Yes, L1 visa holders can apply for a green card. The L1 visa allows dual intent, which means you can pursue permanent residency while maintaining your L1 status. This makes it one of the more flexible non-immigrant visa options for long-term planning.
L1A to Green Card (EB‑1C Category)
If you are on an L1A visa, you may qualify for a green card through the EB‑1C category for multinational executives and managers. This path does not require labor certification (PERM) and often moves faster than other employment-based categories.
To qualify, you must have worked for a related foreign company in an executive or managerial role for at least one continuous year in the past three years. Your U.S. role must also be managerial or executive, and the foreign and U.S. companies must have a qualifying corporate relationship such as parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate.
L1B to Green Card (EB‑2 or EB‑3 Category)
L1B visa holders can also apply for a green card, usually under the EB‑2 or EB‑3 categories. These require the PERM labor certification process, where the employer must show that there are no qualified U.S. workers available for the job.
This process takes more time and may be delayed by visa number backlogs, especially for applicants from high-demand countries.
Dual Intent and Filing Process
Because the L1 visa allows dual intent, you can apply for a green card without affecting your non-immigrant status. Once your employer files Form I‑140 and a visa number is available, you may file Form I‑485 to adjust status in the U.S.
In many EB‑1C cases, you may be eligible to file I‑140 and I‑485 together through concurrent filing, which can shorten the total processing time. If you are outside the U.S., you would complete the process through consular processing.
Family Eligibility
Your spouse and unmarried children under age 21 may also apply for green cards as derivative beneficiaries. Spouses in L2 status are generally eligible to adjust status at the same time as the primary applicant.
Summary
Yes, green cards are available to L1 visa holders. L1A applicants benefit from a faster path under EB‑1C, while L1B holders can apply through EB‑2 or EB‑3 with more steps involved. The L1 visa’s dual intent feature allows you to move forward with permanent residency while maintaining legal status in the U.S.