A company opening a US operation may want to transfer an employee who has recently taken on management responsibilities. The L-1 case needs an accurate foreign employment history and a supported US role. A startup plan cannot repair the record by treating a current title as though it always applied.
Establish the qualifying foreign period
Date the actual roles and travel. Generally L requires a continuous full-time foreign year in the relevant preceding three years, with managerial, executive or specialized-knowledge capacity permitted under the ordinary rule. New-office L-1A specifically requires that foreign year in managerial or executive work. U.S. days do not count although brief trips need not break continuity. A recent title cannot be backdated to create duties that did not occur.
Test the proposed US operation
A U.S. organization doing business less than one year is a new office; incorporation alone is not the test. Establish the actual parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate relationship and regular, systematic and continuous U.S. and foreign business during the stay. L-1A needs sufficient premises and support for the qualifying role within one year of approval. L-1B needs premises and financial ability to pay the employee and begin business, with its actual specialized-knowledge standard. Initial new-office approval is capped at one year.
Explain how the managerial role will develop
Explain how actual resources will support primarily managerial or executive U.S. duties. A function manager acts at a senior level over an essential function and manages rather than principally performs it; first-line supervision of nonprofessionals alone is insufficient. Owner or major-stockholder cases also need temporary U.S. service and a subsequent foreign assignment. Record hiring as it occurs rather than presenting future positions as filled; initial approval does not guarantee extension.
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: 2026-09-08. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.