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San Bernardino's growing economy attracts Arab business owners who operate companies with international offices across the Middle East, North Africa, and the United States. The L-1 intracompany transfer visa enables these entrepreneurs to bring key managers and specialized employees from their foreign offices to U.S. operations. With San Bernardino's strategic location in the Inland Empire and its lower operating costs compared to coastal cities, Arab-owned businesses are establishing U.S. headquarters here at an increasing rate.

Reviewed for accuracy by

Maria Santos

DOJ Accredited Representative • 15+ years experience

L-1A vs. L-1B: Understanding the Two Categories

The L-1 visa has two distinct subcategories, each designed for different roles within a multinational organization. The L-1A is for managers and executives who direct the operations of the company or a major component of it. The L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge of the company's products, services, research, or proprietary techniques. Choosing the correct category is critical because the eligibility requirements, maximum stay durations, and pathway to permanent residence differ significantly between the two. USCIS approved approximately 38,000 L-1 petitions in fiscal year 2025, with L-1B petitions accounting for roughly 60% of all approvals.

Feature	L-1A (Manager/Executive)	L-1B (Specialized Knowledge)
Eligible Role	Managers and executives who supervise professionals or manage a function	Employees with specialized knowledge of company products or processes
Initial Stay	Up to 3 years	Up to 3 years
Maximum Stay	7 years total	5 years total
Blanket Petition	Available for qualifying organizations	Available for qualifying organizations
Green Card Pathway	EB-1C (no labor certification needed)	EB-2 or EB-3 (PERM labor certification required)
Filing Fee (I-129)	$460 base + $500 anti-fraud fee	$460 base + $500 anti-fraud fee
Premium Processing	$2,805 (15 business days)	$2,805 (15 business days)

Qualifying Organizational Relationships

The foreign company and the U.S. entity must have a qualifying relationship for the L-1 visa. USCIS recognizes four types of qualifying relationships, and the relationship must exist at the time of filing and must continue throughout the L-1 employee's stay. Arab business owners who operate family businesses across multiple countries often qualify under the parent-subsidiary or affiliate structures. The key requirement is that there is common ownership or control between the foreign and U.S. entities, with at least one entity owning or controlling the other, or both entities being under common ownership.

Relationship Type	Definition	Common Example
Parent-Subsidiary	One company owns more than 50% of the other	Saudi company owns U.S. branch in San Bernardino
Branch Office	Same company operating in two countries	Dubai LLC opens a San Bernardino office
Affiliate	Both entities owned by same parent or individual	Same owner controls companies in Jordan and California
Joint Venture	Each party owns 50% and has equal control	U.S.-Egyptian joint venture with shared management

Individual L-1 Petition Process

The individual L-1 petition is the standard filing method where the U.S. employer files Form I-129 for a specific employee. This process is required for companies that do not qualify for blanket L-1 status. The U.S. petitioner must demonstrate that the employee has worked for the qualifying foreign entity for at least one continuous year within the three years preceding the petition. Processing times for individual L-1 petitions currently average 4 to 8 months without premium processing. Premium processing reduces this to 15 business days for an additional $2,805 fee.

1
Establish Qualifying Relationship
Document the corporate relationship between the foreign and U.S. entities. Provide organizational charts, ownership documents, articles of incorporation, and financial statements for both entities.
2
Verify Employee Qualifications
Confirm the employee has worked for the foreign entity for at least one continuous year in the past three years in a managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge capacity.
3
Prepare the U.S. Position Description
Draft a detailed description of the U.S. role, including supervisory duties (L-1A) or specialized knowledge application (L-1B). For L-1A, list the professional staff the employee will supervise.
4
File Form I-129 with USCIS
Submit the petition with the L Classification Supplement, supporting documentation, $460 filing fee, and $500 Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee. Add $2,805 for premium processing if desired.
5
Employee Applies for Visa at Consulate
After I-129 approval, the employee attends a visa interview at the U.S. consulate in their home country. Bring the I-797 approval notice, passport, DS-160 confirmation, and supporting documents.
6
Enter the U.S. and Begin Work
The employee presents the L-1 visa and approval notice at the port of entry. CBP issues an I-94 card with the authorized period of stay. Work can begin immediately upon entry.

