Identify the fact that needs proof
Separate ownership and control, business activity, employment dates and duties. Different records support different elements. An archive request is more effective when the company knows which fact remains unclear rather than asking for every historic file. L-1A needs a qualifying relationship, one continuous qualifying year abroad within three years before filing, and a managerial or executive role; its cap is seven years. Identify the record that settles this point. Distinguish established fact from forecast, and explain any genuine discrepancy without altering a source.
Recover reliable corporate evidence
Locate relevant formation, ownership and transaction records and explain any changes over time. A chart can organize the relationships but should be supported. Do not create a fictional share history simply because the former provider is slow to respond. L-1A needs a qualifying relationship, one continuous qualifying year abroad within three years before filing, and a managerial or executive role; its cap is seven years. Identify the record that settles this point. Distinguish established fact from forecast, and explain any genuine discrepancy without altering a source.
Support the managerial role
Describe authority, primary duties and who performs operating work. Use reliable employment and organizational evidence for the relevant foreign period and the proposed US position. A former adviser’s absence does not remove the duties requirement. L-1A needs a qualifying relationship, one continuous qualifying year abroad within three years before filing, and a managerial or executive role; its cap is seven years. Identify the record that settles this point. Distinguish established fact from forecast, and explain any genuine discrepancy without altering a source.
Assess the US operation
Establish the required business activity and determine whether new-office rules apply. Incorporation alone does not establish an operating history. Coordinate evidence recovery with a realistic transfer sequence rather than treating the desired start as a reason to omit central facts. The petitioner must establish a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate relationship, active U.S. and foreign entities, and one continuous year of qualifying employment abroad within the three years before filing. A new-office petition requires sufficient premises and capacity to support a primarily managerial or executive role within one year, receives initial approval for one year, and L-1A status is capped at seven years. L-1A needs a qualifying relationship, one continuous qualifying year abroad within three years before filing, and a managerial or executive role; its cap is seven years. Identify the record that settles this point. Distinguish established fact from forecast, and explain any genuine discrepancy without altering a source.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-07. This guide covers a preparation focus; it is not an individual eligibility assessment.