Background
Lucas is a seasoned Marine Field Service Engineer Technician, and he was working in the U.S. on an L-1B visa. As his visa was nearing expiration, he was seeking a two-year extension to continue his work. His role was not only highly technical but specialized, requiring intricate knowledge of marine safety systems, international regulations, and proprietary company protocols.
Before the U.S., Lucas worked at the Canadian branch of the company for three years. During this time, he underwent a fast-tracked learning and development program that equipped him with the knowledge of the company’s fire and gas detection technologies. He became an indispensable asset due to his field knowledge, extensive training, and his ability to handle critical safety systems under pressure.
To understand how important Lucas’s role is, imagine being on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean. Now, imagine a fault in the ship’s fire detection or gas alarm systems starts going off. These systems are not just technical hardware, they can make or break a life-or-death situation. Lucas is one of the few professionals trained to install, test, and repair those detection systems both effectively and fast.
Over the past five years in the U.S., Lucas supported company operations across the entire West Coast, including Alaska. He served as the lead technician, overseeing the junior engineers. His continued presence was important, ensuring the seamless service delivery and upholding the company’s global safety standards.
VisaNation Case Strategy
To qualify for an L-1B extension, we needed to demonstrate that Lucas held “specialized knowledge” and would continue using the specialized knowledge in his position. This could be done by showing:
- He had in-depth knowledge of the company’s product and its application in international markets
- Has an advanced level of knowledge or expertise in the processes and procedures of the company
Our team argued that Lucas met both criteria and built a strong case demonstrating how he would continue to demonstrate those two criteria with the L-1B extension.
The petitioner was a U.S.-based company, and the parent company was based in Sweden. The company designs and manufactures fire and gas detection systems for the marine, oil, and gas industries and has a presence in more than 60 countries. The company was over 100 years old, and the parent company was recognized as one of the world’s leading providers of life-safety solutions, with a focus on innovation and reliability.
These systems are not off the shelf. They require precise calibration, expert installation, and real-time field troubleshooting, especially when installed in high-risk environments like cruise ships, offshore rigs, and maritime transport vessels.
We carefully documented Lucas’s responsibilities, which included:
- Installing and maintaining complex fire and gas detection systems
- Diagnosing and troubleshooting high-stakes safety equipment under urgent conditions
- Training new engineers on internal protocols and international compliance standards
- Providing on-call support across remote regions like Alaska, where expertise is limited and a quick response is critical
We also emphasized that this type of field experience is not easily transferable or commonly held by others in the industry. Lucas’s knowledge was both advanced and unique within the organization.
Verdict
After filing in late April, the case received a Request for Evidence (RFE) in May, which we quickly responded to, and by the end of June, USCIS granted the L-1B extension. Within 2 months, the extension was approved.
