Read the general pathway comparison overview
A Richelieu corporate group may provide money while a particular individual plans to run the U.S. business. Distinguish the group’s financial commitment from the applicant’s qualifying role and authority. Maintain one ledger for corporate relationship, overseas employment and the intended U.S. position, and another for nationality, capital source, commitment and control. The transfer candidate needs twelve continuous overseas months in a qualifying role during the three-year lookback. Management or executive classification has a seven-year maximum; special-knowledge classification has a five-year maximum. Investor capital must leave the applicant’s unrestricted reach, face genuine loss, and support an operating business that is not marginal. Hypothetical example: a specialty bicycle-component importer can fund its U.S. venture or move its procurement director. The records must support one analysis without borrowing facts from the other.
Assess the actual L transferee and organization
General L requires the individual’s qualifying continuous foreign year within the relevant three years in managerial, executive or specialized-knowledge work. The U.S. role must independently qualify, and the corporate relationship and required international business need evidence. Funding by a familiar group company does not by itself establish the individual’s employment history. Explain any role, ownership or payroll break before treating the transfer history as continuous.
Assess investor authority through the real ownership arrangement
E-2 requires relevant treaty nationality, generally at least 50% relevant treaty-national ownership and development and direction through qualifying control. Substantial lawful funds must be committed at risk in a real operating nonmarginal enterprise. Identify the actual applicant and rights rather than assuming the person preparing the budget automatically has the investor’s authority. Trace investor funds and authority through contracts rather than assuming a company contribution preserves control.
Keep launch and owner conditions in the comparison
If new-office L-1A applies, retain the qualifying managerial or executive foreign year, sufficient premises and first-year role evidence. Owners or major stockholders must also show temporary U.S. services and a subsequent foreign assignment. Compare complete arrangements: corporate funding is a fact to explain, not permission to borrow another person’s role or omit a category condition. Compare premises, staffing and daily authority against facts already documented, not an uncompleted transaction.
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.