L1A Visa Petition Approval for a Nigerian Telecoms Executive

We are happy to share that have obtained another L1A visa petition approval. This time it is for a Nigerian telecommunications executive.

The US company, which is an affiliate of a Nigerian company, offers a range of telecommunication services, including installation and maintenance of telecom equipment related to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), code-division multiple access (CDMA), and WiMAX (wireless broadband communication standards). It will provide custom, comprehensive in-building solutions for wireless networks.  It will engineer and install equipment to ensure the interconnection of all systems in a building while including access control and security measures. The US Company will conduct digital (core) center management services, ensuring that the clients’ networks and core systems are always operative and optimized.

The US Company will follow trends and new technologies in the telecommunication and IT industries. As such, it will provide installation and testing services, as well as commission products from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The Company will also install and provide remote management of Flatpak systems integration. Flatpak is a system for building, distributing, and running sandboxed desktop applications on Linux. Through its partnerships with innovators on the IT market, the company will have access to the newest solutions that it will be able to offer to its end-user clients, while also providing testing services to manufacturers.

The Company will  also provide project management services, helping its clients to integrate new technologies into their IT systems.  Intelligence Era U.S.’s project management activities will be conducted in compliance with all required specifications and will not interfere with the clients’ daily operations. By hiring the Company, its clients will ensure that their internal networks are efficient and secure and can answer the demands of all daily tasks. It will provide maintenance and optimization services, updating the clients’ systems to cater to the changing needs of their businesses.

Besides providing services to its clients, the US company will also procure products needed by its clients for the design and installation of informational and telecommunication systems.  It will sell products such as switches, routers, network cables, SFTP cables, and DC converters. In order to support its sales and make the operations more profitable, the Company will create partnerships with the U.S. manufacturers of IT and telecommunication products, such as Cisco Systems, Inc. The Company will establish a supply chain management, sourcing products for its clients that best fit the designed solutions, as well as acquire products for its Nigerian affiliate based on the needs of its clients.

The L1 Visa permits the transfer of qualifying staff members to an existing or newly established US entity. That entity must have a qualifying relationship to the overseas business where the employee works (in this case an affiliate). The L1A Visa is for management and executive level staff and is renewable up to seven years. The L1B Visa is for specialized knowledge employees and is renewable upto five years.

By Verdie Atienza, Head of the L1 & E2 Visa Practice at Davies & Associates. With thanks to his team, especially Adele De Lellis for her work on this case.


This article is published for clients, friends and other interested visitors for information purposes only. The contents of the article do not constitute legal advice and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Davies & Associates or any of its attorneys, staff or clients. External links are not an endorsement of the content.


End of US Travel Ban Releases Pent-Up Demand from Nigeria

President Biden’s decision to reverse President Trump’s travel ban has released pent up demand for US immigration services from Nigeria.

Nigeria was hit with a US travel ban in February 2020 after President Trump introduced new restrictions as part of his ongoing immigration reforms. The move added Nigeria and five other countries to what was widely referred to as a “Muslim Ban” that dated back to the start of his administration.

In Nigeria, where around half the population are Muslim, the ban specifically targeted those seeking permanent residency in the United States. This hit particularly hard in the family-based immigrant (Green Card) categories, but also effectively put a halt to the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program in the country.

EB-5 Visa Nigeria

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program had been growing rapidly in popularity in Nigeria over the past few years, albeit from a low base. In 2016, 38 EB-5 visa were issued to Nigerians, and by 2018 that number had jumped to almost 100.

The travel ban coincided with an increase in the minimum investment amount for EB-5 to $900,000 and then the outbreak of Covid-19. So a temporary dampening of demand in 2020 was likely with or without the travel ban.

But now EB-5 reopens and the pent-up demand is able to unleash. There are just over 700 EB-5 visas available to each country each year. This means Nigeria has a way to go before it hits its annual cap. But if its EB-5 growth trajectory resembles other countries like India, things could move fast.

The EB-5 program provides a fast route to a Green Card for a minimum $900,000 investment that creates ten jobs. Most people invest with an EB-5 Regional Center to help ensure compliance, but it is also possible to make the investment yourself through Direct EB5. A single investment can cover the primary applicant, a spouse, and any children under 21.

L-1 Visa Nigeria

Where we are seeing the most interest right now from Nigeria is the L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa. Technically Nigerians were not prevented from applying for this visa as part of the travel ban, but it made the whole process much harder.

Then in June 2020, President Trump announced a worldwide ban on the L-1 visa among many other visas as part of his plans to contain the economic impact of Covid-19. The L-1 visa is only just reopening as Trump’s ban expires. The pent up demand has built up quite a queue worldwide, so it is a good idea to get started on an application.

The L-1A visa allows an international manager or executive to move from the Nigerian office to the US office of the same company. If you are looking to expand your business to the US, you can use the L-1 visa to move to the US to oversee the set-up and growth of the new office. The L-1B visa permits you to transfer an employee with “Specialized knowledge” to the US.

The L-1A visa is limited to a maximum of seven years and the L-1B for a maximum of 5 years. But you would not get the full amount in one go. Nigerian L-1 visas are issued up to a maximum of 2 years, at which time you would need to apply for a renewal. After the maximum period, you must switch to a different visa or return to Nigeria.

E2 Treaty Investor Visa Plus CBI

The other visa a lot of potential Nigerian clients ask us about is the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa. The E-2 visa allows a person to move to the US for the purposes of owning and operating a business. People use it to buy restaurant franchises or gas stations, but the business opportunities are much broader than this. You no longer even need physical premises.

The visa is hugely popular, but there is one catch for Nigerians. Nigeria does not hold an E-2 Treaty with the USA. This means that Nigerians seeking an E-2 visa need to first become citizens of a country that does have a treaty. The process is known as E-2 + CBI.

The two E-2 countries with the cheapest and fastest routes to citizenship are Turkey and Grenada. Turkish citizenship can be obtained with an investment in real estate from $250,000 or bank deposits worth more than $500,000. Grenadian citizenship can be obtained with a donation from $150,000 or a real estate investment from $220,000. Citizenship of both countries can be obtained in a matter of months.

The extra step can seem like a hassle, but we have helped clients through this prcoess and it is simpler than it sounds. Plus, for many, the E-2 visa is worth the effort. Spouses of the primary applicant can apply for a separate US work permit, investment requirements are relatively low, and the visa can be renewed forever – provided the business is still in good operation.


The combination of Covid-19 and a travel ban has hit Nigerian immigration to the United States hard. But the travel ban is lifting and the vaccination program is underway. The 2020s look set to be brighter for Nigerians hoping to move to the United States.


This article is published for clients, friends and other interested visitors for information purposes only. The contents of the article do not constitute legal advice and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Davies & Associates or any of its attorneys, staff or clients. External links are not an endorsement of the content.