What is the difference between a Regular and a Blanket L-1 Visa?
• Answer: Any US Company with the requisite relationship to a foreign company may sponsor a qualified employee for regular L-1 Visa. The regular L-1 paperwork is filed with the Regional Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Center that has jurisdiction over the US geographic area where the candidate will be working. Processing times usually have been between 30 and 60 days. Once the L-1 paperwork is approved, the candidate then applies to secure a Visa from the U.S. Embassy/Consulate that has jurisdiction over the candidate’s foreign residence. Once the Visa is approved, the candidate may apply for entry at a US port for admission to the US to work for the sponsoring employer. For Canadian citizens, regular and blanket L-1 status may be processed on a walk-in basis directly at a US border port-of-entry. Blanket L-1 Visas are permitted only for companies that have petitioned and secured prior CIS authorization for streamlined L-1 approval. Blanket L-1 paperwork is approved and exec
