Last Updated on March 29, 2025 by Anda Malescu
The article discusses can an L1 visa holder work part-time in the United States? The answer is yes, under certain circumstances you can work part-time in the US for the sponsoring employer.
However, as an L1 visa holder you cannot work in the US part-time for the sponsoring employer and part-time for another unrelated employer.
The regulations do not contain an explicit requirement that an L1 visa holder must work full time for the US assignment. While the intent for L-1 visa may be full-time employment, L regulations have indicated that less than full-time may be acceptable.
To learn more about the requirements, terms and condition of the L1 visa visit our L1 visa page here.
Permitted part-time work for L1 visa holders
The regulations state that L1 visa holders are not required to perform full-time services in the United States. It is therefore clearly permissible to work part-time or otherwise less than full-time in the United States on an L1 visa for your sponsoring employer under a variety of scenarios.
You can work part-time as an L1 visa holder if you reside abroad and spend part of the year in U.S. working for the US assignment and the rest of the year you spend abroad working for the foreign office. However, when you are working part-time on an L1 visa your primary purpose while in the United States must be to perform services for the US office consistent with the visa terms, and not to engage in matters unrelated to your visa status.
For example, if you live in the United States and commute to work in Canada and Mexico where you perform the vast majority of your services and only occasionally work in the US, then you do not qualify for L1 visa since your primary purpose for being in the US is unrelated to your L1 employment.
On the other hand, if you live in Canada or Mexico and you come to the United States occasionally to work as an executive for the US office part-time, then you qualify for L1 visa because your primary purpose for coming to the United States is related to your L1 employment.
Additionally, an L1 visa allows for part-time work for parents transitions back to full-time employment following maternity or paternity leave.
It is also permissible to maintain nonimmigrant status in the US during medical leave, family leave, or vacations, even if you are not working full-time. In these situations part-time work is permitted as long as you are still employed by the company.
Malescu Law can assist
Our immigration lawyers in Miami, Florida USA can assist you to understand if you can work part-time as an L1 visa holder under your specific situation and apply for L1 visa.
If you are an employer or employee interested in applying for an L1 visa or renewing your L1 visa, our immigration attorneys can assist with the L1 visa application and provide guidance, advice and preparation of required documents for your L1 visa.
We serve companies and individuals across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Contact our L1 visa lawyers or schedule a consultation.
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