Expanding a business into the U.S. or enabling Canadian employees to transfer across the border to work for a related company is a necessary part of today’s global economy. It is common for a parent company to exist in Canada or the U.S. and retain locations and offices on both sides of the border. Further, companies looking to expand internationally from either Canada or the U.S. will often look to the neighbouring country as a starting point. In both situations, employees looking to move from Canada to the U.S. will generally require an L-1 Visa for Intra-Company Transfers.

Facilitating these visas can be a logistical challenge, particularly in situations where multiple people are being moved at once. At Garson Immigration Law, we are immigration specialists with nearly thirty years of helping multinational companies carry out their immigration needs. Our proximity to both the U.S./Canada border as well as the U.S. consulate in Toronto has afforded us a unique position to design and carry out large-scale immigration plans necessary for international business expansion.

What are the Qualifications for an L-1 Intra-Company Transfer Visa?

Canadian applicants seeking to gain entry to the U.S. with an L-1 Visa must meet the following career qualifications:

• They must have worked for the company in question in Canada for at least one year in the preceding three years prior to the application;
• They must have worked for the company as an executive, manager or in a specialized knowledge capacity; and
• They must be moving the U.S. to work for a subsidiary, branch or affiliate of the company in Canada.

Companies expanding into the U.S. for the first time must also have secured a physical location for the new operation in the U.S.

Spouses and children under 21 years of age will generally be permitted to accompany a successful L-1 holder for the duration of their stay in the U.S.

Blanket Petitions

Companies with large-scale U.S. immigration requirements may also submit a blanket petition to make the facilitation of individual transfers much more efficient. A blanket petition approval does not guarantee that each individual applicant will be granted entry, but it does significantly streamline the process and allows a company to arrange a transfer quickly when time is of the essence. In order to qualify for a blanket petition, a company must:

• Be engaged in commercial trade or services;
• Have an office that has been doing business in the U.S. for at least one year;
• Have at least three domestic and foreign branches, subsidiaries or affiliates; and
• Be able to satisfy one of the following criteria:
  • Has secured at least 10 L-1 Visas within the previous 12-month period;
  • Have U.S. subsidiaries or affiliates with combined annual sales of at least $25 million; or
  • Have a U.S. workforce of at least 1,000 employees.

Specialists in Finding Innovative Solutions for Individual and Large-Scale Corporate Immigration Needs

The lawyers at Garson Immigration Law are exceedingly experienced in helping large and medium-sized companies devise and carry out U.S. immigration plans to facilitate expansion and growth across the border. We will work with clients to understand their big-picture immigration needs and take care of the details so that they can focus on growing their business.

Contact Garson Immigration Law in Toronto for Effective Solutions for Canadian Businesses Operating in the U.S.

At Garson Immigration Law, we are exclusively dedicated to the practice of immigration law. We have extensive experience facilitating small and large-scale L-1 applications for multinational companies operating in Canada. We will guide your business through the process quickly and efficiently to avoid unnecessary delays. To discuss your circumstances with one of our experienced immigration lawyers, please contact us online or call us at 416-321-2860.