Getting a mortgage as an L-1 visa holder
L-1 visa holders are intracompany transferees — moved to the U.S. by an employer you already worked for abroad. For mortgage purposes you look much like an H-1B borrower: an SSN, W-2 income, and access to mainstream loans.
The nuance is that your status is tightly bound to one employer, so lenders pay close attention to the stability of that single relationship when judging whether your income will continue.
Credit history
You have an SSN and build a standard credit file. Recently arrived transferees often have a thin domestic credit history; lenders can supplement with non-traditional credit (rent, utilities, insurance) while your U.S. file matures. Twelve months of clean domestic history opens the most options.
Income documentation
Most L-1 holders are W-2 employees of the sponsoring company — the cleanest income type. Two years of income history is ideal, but lenders can often count continuous employment that began abroad with the same employer, supported by an employment letter. Foreign income generally counts only if it continues in the U.S.
If you’re self-employed on top of your status, the self-employed mortgage guide and bank statement loans cover how your business income qualifies.
Down payment
Standard conventional down payments apply — 3–5% with a valid SSN and work authorization. Jumbo loans may carry lender-specific overlays, but there's no blanket visa down-payment penalty. (FHA is no longer open to non-permanent residents as of May 2025.)
Loan programs open to you
- Conventional (Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac) — available with valid SSN and authorization
- FHA — no longer available to non-permanent residents (May 2025 HUD policy change)
- Jumbo — available, subject to individual lender overlays
- VA / USDA — only if separately eligible
Best-fit path
Conventional loan — W-2 income from your sponsoring employer plus an SSN usually means a straightforward conventional approval at the best rate — the right starting point for most L-1 transferees.
Also worth comparing:
- Non-QM / portfolio programs — Helpful when your U.S. credit file is still young or your down payment is limited — portfolio lenders set their own guidelines and several are comfortable with visa professionals.
- Jumbo loan — Senior transferees buying in high-cost markets can access jumbo financing — just expect some lenders to ask more about visa continuity.
Compare every option side by side on the loan types page, or take the 5-question loan quiz.
Key consideration: income tied to a single employer
Document checklist
FAQ
Not materially. Both are work visas with SSNs, and both access conventional loans on standard terms. The L-1's distinguishing feature is that your status is tied to one sponsoring employer, so lenders focus on the stability of that single employment relationship. (Neither can use FHA — it closed to non-permanent residents in May 2025.)
Often yes. Lenders can frequently count continuous employment with the same company that began abroad, supported by an employment letter, even if your U.S. tenure is short. A thin U.S. credit file can be supplemented with non-traditional credit while it matures.
Usually, though some lenders apply overlays around remaining visa time or renewal likelihood. If one lender is cautious, another may not be. The immigration mechanics of renewal are best handled with an immigration attorney.
Educational information only — not financial, immigration, or legal advice, and not a quote, pre-approval, or offer of credit. Program availability and ranges are illustrative and vary by lender. Mortgage Merlin is a publisher, not a lender or broker.