The Blanket L-1 Visa: A Time-Saver for San Francisco L-1 Visa Seekers

In today’s difficult economy, any delay caused by a visa issue can be hazardous to a company. For employers seeking to sponsor California L-1 visas for intra-company transfers, these delays can be especially costly. As a result, United States Citizenship and Immigrant Services has created a valuable time saver for certain multi-national corporations. The USCIS allows for these companies to apply for blanket L-1 status, enabling employees to be transferred in as little as one day.

Who is eligible for blanket status?

United States companies that are branches, parents, subsidiaries or affiliates of foreign companies that frequently transfer foreign employees to their related U.S. branches are excellent candidates for blanket status. A qualified California L-1 visa lawyer can help determine whether the blanket L-1 visa status is appropriate for a specific corporation.

What are the advantages of obtaining blanket status?

• Holders of the L-1 blanket status are able to bypass the petition stage of obtaining an L-1 Visa. Normally, employers must submit separate petitions for each employee to the USCIS.
• By obtaining L-1 blanket status, a company is thereby pre-qualified to transfer its L-1 employees to the United States.
• Under the L-1 blanket, employees can be transferred quickly and on short notice.
• The L-1 blanket reduces the visa processing time by half, a dramatic cost saver for companies in today’s economy.
• The sponsor company holder of a blanket visa is not required to qualify as a sponsor for each new transferee, reducing time and expense.
• Visas for transferees under the L-1 blanket can normally be issued in just one day, as long as the transferee has the required documents.
• If the company is a holder of L-1 blanket visa status, a transferee can apply directly at the nearest U.S. Consulate to receive their visa. Without the blanket, the transferee is to apply to the USCIS.
• Saving time and money for holders of the L-1 blanket, all immigration requirements for transferees can be handled by a single department at the parent company.

For more information about obtaining blanket visa status, contact the experienced San Francisco L-1 visa attorneys for assistance. Fill out our online form or contact us at 415-221-2800.