Tag: L visa

CBP Announces Optimized Processing for First-Time Canadian TN and L Applicants

Greenberg Traurig Law firm

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced optimized processing procedures at fourteen ports-of-entry, including four pre-clearance locations, for Canadian citizens seeking TN or L status for the first time. This initiative is designed to increase customer satisfaction, decrease wait times and allow CBP to effectively deal with increased volume of Canadian TN and L applicants. Although first-time Canadian TN and L applicants may go to other ports for processing, CBP is encouraging applicants to go through one of the designated ports below for optimized processing:

Pre-Flight Inspection Locations

  • Pearson International Airport, Toronto, Ontario

  • Trudeau International Airport, Dorval, Quebec

  • Vancouver International Airport, Richmond, British Columbia

  • Calgary International Airport, Calgary, Alberta

Land Port Locations

  • Highgate Springs Port of Entry, Highgate Springs, Vermont

  • Derby Line Port of Entry, Derby Line, Vermont

  • Alexandria Bay Port of Entry, Alexandria, New York

  • Peace Bridge Port of Entry, Buffalo, New York

  • Rainbow Bridge Port of Entry, Niagara Falls, New York

  • Champlain Port of Entry, Champlain, New York

  • Detroit Canada Tunnel Port of Entry, Detroit, Michigan

  • Detroit Ambassador Bridge Port of Entry, Detroit, Michigan

  • Blaine Peace Arch Port of Entry, Blaine, Washington

  • Sweetgrass Port of Entry,  Sweetgrass Montana

ARTICLE BY

Ian R. Macdonald
OF
Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Pending Final Rule: Issuance of Full Validity L Visas to Qualified Applicants

The State Department published a pending final rule that permits the issuance of L visas with validity periods based on the visa reciprocity schedule.

Current State Department regulations require that L visa duration be limited to the validity period of the petition, which, under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, cannot exceed three years. Petitioners may apply to USCIS for extension of petition validity in increments of up to two years, but the total period of stay may not exceed five years for foreign nationals employed in a specialized knowledge capacity or seven years for foreign nationals employed in a managerial or executive capacity.

As a result of the change, L visa validity will be governed by 22 CFR § 41.112, rather than 22 CFR § 41.54(c), which provides that a nonimmigrant visa shall have the validity prescribed in schedules provided to consular officers by the State Department. These schedules reflect the reciprocal treatment the applicant’s country accords U.S. nationals, U.S. permanent residents or foreign nationals granted refugee status in the United States. The change will mostly benefit beneficiaries of petitions for L status who are nationals of countries for which the reciprocity schedule prescribes visa validity for a longer period of time.

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