Changing between parent and subsidiaries with L1B Visa

USA L1, L2 Visa
1

Hello All,I am currently working for/with COMPANY “X” in USA on L1B Visa (Intra Company Transfer). My company is completely owned by COMPANY “Y” which is also in USA. I would like to know if I can join COMPANY “Y” without applying for a new visa. In other words, Can I work for my Parent company (COMPANY “Y”) with my current L1B Visa?Please advise.Thank you for your response in advance!Regards

2

It is ok to not file any new visa through the other company in case of M&A.

3

Thank you Saurabh for your response. My company has been fully owned by Company Y even before I got my visa while I was in India. My company was not acquired while I am in USA on L1B. Neither my visa stamp nor i797 has the name of company Y in them. So I need to know if I can join company Y without reapplying for a new visa.

4

It would be better to ask your X or Y attorney who can understand the ownership structure and then confirm whether a new visa is required or not.

Here is the irony. If you consider X and Y as separate and deduce that you cannot become Y’s employee automatically and they need a visa for you. Requirement for L-1 is that you should have worked for them for at least 1 year outside US. You satisfy that requirement only if you show that Y is the parent of X and really the same entity, which goes against the original assumption that they are not same. It’s a catch 22 situation from that angle.

5

Thank you Saurabh. This is helpful. I will take it up with the attorney on this issue.