Brand approval does not authorize U.S. work. The actual immigration process and the operation’s L requirements still need to be satisfied.
Distinguish a commercial opening from an authorized assignment
Identify the date U.S. doing business began and whether the new-office framework applies. The initial new-office period is limited to one year, and an extension depends on actual evidence. A franchisor’s timetable does not guarantee admission or extend status.
After the ownership documents are in order, the qualifying year is evidenced and the US operation is genuinely ready for the transferee, and with enough margin before the intended start for a request for further evidence. The employee must have completed one continuous year of qualifying employment with a qualifying entity within the three years before the petition, so if that year is still accruing, the filing date is fixed by arithmetic rather than by business preference. Keep monthly records from opening day so the second petition is a report on an operation rather than a revised prediction, and note the seven-year overall limit for L-1A when the household plans further ahead.