Open your U.S. office on a visa built for entrepreneurs.
The L-1A is how founders and entrepreneurs move themselves to the U.S. to launch their company's first American office. We help you build the petition that proves the business is real, the role is executive, and the expansion is ready — so the visa decision rests on your case, not on a missed requirement.
Or see if you qualify in three minutes.
The L-1A petition done the way USCIS expects to see it.
We build the case for the U.S. entity
A new office L-1A petition stands or falls on whether USCIS believes your U.S. company is a real, viable business — not just an idea on paper. We help you assemble the lease, the bank account, the corporate documents, the business plan, and the financial projections that prove you've built a company, not a shell.
We document the qualifying foreign company
Your foreign company must have operated for at least one year, employed you in an executive or managerial role, and have a qualifying relationship with the new U.S. entity (parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate). We help you document all three in the way USCIS officers actually evaluate them.
We frame the executive role properly
USCIS has a specific definition of executive and managerial capacity, and most L-1A denials come from petitions that describe the role in plain English instead of in the language USCIS is trained to look for. We help you build a position description that meets the legal standard.
The L-1A isn't denied because the entrepreneur isn't qualified. It's denied because the petition didn't prove the case.
USCIS officers reviewing a new office L-1A petition are reading skeptically. The new office category is one of the most scrutinized in the L-1 program — because it's the path most often used for petitions that don't meet the standard.
What gets petitions denied isn't usually the founder. It's the petition.
A U.S. entity that doesn't yet look operational. A business plan that lists products without naming customers. A foreign company that hasn't documented its one year of qualifying employment clearly. An executive role that's been described in everyday language instead of in the framework USCIS expects. A lease for office space that's too small or too symbolic for a real operation.
These are all fixable. Most of them require knowing what USCIS is actually looking for — and most general-practice attorneys file these petitions the same way they'd file any other case, missing the specific scrutiny new office cases get.
We've seen what gets approved and what gets RFE'd. The difference is rarely the entrepreneur. It's the petition.
Built for entrepreneurs ready to expand.
Founders of established companies abroad
opening a U.S. office for the first time.
Entrepreneurs in growth-stage businesses
moving themselves to the U.S. to lead the American market expansion.
Owners of family or operating businesses abroad
ready to make an impact in the U.S. market and run it personally.
Founders with U.S. customers, partners, or investors
ready to move from remote operation to physical presence.
If you're sending a senior team member instead of moving yourself, the L-1A still applies — and we handle those cases too. The page below speaks to the founder, but the strategy translates.
Three steps. From foreign founder to U.S. operator.
Talk to us
Book a consultation. We'll spend time understanding your foreign company, your U.S. expansion plans, your timeline, and your role on both sides — and tell you whether L-1A is the right strategy or whether something else (O-1, EB-2 NIW) fits better.
We build the petition
We assemble the documentation: the U.S. entity setup, the foreign company evidence, the executive role description, the business plan, and the financial proof. Your independent attorney handles the legal framing. Your case manager keeps it moving.
You move and build
Petition approved, you arrive in the U.S. with one year on your visa to prove the business is operational. We help you prepare for the renewal at month twelve — when USCIS comes back to check whether you actually built what you said you would.
A visa today. A green card tomorrow.
The L-1A is a temporary visa, but it's also a doorway. Founders who run their U.S. company successfully for a year often become eligible for the EB-1C — the green card category for multinational executives and managers. Many of our L-1A clients begin the EB-1C process before their L-1A renewal, turning a three-year expansion into a permanent presence.
We build the L-1A with the EB-1C in mind. Even when permanent residency isn't part of your immediate plan, we help you avoid the small decisions on the L-1A petition that make the EB-1C harder later.
Our promise.
The heavy paperwork lifting, done properly. Your case prepared the way it should be — every form reviewed, every document well-positioned, every detail handled with the scrutiny your application actually gets when submitted. Nothing left to chance that we can take off the table. The version of your case that lands on the officer's desk will be the strongest one we know how to build.
Questions, answered.
What's the difference between L-1A and L-1B?
The L-1A is for executives and managers. The L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge of the company's products, processes, or operations. As a founder opening a U.S. office, you almost always qualify under L-1A. L-1B is more relevant for senior technical staff or specialists you might transfer later.
How long is the L-1A new office visa valid?
A new office L-1A is initially granted for one year. Before that year ends, you must petition for an extension and prove the U.S. office is operating as planned — with employees, revenue, or other evidence of a real business. Extensions can take you up to a maximum of seven years total.
Can my spouse work in the U.S.?
Yes. Spouses on L-2 dependent visas are eligible to work in the U.S. without needing a separate work visa or employer sponsorship. This is one of the L-1A's most overlooked advantages — it's significantly more flexible for spouses than the H-1B or O-1.
Does my foreign company need to keep operating after I move?
Yes. The qualifying relationship between the foreign company and the U.S. entity must continue throughout your L-1A status. The foreign company doesn't need to be your largest operation, but it does need to remain active, doing real business, and connected to the U.S. company through ownership.
What counts as a "qualifying relationship"?
USCIS recognizes four relationships: parent (the foreign company owns the U.S. entity), subsidiary (the U.S. entity owns the foreign company), branch (the U.S. entity is an extension of the foreign company), and affiliate (both companies are owned by the same parent or shareholders). We help you structure the relationship correctly before the petition is filed.
How much money do I need to open the U.S. office?
There's no minimum capital requirement, but USCIS officers evaluate whether you have enough funding to operate the U.S. business for at least one year and meet the business plan you submitted. In practice, that usually means six figures of working capital, documented and accessible. The exact amount depends on your industry and projections.
How long does the L-1A petition take?
Standard processing for L-1A petitions typically runs three to six months, depending on the USCIS service center. Premium processing — paid expedited review — guarantees a decision in fifteen business days. Most founders pay for premium processing because the timeline matters for the business.
Can the L-1A lead to a green card?
Yes. Many L-1A executives transition to permanent residency through the EB-1C green card category, which is built for multinational executives and managers. The L-1A and EB-1C are sister visas — the requirements overlap significantly, which is why we structure L-1A petitions with the EB-1C in mind.
Your company is ready to expand. Let's build the petition that proves it.
You don't have to figure this out alone. We'll walk you through it.
Not ready yet? See if you qualify in three minutes.
Free consultation. No obligation. Real answers.