“Blanket” L Petitions

• What is a Blanket L Petition

• Qualifications for the Blanket L

• Application Procedures

• Obtaining a Visa

 

What is a Blanket L Petition

Companies who transfer large number of employees may qualify for “blanket” approval of their L-1 eligibility.  These blanket petitions make transferring managers, executives and specialized employees to the United States quicker and easier.

Qualifications for the Blanket L

Companies must meet the following requirements to qualify for a Blanket L petition:

• The U.S. and foreign offices must be engaged in commercial trade or services;
• The employer's U.S. office must have been in business for at least one year;
• The employer must have at least three domestic or foreign branches, subsidiaries, or affiliates;

In addition, the employer must also show one of the following:

• at least ten L-1 visas were approved in the last year;
• the company had U.S. sales of at least million; or,
• the company employs at least 1,000 workers in the United States.

Application Procedures

Companies who meet the above criteria may file a petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), providing a list of all affiliated companies worldwide.  The USCIS reviews the information and, if approved, send a notice stating that the company and its affiliates are eligible for the Blanket L program.

Obtaining a Visa

Once the USCIS has approved the company's Blanket L petition, transferees from affiliated companies no longer need to send an individual petition to the USCIS.  Each transferred employee need only apply at a U.S. consulate for a visa for entry. 

For more information about the L-1 visa category, see the L-1 Work Visa page.  If you would like assistance preparing your H-1B petition, please contact Peng & Weber.