Read the general business expansion overview
A new-office plan may include people who report across teams. Describe the actual support for the proposed U.S. role and label future arrangements as plans rather than present operations.
Explain what exists and what is proposed
Hypothetical example: a launch plan anticipates support from a foreign team and future U.S. staff. Identify the real responsibilities and available resources. A chart does not establish that proposed personnel are already hired or that premises are sufficient.
Apply the correct role-specific requirements
New-office L-1A needs sufficient premises, a qualifying foreign managerial or executive year and support for the U.S. managerial or executive role within one year of approval. L-1B requires specialized knowledge, sufficient premises and financial ability to pay the employee and begin business, without universally adopting L-1A’s management standard.
Use the actual business and employment history
Generally show one continuous qualifying foreign year within the relevant preceding three years and qualifying organizations doing business in the United States and abroad. New-office treatment concerns less than one year of U.S. doing business and an initial approval of at most one year. A revised chart does not restart that history. The qualifying foreign employment must be full-time; U.S. days are excluded from that year, although brief visits do not automatically break continuity.
What else is on your mind?
Does being a business owner or director qualify me for L-1A?What employment history should an L-1 transfer review cover?What makes a new-office L-1A case different?Why does an L-2 spouse’s admission record matter for work?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.