circumstances, you may be required to change to your status from an L-1 to an H-1B visa. Although there are many similarities between these two non-immigrant work visa, there are some key differences as well. Before you change your status from L-1 visa to H-1B visa, you need to get yourself familiar with the differences and similarities between both. For this reason, you can either consult an experienced immigration lawyer or check online immigration platforms with authentic reviews about immigration attorneys to get information on various types of visas. There are numerous online reviews platforms, so choosing one could be a real challenge. Therefore, Michael Wildes Reviews is an online platform with the customer experience and feedback of working with Mr. Michael Wildes.

What is L-1? - It is a temporary work visa that is specially created for transferring employees from a foreign branch of a multinational company to the United States location. There are two types of L-1 visas, such as L-1A - it is for executives and managers of a multinational company, and L-1B - it is for employees who have special skills and knowledge.

What is H-1B? - On the other hand, H-1B is not limited to multinational companies, making it a popular visa option. Anyone who has completed a bachelor’s degree and has a job offer from a company in the United States can apply. Unlike L-1, the H-1B is limited on the number visas issued to people yearly.

Here are some of the similarities between the L-1 and H-1B.
  • L-1 and H-1B are temporary, non-immigrant visas that come with dual intent. When it comes to dual intent, it means that the foreign employee does not have to demonstrate ties to the home country. 
  • Both are available for premium visa processing. The premium visa processing fee $1,410 and checks should be submitted to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. With premium processing case, you can get a guarantee by USCIS that your case will be handled within 15 days.
Differences between the L-1 and H-1B
  • With L-1A visa, the maximum length you can remain in the United States is seven years and five years for L-1B. On the contrary, with an H-1B status, you can stay for six years with an option to file for a three-year extension.
  • In L-1 visa, the spouse of this visa holder can apply for Employment Authorization Documents and after receiving approval can start working legally. Whereas, relatives of H-1B visa holders do not have this opportunity.
  • Foreign nationals with an L-1A visa can come to the United States and can easily open a new office. While an H-1B visa holder can start a business, it is more complicated than an L-1 visa.
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