Favored by European and Japanese multinational companies, as is the L-1 visa. Individuals must have similar qualifications. State licensure requirements must also be met. Other restrictions apply. Preliminary consultation with state labor authorities is required, and the employer must attempt to recruit qualified U.S. workers beforehand.
Requirements are very strict.
An advantageous first step to permanent residence, for foreign executives and managers. Entry is facilitated for Canadians, but not Mexicans. Extensions of status, and change to another classification, are possible, provided the prescribed legal requirements are met. The INS approval notice allows one to apply for a new visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad, and to apply for re-entry with the new visa stamp. The procedures involved above are extensive and should not be attempted without a solid understanding of the substance of the law governing each category.