L Visa News

State Dept. Releases Pending Final Rule On L Visas Full Validity

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

22 CFR Part 41

[Public Notice:]          

Visas: Issuance of Full Validity L Visas to Qualified Applicants

AGENCY:     State Department.

ACTION:       Final Rule.

SUMMARY:This rule permits the issuance of L visas with validity periods based on the visa reciprocity schedule; whereas the current rule limits L visas to the petition validity period, which is determined by the Department of Homeland Security.   

State Dept. Announces Blanket L Visa Processing Moves To The US Consulate General In Chennai

Blanket L Visa processing to move to the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai on December 1, 2011.

The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai will become the sole acceptance center in India for all applications for intra-company transfers under the blanket L category as of December 1, 2011.  The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and U.S. Consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad will no longer accept or process applications for this visa category.  The blanket L category includes specialized knowledge professionals, executives and managers.

US Consulate Mumbai resumes H & L visa interviews

U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai resumes H and L visa processing

The U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai is pleased to announce the resumption of interviews in Mumbai for H and L visas.  The H and L visa categories are petition-based and enable a beneficiary to work legally in the United States.  In 2010, Indians applicants received 65 percent of all H1B visas issued worldwide. 

USCIS Issues Final Memo on Implementation of Increased Fees for Certain H-1B and L-1 Petitions

This memorandum provides guidance regarding implementation of the provisions of Public Law 111-230 that increase certain H-1B and L-1 petition fees. The additional fee applies to petitioners that employ 50 or more employees in the United States with more than 50% of their employees in the United States in H-1B or L-1A or L-1B nonimmigrant status. Petitioners meeting those criteria must submit the additional fee with an H-1B or L-1 petition filed.

USCIS Implements H-1B and L-1 Fee Increase

On Aug. 13, 2010, President Obama signed into law Public Law 111-230, which contains provisions to increase certain H-1B and L-1 petition fees. Effective immediately, Public Law 111-230 requires the submission of an additional fee of $2,000 for certain H-1B petitions and $2,250 for certain L-1A and L-1B petitions postmarked on or after Aug. 14, 2010, and will remain in effect through Sept. 30, 2014.