Building your business is hard. Bringing it across the world is harder.
You built something good. Now you want to bring the people who built it with you to the United States. That is what the L-1 visa is for.
18+ YEAR | 48+ COUNTRIES | 250+ UNIVERSITIES | 6 SECTORS | IMMIGRATION | INVESTMENT | EDUCATION | TEXAS-BASED |
18+ YEAR | 48+ COUNTRIES | 250+ UNIVERSITIES | 6 SECTORS | IMMIGRATION | INVESTMENT | EDUCATION | TEXAS-BASED |
Overview
The L-1 visa transfers key employees from your foreign office to the United States. It is a strategic business decision, not just immigration paperwork. You are bringing someone who already understands your culture, systems, and goals.
Two types exist. L-1A is for executives and managers who lead or direct operations. L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge of your products, systems, or processes that are hard to replace.
USCIS requires both your foreign and U.S. companies to be real and actively operating. They examine whether the relationship is genuine, documented, and whether the employee’s role truly meets the criteria.
Success depends on accurate information and strong documentation. Present the real structure of your business, not an exaggerated story.
The L-1 visa can apply to a wide range of international business situations. While each case is unique, many clients fall into one of the following categories.
Across all of these scenarios, the common factor is that the business operates across borders and requires trusted individuals to maintain continuity, control, and alignment between locations. The L-1 visa supports this need when the role and the business structure meet the required standards.
Every relationship begins with a different purpose. Some are looking for a trusted local partner. Others are expanding into a new market, building institutional relationships, or seeking guidance in a country they have never done business in before.
During our first conversation, we take time to understand your goals and help you determine which part of our network is the right fit.
We begin by understanding your business, your employee's role, and your expansion goals. Then we provide an honest assessment of whether the L-1 visa is the right path and what USCIS is likely to expect.
A strong petition begins with strong evidence. We help organize your business records and supporting documents so your company is presented clearly, accurately, and credibly.
Every business has a different story. We help present yours in a way that reflects the facts, addresses potential concerns, and aligns with USCIS requirements.
When legal representation is needed, we connect you with experienced immigration attorneys and help coordinate communication, documentation, and follow-up throughout the process.
Beyond immigration, we connect you with trusted accountants, banking professionals, business advisors, and company formation specialists who understand international business.
Our support continues after filing. We help coordinate responses to USCIS requests, prepare for visa interviews, and remain available through each stage of the process.
Common Challenges
Every important business decision comes with uncertainty. The L-1 process is no different. Understanding the challenges early helps you prepare with confidence.
Our role is not to promise approval. It is to help you prepare thoroughly, understand the risks, and move forward with clarity and confidence.
We begin by understanding your business, the employee you plan to transfer, and your expansion goals. The better we understand your situation, the better we can guide you.
We honestly evaluate your case, explain its strengths and challenges, review your documents, and discuss the expected timeline, costs, and next steps. We provide realistic guidance, not false promises.
We help organize your documents so they clearly demonstrate your business, your employee's role, and your eligibility for the L-1 visa.
When your case is ready, we connect you with an experienced immigration attorney and help coordinate documents, communication, and follow-up throughout the process.
If USCIS requests additional information, we work with you and your attorney to prepare a clear and timely response and keep the case moving forward.
After approval, we continue to assist with visa interview preparation, consular processing, and practical guidance before your employee arrives in the United States.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
FAQs
Your company must be a legitimate multinational business operating in at least two countries. You must have been operating in your home country for at least one year before filing. You must have a real office, real employees, and real business operations. You cannot create a shell company just to file L-1. USCIS will examine your business closely to determine if you meet these requirements.
A straightforward L-1 petition typically takes 4 to 8 months from the date you file. If USCIS requests additional information, it can take longer. If there are complications with your case, it may take 10 to 12 months or more. Plan for a longer timeline. Rushing documentation to speed up the process usually does not work and can create problems.
L-1A is for managers and executives who direct the operations of your company or a major part of it. They make significant business decisions. L-1B is for employees with unique or specialized knowledge about your company, products, processes, or systems. They are highly skilled but not in a manager role. Your attorney will advise which category fits your employee’s actual role.
