Canadian Professionals Benefit from Streamlined L-1 Visa Process

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Canadian professionals working for international companies can transfer to U.S. offices through the L-1 intracompany transferee visa. Canadian citizens benefit from special U.S.- Mexico- Canada- Agreement (USMCA; previously NAFTA) provisions that may, in certain cases, allow for L-1 applications to be filed directly with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at ports of entry or preclearance locations, potentially enabling same-day adjudication.

Why it matters

The L-1 visa offers Canadian professionals a flexible and efficient path to work in the U.S., with benefits like no annual quotas, dual intent recognition, and a streamlined green card process for executives and managers. The USMCA provisions give Canadian citizens an advantage over other nationalities by allowing them to bypass the traditional visa application process and get approved at the border.

The details

The L-1 visa facilitates international talent mobility for multinational companies, enabling qualified employees to transfer from a foreign office to a related U.S. entity without labor market testing. There are two L-1 categories: L-1A for executives and managers (maximum stay of 7 years) and L-1B for specialized knowledge workers (maximum stay of 5 years). Canadian citizens can present their L-1 petition directly at U.S. ports of entry or preclearance locations, often receiving same-day approval from CBP officers.

• The USMCA agreement, which replaced NAFTA, went into effect in 2020 and includes the special provisions for Canadian L-1 visa applicants.

What’s next

Canadian professionals interested in transferring to the U.S. through the L-1 visa should work closely with their employer to prepare a comprehensive petition package and identify the optimal border crossing or preclearance location for submitting their application.