{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/l-1-visa","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/l-1-visa","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"l-1-visa","term":"L-1 Visa","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A non-immigrant visa allowing a U.S. employer to transfer an executive, manager, or specialized knowledge employee from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States.","what_it_means":"While primarily for existing businesses transferring employees, an L-1 visa could be relevant if you're acquiring a business with international operations and plan to transfer personnel. For SBA loan eligibility, the key principal must be a Qualified Alien. Consult an immigration attorney to ensure compliance for both your visa and SBA requirements.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/l-1-visa","official_sources":[{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"}],"related":[{"slug":"qualified-alien","term":"Qualified Alien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/qualified-alien"},{"slug":"form-i-551","term":"Form I-551","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/form-i-551"},{"slug":"uscis","term":"USCIS","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/uscis"},{"slug":"key-principal","term":"Key principal","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/key-principal"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Are specific visa types acceptable for a non-U.S. citizen owner to be eligible for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/are-specific-visa-types-acceptable-for-a-non-u-s-citizen-owner-to-be-eligible-for-an-sba-7"},{"question":"Is an individual without permanent resident status, but with a valid U.S. work visa, eligible for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/is-an-individual-without-permanent-resident-status-but-with-a-valid-u-s-work-visa-eligible"},{"question":"Can a business owner with a valid E-2 investor visa meet the citizenship or residency requirements for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-business-owner-with-a-valid-e-2-investor-visa-meet-the-citizenship-or-residency-requ"},{"question":"Can a non-U.S. citizen individual with an E-2 investor visa be an eligible applicant for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-non-u-s-citizen-individual-with-an-e-2-investor-visa-be-an-eligible-applicant-for-a-"},{"question":"Are specific visa types, other than LPR, acceptable for a non-U.S. citizen owner to be eligible for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/are-specific-visa-types-other-than-lpr-acceptable-for-a-non-u-s-citizen-owner-to-be-eligib"},{"question":"What specific visa types, if any, are acceptable for a non-U.S. citizen owner to be eligible for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-specific-visa-types-if-any-are-acceptable-for-a-non-u-s-citizen-owner-to-be-eligible-"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — L-1 Visa","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/l-1-visa","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}