A co-owner may fund a U.S. launch and work in it, but those are separate parts of the evidence. Establish the qualifying organizations, foreign employment and actual L-1A or L-1B role rather than assuming ownership resolves the transfer requirements.
Describe the owner as an applicant and worker
Hypothetical example: a co-owner has voting rights and will initially perform technical services at the new operation. Identify actual duties and support, as well as the company relationship and foreign employment. Ownership authority should not be used to relabel operational delivery as primarily managerial work. Generally one continuous full-time foreign year within the relevant preceding three years is needed. Under the ordinary L rule it may be managerial, executive or specialized knowledge; new-office L-1A specifically requires foreign managerial or executive employment. Brief U.S. trips need not break continuity, but their days do not count. An owner or major stockholder also needs temporary U.S. service and subsequent foreign-assignment evidence.
Apply the role-specific launch requirements
L-1A new-office review includes sufficient premises, required foreign managerial or executive employment and ability to support the intended managerial or executive role within one year of approval. L-1B requires specialized-knowledge assessment, premises and financial ability to pay the employee and begin doing business. Funding alone does not establish either complete role analysis.
Prepare to document the real business
The new-office framework concerns an organization doing business in the United States for less than one year, with initial approval limited to at most one year. Registration alone is not doing business. Retain actual operating, staffing and role evidence; an initial approval or capital contribution does not guarantee an 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: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.