Or company takeover or merger or site closure or any number of events that happen in the corporate world. Get it in writing too!

I also thought it was an obligation. I believe it is for H-1B sponsors. At least my company mentioned that when I was let go while on that visa.

it is one of the differences between the two visa categories. Maybe the thinking behind it is related to L-1 being a dual intent visa, with a route to permanent residency that is not there for H-1B.

When I fell out with my L-1A sponsor, to the point where they fired me (luckily I'd seen this coming and made provision for it), they sent me a copy of a letter from I.C.E. stating that if my employment is terminated (regardless of reason), that they were required under the terms of the petition, pay for the costs incurred in my and my dependents removal from the US. My then employer even gloated that they had no obligation to pay for the removal costs of my possessions and pets.
It was fortunate for me and my family that I was one or two steps ahead of them, come crunch-time.

I think you will find that there is a requirement in the petition (L-1A/B and H-1B) that mandates the above.

I'm not going to argue with you as I am not an expert. However, I do note that you say the legal obligation is for the person(s) and not their possessions. My experience of moving my possessions back to the UK is that that was far more expensive than the flights, so I think we both agree that the OP would do well to get a written agreement for ALL repatriation costs to be funded by the employer.

PS your L-1A sponsor company sounds like a bunch of gits, glad you were ahead of the game.

the H-1B is also a dual intent visa.

Well folks, I have reached out to them as the offer came through today, have asked them to document their intentions to make the visa element more secure within the contents of the offer letter and to see how I can transition to GC and what time period that would be in.

Had a teleconference today, they are pretty sympathetic so hopefully this gets resolved quickly so I can start packing!

It was never my intention to argue either - just share my experience - and I agree, the cost of repatriating a household is a damn sight more than a couple of coach plane tickets.

PS - just to reassure you, yes indeed, they were utter deceitful and then spiteful bastards - lesson learned. It was a difficult time.

Just an update, got the revised offer letter through with an L1A visa at first and then transition to a GC within 2 years.

Phew!

Good work.

The thing that always reassured me was remembering that very very few people ever get the chance to live and work abroad. Even fewer get the chance to do it in the USA.

The way I saw it, even if everything went completely tits up and I ended up hating it, or the job fell through, moving still would have been the right decision.

Yeah that's a great point, I'm extremely lucky to have this opportunity.