On February 3, 2004, the House International Relations Committee held a hearing on the L-1 nonimmigrant visa category.  Unfortunately, the individuals that testified mostly favored restricting the L visa category and also demonstrated a lack of knowledge about the differences between the H-1B and L-1 visa categories.  The witnesses blamed the L visa for current outsourcing instead of recognizing the L-1 visa as a tool to increase foreign investment and create U.S. jobs. Among the issues discussed were numerical limits to the L visa program as well as a cap on the length of stay. According to Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) this was the first in a series of hearings.

In light of the above, we strongly encourage supporters of the L program to contact their Representatives and voice their support of the L visa category.  The American Immigration Lawyer's Association (AILA) has drafted a sample letter you can send to your Representative and Senator in support of the L visa:  http://capwiz.com/stickers/?dir=aila2&lvl=C&azip=20008

If you would like additional information on the L visa category and its importance to our economy, read AILA's L visa issue paper on AILA InfoNet at: http://www.aila.org/infonet/fileViewer.aspx?docID=10822 and testimony by AILA Business Committee Chair Stephen Yale-Loehr, in a July 2003 hearing before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, available on InfoNet at: http://www.aila.org/infonet/libraryViewer.aspx?docID=10832.

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