L1 visa may work if you miss H-1B – here’s who qualifies and who doesn’t

For those who haven’t been selected in the H-1B lottery, the L1 visa may be another way into the United States—if their job and company meet certain conditions. The L1 is a non-immigrant visa that allows US employers to transfer executives or managers from affiliated offices abroad to the US.

It also allows foreign companies to send key personnel to establish a US branch, provided certain requirements are met. But not everyone qualifies.