L-1 Blanket Visa: Simplest Way to Transfer Employees to the US

For multinational companies that regularly relocate employees to the United States, the L-1 Blanket petition is one of the simplest and most scalable ways to transfer talent from overseas offices to US teams.

Instead of filing a separate USCIS petition for every employee transfer, an approved L-1 Blanket allows qualifying companies to move executives, managers, and specialized knowledge employees under a single pre-approved framework. This dramatically reduces administrative effort, speeds up relocations, and makes global mobility more predictable.

This guide explains how the L-1 Blanket works, who qualifies, and why it’s often the simplest solution for companies transferring employees to the US.

What is an L-1 Blanket petition?

An L-1 Blanket petition is a USCIS approval that allows qualifying multinational companies to transfer employees from overseas offices to the US without submitting a new petition for each individual transfer.

Once a company’s blanket petition is approved, eligible employees can apply for their L-1 visas directly at a US embassy or consulate using the existing approval. This removes repetitive filings and streamlines the entire transfer process.

See also: Global Mobility for Organizations: Benefits, Challenges, and Solutions

Why the L-1 Blanket is the simplest way to transfer employees to the US

The L-1 Blanket is considered the simplest transfer option because it transforms US relocations into a repeatable, low-friction process.

Key reasons companies choose the L-1 Blanket include:

• No need to file individual L-1 petitions with USCIS for every transfer
• Faster and more predictable employee relocations
• Reduced legal and administrative workload for HR and mobility teams
• Lower long-term costs for companies with multiple transfers
• Scalable support for growing or distributed US teams

For companies managing global workforces, this simplicity is a major operational advantage.

See also: 8 Workplace Mobility Trends Reshaping Employee Experience

Who qualifies for an L-1 Blanket petition?

The L-1 Blanket is best suited for established multinational companies that expect to transfer employees to the US on a recurring basis.

To qualify, companies generally must:

• Have a qualifying corporate relationship between US and foreign entities
• Be actively doing business in the US for at least one year
• Meet USCIS thresholds related to revenue, workforce size, or prior L-1 approvals

Once approved, the blanket petition can be used to transfer both L-1A (executives and managers) and L-1B (specialized knowledge) employees.

L-1 Blanket vs individual L-1 petitions

While individual L-1 petitions work well for occasional transfers, the L-1 Blanket is significantly simpler for companies relocating employees regularly.

See also: 8 Ways HR Technology Helps Unlock Global Mobility Success

How long is an L-1 Blanket petition valid?

An approved L-1 Blanket petition is initially valid for three years. After that period, companies can request indefinite validity by demonstrating they continue to meet eligibility requirements.

It’s important to distinguish between:

• The validity of the blanket petition, and
• The validity of individual L-1 visas issued under it

Individual visa validity typically follows standard L-1 rules:

• New US office transfers: initially one year
• Existing US offices: initially up to three years
• Extensions available up to seven years for L-1A and five years for L-1B

These timelines support long-term workforce planning while keeping transfers flexible.

Can employees bring dependents under an L-1 Blanket?

Yes. Employees transferring under an L-1 Blanket can bring their spouse and unmarried children under 21 to the US on L-2 visas.

L-2 dependents can remain in the US for the same duration as the primary L-1 employee, and L-2 spouses are eligible to work in the US without a separate work permit, making relocation easier for families.

What documentation is required for an L-1 Blanket?

While the L-1 Blanket reduces repeat filings, companies must still provide clear documentation when applying for the blanket and when transferring employees.

At a high level, documentation typically includes:

• Proof of qualifying corporate relationships
• Evidence of active business operations in the US and abroad
• Financial or workforce records demonstrating eligibility
• Employee-specific documents showing executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge roles

USCIS may request additional evidence depending on the case.

How the L-1 Blanket transfer process works

Once a blanket petition is approved, employee transfers follow a simplified process:

1. The company confirms the employee qualifies under the blanket approval
2. The employee applies for an L-1 visa at a US embassy or consulate
3. Upon approval, the employee can relocate to the US to join the US team

This streamlined workflow is what makes the L-1 Blanket one of the simplest ways to move overseas employees to the US.

How Deel simplifies L-1 Blanket employee transfers

While the L-1 Blanket is designed to reduce complexity, successful use still depends on eligibility checks, documentation accuracy, and ongoing compliance.

Deel helps companies keep L-1 Blanket transfers simple by:

• Assessing whether a company qualifies for a blanket petition
• Preparing and filing the initial L-1 Blanket application
• Supporting individual employee visa applications under the blanket
• Managing timelines, renewals, and compliance requirements
• Coordinating relocations for employees and their dependents

With Deel, companies turn the L-1 Blanket into a predictable, scalable transfer system — not a recurring legal burden.

Case study: Discover how Taktile streamlined its immigration process with Deel. The company saved time, stayed focused on key business priorities, and still had full visibility into every application.

Transfer employees to a US team with Deel Mobility

For companies asking what the simplest way is to transfer an employee from an overseas office to a US team, the L-1 Blanket petition is often the answer.

By eliminating repetitive filings and enabling faster, more consistent relocations, it allows businesses to move global talent efficiently while reducing operational overhead. With Deel Immigration, companies can secure and manage L-1 Blanket transfers with confidence — keeping global mobility simple, compliant, and scalable.

Schedule a free consultation to see how Deel can simplify your global immigration needs.