Employers seeking L-1 visas for managerial and specialist employees under "blanket" approval will soon have to use a new, longer form with increased scrutiny of workers' employment histories.
Beginning Aug. 29, companies with an approved blanket L-1 petition must use the latest version of Form I-129S, which allows employers to secure L-1A or L-1B visas for executive and managerial staff or workers with "specialized knowledge" so these workers can transfer to U.S.-based worksites.
Large, multinational companies that frequently transfer workers to the United States use the blanket L option to prequalify the organization and its affiliates for L-1 visas.
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"The updated I-129S doubled in length, going from four pages to eight pages and requires the employer to provide specific details about the applicant's prior employment history," said Ian Macdonald, a shareholder in the Atlanta office of Greenberg Traurig and the firm's business immigration and compliance practice group lead.