Not without a valid visa. Your employee cannot work in the United States on L-1 status until the petition is approved and a visa is issued through consular processing. They cannot simply arrive and start working. Some companies use other visa categories (like E-2 or EB-5) during the waiting period, but these are different processes with different requirements.
If your petition is denied, you receive a detailed letter explaining the reasons. You can sometimes file again with a stronger case or additional documentation. You can also appeal the decision in some circumstances. Your attorney will advise whether reapplying or appealing makes sense for your situation. Denial is difficult, but it is not the end of the story.
Cost includes attorney fees (typically 2,500 to 6,000 dollars depending on complexity), USCIS filing fees (460 to 700 dollars), and time spent on documentation and preparation. Some cases are simpler and less expensive. Some are more complex and cost more. During your consultation, we help you understand the likely costs for your specific situation.
Your business documents can be in any language. If they are not in English, USCIS requires certified English translations. Your immigration attorney will coordinate this. You do not need to speak English to file L-1, but clear communication with your attorney is essential. Your attorney may provide interpretation if needed.
Your home country company must have been operating for at least one year before you file. If you just started your company, you will need to wait. If your company is already established and operating profitably, you can typically file. The strength of your case depends on how well you can document that your company is real and functioning.
If the petition is denied before your employee travels to the United States, they remain in their home country with no change to their status. If they are already in the United States on another visa and L-1 is denied, their situation depends on what other visa status they hold. This is why careful planning and honest assessment before filing is crucial.
L-1 is typically a temporary visa, usually valid for 1 to 3 years depending on the circumstances. Your employee can usually extend L-1 if the business still needs them. If they want to stay permanently, they would need to explore other visa categories like EB-5 or employment-based green cards. These are different processes with different requirements.
Denial in the past does not automatically mean denial in the future. Sometimes a case was weak. Sometimes the documentation was incomplete. Sometimes the case was presented poorly. We evaluate your situation honestly and advise whether reapplying makes sense. If we think your case has serious problems that reapplication will not solve, we tell you that. If we think a new, stronger application is possible, we work with you on it.
No one can. If an immigration consultant promises approval, they are lying. USCIS makes the final decision. What we can promise is honest assessment, clear guidance, careful preparation, and support throughout the process. We do not file weak cases hoping for approval. We file cases we believe in.
This is a fair question. You have probably been disappointed before. We prove ourselves through our actions. We show up to meetings. We answer your questions. We explain what is happening. We stay involved after the petition is filed. We do not disappear. If you need to talk to former clients who can tell you what it is like to work with us, we can arrange that. Your trust matters to us.
WHY FAMILIES & INVESTORS CHOOSE MY-VIET, INC
Trust Is Built Through Years, Not Brochures
For more than 18 years, we have worked with business owners, multinational companies, and entrepreneurs expanding across borders. We have seen successful petitions, unexpected setbacks, and difficult decisions. One lesson has remained constant. Strong cases begin long before a petition is filed.
More importantly, we understand what is at stake.
Expanding into the United States is not simply a legal process. It is a business decision that affects your company, your people, and years of work. You need more than someone who understands immigration. You need someone who understands the responsibility behind the decision.
That belief shapes the way we work.
Honest Assessment
We begin with the truth. We evaluate your business, explain the strengths and challenges of your case, and tell you whether this is the right time to move forward.
Careful Preparation
A strong petition is built on clear evidence, not stronger words. We help present your business accurately so USCIS can understand the company behind the documents.
Trusted Professional Network
When legal, financial, or business support is needed, we connect you with experienced professionals we know and trust through long-standing relationships.
Support From Beginning to End
Our involvement does not end with the filing. We remain available to help coordinate documents, answer questions, and support you throughout the process.
We cannot promise approval because no one can. What we can offer is thoughtful preparation, honest guidance, and the judgment that comes from years of helping businesses navigate important decisions.
In the end, the goal is not simply to obtain a visa. It is to help your business move forward with greater clarity, stronger preparation, and fewer unnecessary risks.
Most of our clients come through referrals. It is something we earn, slowly, over years of showing up for people when it matters most.
Supporting families and professionals through immigration and international education — one case, one family, one future at a time.
Traveled not as a tourist but as a student — of how trust is built, how trade moves, and how cultures make decisions.