Read the general pathway comparison overview
A company assignment and a shared investment may both offer influence over a business. Explain the actual source of that authority and the other conditions for each route.
Describe the transfer role in its organization
Hypothetical example: a manager directs a distributed team while considering a shared acquisition. L-1 requires qualifying organizations, relevant foreign employment and an eligible managerial, executive or specialized-knowledge assignment. Collaboration with many people is not itself managerial authority.
Describe the investment and actual control
E-2 requires treaty nationality, generally at least 50% relevant treaty-national enterprise ownership, substantial lawful committed capital and a real nonmarginal enterprise the principal develops and directs. Read decision provisions instead of assuming a share percentage settles every control question.
Keep the alternatives internally accurate
Do not borrow the employer’s existing staff to describe support for an unrelated investment or a proposed owner’s rights to describe an employment role. Identify the arrangement actually pursued and review the permission needed before work begins.
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?How should an owner compare L-1 and E-2?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.