U.S. citizen entrepreneurs who own businesses abroad or manage multinational operations often ask: Can I transfer employees from my foreign business to the United States under the L-1 visa category, even if I’m a U.S. citizen? The short answer is yes — provided the business meets the requirements for a qualifying relationship between the U.S. and...
Category: L-1 Visa
Corporate Immigration in the United States: A Foundational Overview for Employers and Professionals
Corporate immigration is a vital component of workforce mobility and talent acquisition in the United States. Each year, businesses rely on immigration programs to bring highly skilled professionals, executives, researchers, and investors to the U.S. while navigating a legal system shaped by decades of policy evolution.
This overview introduces...
New U.S. State Department Tools Help Track Visa Interview Timelines – For Both NIV and IV Applicants
On April 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) introduced two important tools designed to improve transparency and help visa applicants worldwide monitor interview scheduling trends. These tools serve two major categories: Nonimmigrant Visas (NIV) and Immigrant Visas (IV).
Tool 1: Global Visa Wait Times Tool – For...
L-1 Visas for Small Companies: How Even Businesses with Few Employees Can Qualify
The L-1 visa is a popular choice for companies seeking to transfer employees from foreign offices to the U.S. But what about small businesses with only a handful of employees? Can a company with a small team still sponsor an L-1 visa for its executives, managers, or specialized employees? The answer is...
How New U.S. Executive Orders Are Impacting Immigration and Cross-Border Business Operations
The current administration has introduced new executive orders that are reshaping U.S. immigration policy and trade relations, creating significant implications for Canadian businesses, cross-border operations, and U.S. employers. These changes are affecting temporary work visas, immigration enforcement, and trade agreements, prompting companies and foreign workers to prepare for increased scrutiny and processing delays.
New Restrictions on U.S. Visa Interview Waivers: What Applicants Need to Know
The U.S. Department of State has quietly updated Visa Interview Waiver eligibility rules, limiting waivers to a smaller group of applicants. These changes took effect immediately and are already affecting visa applicants at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide.
If you need a visa renewal or stamping, it is critical to understand these updates...
Key Changes in Business Immigration Policies
Stricter Processing of Immigration Petitions and Applications
Key Changes in Business Immigration Policies Continue reading…
President Trump has revoked many Biden-era policies that aimed to improve processing efficiency at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State (DOS). As a result, employers should prepare for:
More restrictive criteria for expedited processing requests.Being a Great Person with a Big Heart is Not a U.S. Immigration Category
Many people reach out to immigration attorneys with heartfelt stories about individuals they know who are wonderful, hardworking, and kind-hearted, hoping to sponsor them for U.S. immigration. While character and goodwill are commendable, U.S. immigration law does not have a visa category based solely on these qualities. Immigration to the United States...
Advance Parole Travel Under the New Executive Order: What You Need to Know
The January 20, 2025, Executive Order on Securing Our Borders has introduced changes that impact various immigration policies, leaving many travelers uncertain about their ability to re-enter the United States using Advance Parole. While new guidance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provides clarity, individuals planning to travel should take necessary precautions.
Immigration Lessons from Hollywood: What “The Proposal” Teaches Employers
Romantic comedies often take creative liberties, but beneath the humor and drama, movies like The Proposal highlight real-life challenges of immigration compliance. In the film, Margaret Tate, a Canadian executive played by Sandra Bullock, faces deportation and orchestrates a fake engagement with her assistant, Andrew (Ryan Reynolds), to maintain her U.S. residency. While the...