L-1 to Employment-Based Green Card in 2026

If you are working in the US on an L-1 visa, your employer may be able to sponsor you for permanent residence through an employment-based green card. Depending on your role, qualifications, and employer’s organizational structure, you may qualify through one of three employment-based (EB) green card categories. Although every case is different, most successful transitions follow a similar path: maintaining qualifying employment, selecting the appropriate immigrant category, completing any required sponsorship steps, and applying for lawful permanent residence.

If you need help with transitioning from an L-1 visa to a green card in 2026, Immigration Desk can help.

We focus exclusively on immigration law, and led by our award winning immigration attorney, Anu Gupta, who has advised more than 15,000 employers, investors, entrepreneurs, families, and individuals on immigration matters. From our office in Newton, MA, we represent clients throughout the US and assist businesses and individuals worldwide seeking entry into the country through employment-based, family-based, and investment-based immigration pathways.

How Do L-1 Visas Work?

An L-1 visa is a temporary work visa that allows a multinational company to transfer certain employees from a foreign office to a US office. L visas come in two forms: L-1A visas for executives and managers, and L-1B visas for employees who have specialized knowledge. Employers sponsor L-1 visas, and you often work with the same employer to get an employment-based (EB) green card.

Unlike most temporary work visas, you can hold temporary L-1 status while also pursuing permanent residence. You can get an L-1 visa and plan to transition to a green card in the US once you arrive. By the time your employer considers sponsoring you for permanent residence, it has already documented your role within the organization and established a qualifying business relationship between the foreign and U.S. entities.

How Do You Move from an L-1 Visa to an Employment-Based Green Card?

If you have an L-1 visa and decide to pursue permanent residence, the process typically begins with choosing the employment-based category that best fits your qualifications and position. From there, your employer may need to request labor certification from the US Department of Labor, file an immigrant petition, and support the final permanent residence application.

Step 1: Determining the Right Employment-Based Category

First, you and your employer must determine which employment-based category best fits your qualifications, job duties, and long-term immigration goals. US immigration law offers several categories of employment-based visas, including:

• Employment-based first preference (EB-1)—for priority workers, including multinational managers and executives;
• Employment-based second preference (EB-2)—for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability; and
• Employment-based third preference (EB-3)—for professionals, skilled workers, and a limited number of other workers.

The category you qualify for determines whether your employer needs to seek labor certification from the Department of Labor (DOL).

Step 2: Labor Certification

If you need an EB-2 or EB-3 visa, your employer typically completes the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) process before sponsoring you for a green card. To complete the PERM process, your employer must test the labor market to ensure that hiring you will not deprive US-based workers of a job. During this process, your employer:

• Requests that the DOL issue a prevailing wage determination, which identifies the typical wage for the position;
• Conducts recruitment to give US workers a chance to apply for the job, and
• Genuinely considers whether any applicants for the position are qualified for it.

If the DOL concludes that no qualified US workers are available for the position, it issues a labor certification. That labor certification allows the employer to proceed to the next stage in the application process.

Step 3: Immigrant Petition

Next, your employer files Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Through the I-140 petition, you establish that you qualify for the employment-based category under federal immigration law and that the offered position satisfies the applicable legal requirements.

At this stage, your employer typically submits evidence relating to:

• Job position,
• Company operations, and
• Ability of the company to support you in the job.

You may also need to provide educational records, employment history, licenses, certifications, and other documents demonstrating that you qualify for the EB category you apply for.

Step 3.5: Waiting for Visa Availability

Immigration law limits the number of employment-based green cards it issues each year. Depending on the category of visa and your country of origin, you may be able to apply for a green card at the same time that your employer submits Form I-140, or you may need to wait.

You can consult the Visa Bulletin to determine whether an immigrant visa is available. If the bulletin reports “C,” that means USCIS does not have a backlog for your country for that category. For example, as of July 2026, USCIS was up to date on EB-1 applications for all countries except India and China.

Step 4: Applying for Your Green Card

Once an immigrant visa number becomes available, you apply for a green card. Because most L-1 visa holders already live in the US, you typically request a green card by submitting Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to the USCIS. Submitting Form I-485 allows you to seek a green card without leaving the country through a process called adjustment of status. You submit the application to USCIS along with supporting evidence regarding your:

• Identity,
• Immigration history,
• Medical examination, and
• Eligibility for permanent residence.

If you are outside the US, you may complete the final stage through a US embassy or consulate abroad. During consular processing, work with the consulate to get an immigrant visa. After approval and admission to the United States, you become a lawful permanent resident.

Although the procedures differ from adjustment of status, the objective remains the same: obtaining permanent authorization to live and work in the United States.

Build Your Long-Term Immigration Strategy with an Immigration Attorney from Immigration Desk

Moving from an L-1 visa to an employment-based green card involves a coordinated process. Immigration Desk can coordinate that process. We help employers and employees understand how each stage of the immigration process connects to the next. From our office in Newton, MA, we represent clients throughout the United States and assist people worldwide seeking lawful entry and long-term immigration solutions.

If you are preparing for or considering an L-1 to EB green card transition, our team can help.

Reach out to learn more.