Only work independently authorized under the actual circumstances may be performed. Have the existing permission and proposed transition assessed before changing duties or employers.
Do not treat preparation as authorization
Identify the current status, its scope and the steps required for the new assignment. A company start date or a previous approval for different work does not establish permission for the proposed L-1B role.
Work backward from authorization, not from the customer's urgent launch. A pending preparation or a customer deadline is not a substitute for the required immigration step. Keep the current duties, reporting line, and compensation unchanged until the new filing is resolved, rather than shifting responsibilities informally in anticipation of approval. Consider whether an existing authorized status can continue to cover interim work while preparation proceeds, and confirm that continuing arrangement with an adviser before relying on it. Avoid using informal titles or descriptions that suggest the new role has already begun, since inconsistent records between what is filed and what is actually happening can undermine both the pending case and the current status. Ask who else within the organization can legitimately handle any work that seems urgent in the meantime, so operational pressure does not become the reason for starting early. Keep a written record of the preparation timeline itself, showing that the delay reflects the review process rather than any change already in effect.