The L Visa can be used in two capacities, the one being to exchange employees between a Foreign and U.S. based company that has already been established. The second use allows persons who have a business in a foreign country, assuming other requirement's are met as well, to enter the U.S. to open a new affiliate business and bring over an employee of the Foreign company to the newly established U.S. operation.

In terms of the $1 million green card petition, although that option is often easier, we are of course assuming that the "average owner-managed business owner" is able to invest that sort of money. That is precisely one of the main advantages of the L Visa, in that the amount of money that needs to be invested can often be fairly minimal depending on the industry of course.