Blanket L Petition

USCIS has provided a special set of procedures to be used by companies that are frequent users of the L-1 visa category or are large multi-national organizations. It is called "L-1 Blanket Petition Program." Under this Blanket L program, the approved company need only receive one approval from the USCIS to transfer a certain number of foreign employees.

A blanket L petition simplifies the process of transferring multiple employees on short notice and filing the individual L-1A or L-1B petition later.

A blanket L petition must be filed by the U.S. employer with the appropriate USCIS Service Center. The petition must be filed with evidence that:

• That the U.S. company and its foreign branches, subsidiaries and affiliates are involved in commercial trade or services;
• The office in the U.S. has been doing business for one year or more;
• The company has 3 or more domestic and foreign branches, subsidiaries or affiliates;
• The qualifying organizations have received prior approved petitions for at least 10 "L" managers, executives or specialized knowledge professionals in the previous 12 months period, have U.S. subsidiaries or affiliates with combined annual sales of at least 25 million dollars, or have a U.S. work force of at least 1,000 employees.

After approval of a blanket L petition, the employer may transfer qualifying employees to enter the U.S. after the employee obtains a L-1 Blanket visa at the consulate. The blanket L visa holder must than file an individual L-1A or L-1B petitions with USCIS once they entered.