Blanket L-1 Petition: Faster Processing for Larger Organizations

The blanket L-1 petition is an expedited process available to organizations that meet higher thresholds of size and activity. Once USCIS approves a blanket petition, the company can transfer qualifying employees without filing individual I-129 petitions for each person. Instead, employees apply directly at a U.S. consulate with Form I-129S. This significantly reduces processing time and allows companies to respond quickly to staffing needs. Arab-owned businesses with multiple international offices and significant U.S. operations benefit greatly from blanket L-1 status.

•The U.S. petitioner must have been doing business for at least one year
•The organization must have three or more domestic and foreign branches, subsidiaries, or affiliates
•Must meet one of three financial thresholds: (a) combined annual U.S. sales of at least $25 million, (b) U.S. workforce of at least 1,000 employees, or (c) approved at least 10 individual L-1 petitions in the past 12 months
•Blanket approval is valid for 3 years initially and can be renewed indefinitely
•Employees still must qualify individually as managers, executives, or specialized knowledge workers
•Form I-129S replaces individual I-129 petitions for each transferee

L-1 Visa and the Path to a Green Card

One of the most significant advantages of the L-1A visa is the direct path to permanent residence through the EB-1C multinational manager or executive category. The EB-1C category does not require PERM labor certification, which saves 12 to 18 months compared to other employment-based green card categories. L-1B holders can also pursue green cards but must go through the standard PERM process under EB-2 or EB-3 categories, which adds considerable time. For Arab business owners planning long-term U.S. operations in San Bernardino, the L-1A to EB-1C pathway represents the fastest employment-based route to permanent residence.

Green Card Path	Visa Requirement	PERM Required	Typical Timeline	Priority Date Backlog
EB-1C (Multinational Manager)	L-1A preferred	No	12-18 months	Current for most countries
EB-2 (Advanced Degree)	L-1B eligible	Yes	24-36 months + backlog	Significant backlog for some countries
EB-3 (Professional/Skilled)	L-1B eligible	Yes	24-36 months + backlog	Longer backlog than EB-2

L-1 Visa Services for San Bernardino Arab Business Owners

SoCal Immigration Services provides expert L-1 intracompany transfer visa assistance to Arab business owners in San Bernardino and the Inland Empire. Our Arabic-speaking team understands the unique corporate structures common in Middle Eastern and North African businesses, including family-owned conglomerates and multi-country operations. We work with your legal and accounting teams to build strong petitions that demonstrate qualifying relationships and employee eligibility. Our experience with L-1 petitions for businesses connected to the Arab world gives us insight into the specific documentation challenges these cases present.

•Full I-129 petition preparation for L-1A and L-1B classifications
•Corporate relationship documentation and organizational chart creation
•Specialized knowledge or managerial role position descriptions
•Blanket L-1 petition eligibility assessment and filing
•Premium processing coordination for urgent transfers
•EB-1C green card pathway planning for L-1A holders
•Arabic and English document preparation and translation coordination

FAQFrequently Asked Questions

Q:What is the difference between L-1A and L-1B visas?

A: L-1A is for managers and executives with a 7-year maximum stay and EB-1C green card path. L-1B is for specialized knowledge workers with a 5-year maximum stay.

Q:How long must an employee work abroad before qualifying for L-1?

A: The employee must have worked for the qualifying foreign entity for at least one continuous year within the three years immediately preceding the L-1 petition filing.

Q:Can I open a new U.S. office with an L-1 visa?

A: Yes. L-1 visas allow new office petitions with an initial stay of one year. You must show the qualifying relationship and a viable business plan for U.S. operations.

Q:How much does the L-1 petition cost?

A: The base I-129 filing fee is $460 plus a mandatory $500 fraud prevention fee. Premium processing adds $2,805 for 15 business-day adjudication.

Q:Can L-1 visa holders bring their families to the United States?

A: Yes. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 receive L-2 status. L-2 spouses are authorized for employment upon admission without a separate work permit.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about immigration services in San Bernardino and does not constitute legal advice. SoCal Immigration Services is a document preparation company, not a law firm. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed immigration attorney.

Published: February 12, 2026Last Updated: February 12, 2026

Transfer Key Employees to San Bernardino

Our Arabic-speaking team helps Arab business owners navigate the L-1 intracompany transfer process. Whether you need an L-1A for a manager or L-1B for a specialized employee, we build strong petitions that get results. Contact us today to discuss your business immigration needs.

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L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa in San Bernardino: Guide for Arab Business Owners