Smart Expansion: How Canadian Companies Are Sending Their Key Staff Stateside

Use the L-1B visa to transfer specialized talent to your U.S. office - without the red tape or a green card.

Have a Key Employee in Canada You Wish Could Help Build Your U.S. Operations?

Good news: you may not need to hire locally or wait to find the right fit.

Many Canadian companies expanding into the U.S. are using the L-1B visa to move existing staff with specialized knowledge into new or growing U.S. offices - legally and efficiently.

This visa isn’t just for executives. It’s designed for the people who know your business inside and out - your systems, your products, your services, your clients, your proprietary tools. The people who make your operation run smoothly and would be hard to replace.

What Does “Specialized Knowledge” Actually Mean?

Don’t let the term intimidate you. U.S. immigration defines it more broadly than you might think. It often includes:

• Deep understanding of your company’s unique systems, software, processes, or technology

• Product knowledge that would take significant time to teach someone new

• Experience with internal procedures, client handling, or technical operations

• Familiarity with the way your company works that gives them an edge in launching or growing your U.S. branch

If your employee’s skills are difficult to teach and specific to how your company operates, they may qualify.

Why Canadian Companies Are Using the L-1B

• No green card or lottery neededUnlike many U.S. work visas, the L-1B doesn’t require sponsorship by a third party or a long waitlist.

• Fast processingCanadian citizens can often apply at the border with an application prepared in advance, making the process surprisingly quick.

• Multiple employees can qualifyIf you're expanding to the U.S., you can potentially transfer more than one key staff member under L-1B status - as long as they meet the criteria.

• Pathway to permanent solutionsThe L-1B can open doors to long-term U.S. strategies, from business growth to permanent residency (if desired).

Basic Requirements at a Glance

To qualify for an L-1B visa, your employee must:

• Have worked for your Canadian business full-time for at least one continuous year in the last three

• Be coming to the U.S. to work in a specialized knowledge capacity

• Join a U.S. entity with a qualifying relationship to your Canadian business (parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate)

• Be transferring internally - this is not for new hires

What If Your Employee is a Manager or Executive?

If the team member you're considering is more of a decision-maker, team lead, or top-level manager, they may qualify for the L-1A visa instead, which is tailored to executives and high-level managers.

Not sure which category your employee fits into? Contact our team at USAVISA.ca for a free assessment. We specialize in helping Canadian companies navigate U.S. business immigration and will guide you to the right strategy - quickly and professionally.

Let’s move your business forward - starting with the right visa.