E or L visa????

[Brandonboydfan]

Hi! I would like to ask your advice on which visa is easier to apply for (with regard to company employees)? An L1 or an E2? Also, if the non-U.S. company is just about to set up an office in the U.S., is an E2 visa more appropriate for the employees? Or is an L1 also possible since there are provisions for "start up" businesses under L visas...

Thank you!

[Anjelo]

L-1 / E-2

L-1 is for:

Foreign national executives being transferred to the U.S. to manage an organization or a major function or division of an organization


Foreign national managers being transferred to the U.S. to supervise work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees, or who manages an essential function, department or subdivision


Specialized Knowledge employees of companies outside U.S. that have related U.S. branches, subsidiaries, affiliates or joint venture partners


Employees and partners of international accounting firms


Multinational companies to transfer foreign national executives to manage an organization or a major function or division of an organization in the U.S.


Multinational companies to transfer foreign national managers to supervise work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees, or who manages an essential function, department or subdivision in the U.S.


Multinational companies to transfer employees with specialized knowledge such as, its products, research methods and marketing techniques


E-2 Visa is Suitable For:


Entrepreneurs from treaty countries investing substantially in a U.S. enterprise


Nationals of treaty countries entering the U.S. to develop and direct investments from the treaty country


Nationals of treaty countries entering the U.S. to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which they have invested, or they are actively in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital


Immediate family members of E-2 visa holders


Companies in treaty countries to send key personnel to manage the U.S. affiliate or branch


Companies in treaty countries to send personnel to setup a U.S. company

As it is not clear from your query you can have a review on the above and decide which visa is suitable for you.