VISANOW Shares Insight on Why Companies Are Filing for L Visas in Lieu of the Popular H-1B

With uncertainty surrounding H-1B visa availability, employers look to the L visa to hire specialized foreign talent

CHICAGO, IL March 25, 2008 – The last two years has proved challenging for many companies attempting to file H-1B visa applications for new foreign employees. According to leading immigration solutions provider VISANOW, the demand for H-1Bs is far exceeding the current supply of 65,000 annually, and more and more companies now are looking to alternative visas to ensure they will be able to hire the skilled foreign nationals needed to fill critical positions.

In particular, companies are turning to the L-1 visa as an alternative to the H-1B – primarily because there is no cap on the number of L-1 visas issued per year. The L-1 visa, which was designed as a temporary visa option for specialized workers employed by multinational companies, has expanded in popularity with an average of 315,000 being issued over the past 3 years.

However, the government has started scrutinizing L-1 visa applications more closely in recent years due to suspected abuse of this employment visa option.

“The L-1 visa was originally designed to allow multinationals or foreign companies that are affiliated with U.S. organizations to hire managers, executives or employees with specialized knowledge,” said Robert Meltzer, CEO of VISANOW. “When considering new foreign employees at the managerial level or with a highly specialized knowledge, the L-1 can be an attractive alternative to the H-1B visa. Without a cap on the program, this option can work for employers throughout the year versus the limited filing window currently surrounding the H-1B.”

There are two types of L visas: the L-1A and L-1B. The L-1A is used for hiring managers or executive level positions. The L-1B is available for hiring foreign workers who have specialized knowledge of the company’s product and its application in international markets or have an advanced level of knowledge of processes and procedures of the company.

“With many companies unable to secure employees with H-1B visas, some corporations are trying to fit potential hires into the L category. This isn’t necessarily always the right alternative,” said Meltzer.
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VISANOW Shares Insight on L Visas, page 2
With the H-1B visas a hot commodity, Meltzer believes there will be continued growth in popularity of the L-1 visa and advises that companies keep the requirements in mind when deciding whether to leverage this visa to hire foreign nationals.

To learn more about the L and H-1B visas, please visit www.visanow.com or contact us as info@visanow.com.

About VISANOW
VISANOW has redefined the way immigration services are delivered with a process that consistently provides faster responses, allows greater access to information and saves time. Since 1998, VISANOW has combined superior client support and innovative technology designed to simplify the immigration process for corporations and their foreign employees.

Contact: Paul Colman
312-525-2819
colman@visanow.com