Read the general business expansion overview
A Maple Hills company may place a US manager under a foreign executive. The new-office plan should describe delegated authority and operational support, rather than treating the reporting location as the eligibility answer.
Define the role within the group
L-1A requires primarily managerial or executive duties. Identify actual decisions, reserved approvals and the staff or function supporting the applicant. First-line supervision of nonprofessional workers is not qualifying by title alone.
Support first-year capacity
A new-office L-1A case needs sufficient premises and support for the qualifying role within one year. L-1B requires qualifying knowledge, sufficient premises and financial ability to pay and commence business. Initial new-office approval is limited to one year.
Maintain the transfer evidence
Prove the qualifying organizational relationship and required continuous qualifying foreign employment year within the relevant three-year period. The group must continue US and foreign business during the relevant stay. Retain actual operating records and updates when authority or support changes. For a new-office L-1A petition, the required foreign year must have been in a managerial or executive capacity.
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.