United States · Work
United States L-1B Specialist transfer
First stay: 3 yrs
L-1B Intracompany Transferee: specialized knowledge
Checked against official sources on Record corrected 12 Oct 2026Change log
Key facts
L-1B Specialist transfer is a work route for United States. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $1,385 · +3 more
- First stay
- 3 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Government fees$1,385 · +3 more
- $1,385Form I-129 for L petitions, paid by the employer (USD 1,335 online; USD 695 small employers and nonprofits).
- $600Asylum Program Fee for regular petitioners (USD 300 small employer, USD 0 nonprofit).
- $500Fraud prevention and detection fee for L petitioners in the categories listed in G-1055.
- $4,500Extra fee under Pub. L. 114-113, paid by the employer only when it has 50 or more employees in the United States, more than 50% of them in H-1B, L-1A or L-1B status, and the petition is filed on or before 30 September 2027.
RenewalRenewable, 5 years max
Stay is for up to 3 years (1 year for a new office), extended in steps of up to 2 years to a maximum of 5 years.
CitizenshipTime here doesn't count
Naturalisation requires years of lawful permanent resident status (5 years, or 3 if married to a U.S. citizen), so time in this temporary status does not count toward it.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route is capped at 5 years in total
- Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship
- Needs a job offer from an employer in United States
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- The worker has one continuous year of work for a qualifying organisation abroad in the three years before admission.
- The worker is transferred to provide specialized knowledge services to a branch of the same employer.
- Where the worker is placed at an unaffiliated employer's site, the petitioner must show the work is not labour for hire for that employer.
- The petitioner must also show the worker is under the petitioner's control.
What you must show1
- Employers with 50 or more U.S. employees, of whom more than 50% are in H-1B, L-1A or L-1B status, pay an extra USD 4,500 for petitions filed on or before Sept. 30, 2027.
When you become tax resident
How United States decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 5 years in total
- Tax residence
- At least 31 days in the current calendar yearMinimum days of presence in the current year.
- At least 183 days in the current year plus two preceding years (weighted 1, 1/3, 1/6)Weighted days of presence over the three-year period.
- Foreign-source income
U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.
All tax rules for United States Tax records checked
Full official text
Transfer of an employee with specialized knowledge from a foreign affiliate to a U.S. branch after one continuous year with the foreign entity in the last three years. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $1,385 · Form I-129 for L petitions, paid by the employer (USD 1,335 online; USD 695 small employers and nonprofits). 2
- A fee of $600 · Asylum Program Fee for regular petitioners (USD 300 small employer, USD 0 nonprofit). 2
- A fee of $500 · Fraud prevention and detection fee for L petitioners in the categories listed in G-1055. 2
- A fee of $4,500 · Extra fee under Pub. L. 114-113, paid by the employer only when it has 50 or more employees in the United States, more than 50% of them in H-1B, L-1A or L-1B status, and the petition is filed on or before 30 September 2027. 2
Requirements
- The worker has one continuous year of work for a qualifying organisation abroad in the three years before admission. 1
- The worker is transferred to provide specialized knowledge services to a branch of the same employer. 1
- Where the worker is placed at an unaffiliated employer's site, the petitioner must show the work is not labour for hire for that employer. 1
- The petitioner must also show the worker is under the petitioner's control. 1
- Employers with 50 or more U.S. employees, of whom more than 50% are in H-1B, L-1A or L-1B status, pay an extra USD 4,500 for petitions filed on or before Sept. 30, 2027. 2
Stay
- Initial stay up to 3 years (1 year for a new office); extensions in increments of up to 2 years to a maximum of 5 years.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
No nationality restriction.
Work
Work authorised for the petitioning employer.
Family
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 as L-2.
Official sources
- L-1B Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-10-07
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
L-1B Specialist transfer and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| L-1B Specialist transfer | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| E-3 Australian specialty | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| EB-1B Outstanding researcher | – | – | – |
| EB-1C Multinational manager | – | – | – |
| EB-2 Advanced degree | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the L-1B Specialist transfer?
A fee of $1,385. Form I-129 for L petitions, paid by the employer (USD 1,335 online; USD 695 small employers and nonprofits). A fee of $600. Asylum Program Fee for regular petitioners (USD 300 small employer, USD 0 nonprofit). A fee of $500. Fraud prevention and detection fee for L petitioners in the categories listed in G-1055. A fee of $4,500. Extra fee under Pub.
How long can I stay on the L-1B Specialist transfer?
Initial stay up to 3 years (1 year for a new office); extensions in increments of up to 2 years to a maximum of 5 years.
Can I work on the L-1B Specialist transfer?
Work authorised for the petitioning employer.
Can I bring my family on the L-1B Specialist transfer?
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 as L-2.
How are L-1B Specialist transfer holders taxed in United States?
No special regime in our records is tied to the L-1B Specialist transfer. The standard rules apply: U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.
More in United States
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- L-1B Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.