Ecto17

Quick question for you all.
We have been over here 7 months with my husbands company, he is on an L1A and our son and l are on L1B.
Husband has just arrived home to announce that his organization is being bought out by a v large American company. As both are large groups the buy out won't be completed until the summer.
Am l right in thinking that to be eligible for an L visa, the head office has to outside of the US? Does this mean that we would need an alternative visa at that point as the new companies head office is definitely in the US?
Seriously can't believe l only asked you guys about the pros of a green card 2 weeks ago and you all said about the lack of stability with being on an L visa!!!

Pulaski

So long as the new comany maintains (continues to own and operate) the business location that your husband relocated from, or at least another location outside the US, that he can, in theory at least, relocate back to at the end of his L-1 visa, there shouldn't be a problem, at least not from the perspective of visa validity. .... Your assumption that the head office (or company ownership) has to be outside the US is incorrect, for an L-1 visa.

If the new owner of the business buys only the US operations, or subsequently divests the non-US operations, then you and your husband have very few options to remain in the US.

Jack8602

Do you mean you're on L2's as dependants of your husbands visa as opposed to L1B? Or do you and your son both have L1B's separately from your husband?

I went through a similar scenario last year. American arm sold up European operations, of which my L1 was dependent on. HR didn't know any different and thought it'd be ok until i raised a flag.

Would recommend your husband find out more information from HR and speak to the attorney's that got the visa in the first place.

Ecto17

Sorry yes we are on L visas as dependents of my husbands visa. How did your situation work out, if you don't mind me asking?

Ecto17

Thanks, l don't think there is much chance of them doing that (l don't think) however l think to be on the safe side we are going to go ahead with the offer of a green card application which up to now we had put off but now it seems like a sensible approach.

Jack8602

Gotcha.

Bit different for me - the now wife and i accelerated our plan for marriage, so i'm now under an adjustment of status from my L1B.

Work came back after i raised the issue and offered me a H1B - but i wasn't willing to risk the lottery for my chances of staying.

Ecto17

Glad it all worked out. I don't blame you, l wouldn't want to be in that lottery either. Think we will just take the plunge and accept their offer of a green card application so that we feel we have an element of control. Thanks for your help.

Fred16

Ecto17
Have you confirmed the new company has office abroad and they are going to maintain such office(s).

Ecto17

They a multinational so l can't imagine it will be an issue (famous last words!!!) Trying to view this as a positive as they are huge and an American company and therefore hopefully if there are changes, there will be more opportunities with them here opposed to in the U.K. But yes you just have to wait and see in this position.

Rete

Get the GC process started. With good luck, the process could be well underway by the time of the take over this summer and the new employer won't squash it. And if hubby has his EAD, he can always look for another employer.

robtuck

Yep, get the GC under way, regardless. If the company sponsors it, very few downsides anyway. provided the over arching business retains a UK presence you should be fine - same situation I am in. New owners since November, thus far still plenty of UK offices but I've pressed the GC - sometimes they see it as a threat because you can move, but in my case I am using the fact they created risk I could be forced to leave them!! At the end of the day I'd have no worries about moving back, but as we are still early in the journey the extra safety net would be nice.

Ecto17

It sounds like we are very much in the same boat! We only arrived in June and whilst we had a lovely life in the U.K. that we would happily return to, we are enjoying this adventure and would much rather stay.
Good to hear from someone who is a couple of months into a similar situation, we are a couple of days in to the news!! Have to say, feeling better already.
We just have to check that by applying for the GC, the company doesn't pull our expat deal. I don't suppose they will but need to be sure first.
Thanks everyone for your responses, it is so helpful having knowledgeable advise to hand.

Pulaski

IMO it is likely that on completion of the green card process your husband would be moved to "local" terms and conditions of employment - so standard vacation time, no annual airline tickets home, no repatriation on termination, etc. Depending on seniority some of those, such as vacation time, might still be negotiable.

Ecto17

Hi, all these are things we need to establish, management had verbally said that he will remain on the current deal but we are waiting for that to be put in writing by HR, so things could certainly change. It would be a game changer for us and something we would pursue if they did remove the expat deal although could fully understand why they might.