snowbder

I am currently in the US on an L1 Visa but my UK owned company is being sold. I would like to stay in the US but can I transfer my L1 to a US company or do I have to reapply? If so will I have to return to the UK during my application or is there no chance of ever being able to get a visa to do this?

Ingo Pakleppa

On Sun, 09 Mar 2003 16:39:57 +0000, snowbder wrote:

    >
    > I am currently in the US on an L1 Visa but my UK owned company is being
    > sold. I would like to stay in the US but can I transfer my L1 to a US
    > company or do I have to reapply?

It may be wise to hire an immigration attorney. Actually, the employer
should do that (it is in their own interest), but this is one aspect that
is often overlooked when a merger is conducted.

    > If so will I have to return to the UK
    > during my application or is there no chance of ever being able to get a
    > visa to do this?

Possibilities range from "you may be able to keep the L-1" to "you may
have to change to H-1B" to "you would have to get an H-1B but don't
qualify, so you have to leave" (there are some L-1s who don't qualify for
H-1Bs).

Only an immigration attorney can evaluate this.