USA L-1A
United States
Move an executive or manager into a U.S. entity of your existing business.
- Route
- Intracompany transfer
- Indicative timeline
- Approx. 3–9 months (premium processing available)
- Indicative capital
- No statutory minimum; must fund a viable U.S. entity
- Leads to permanent residency
- Not directly — commonly bridged via EB-1C
Is this you?
Who this route is built for
- You own or hold a managerial or executive role in a business trading abroad.
- That business has been operating for at least a year.
- You want to open a U.S. office while keeping the parent company.
Best suited to: executives and managers of an existing business.
What it gives you
The outcome
- A U.S. entity related to your existing business.
- Status for you, your spouse and unmarried children under 21.
- A recognised bridge toward EB-1C permanent residency.
Core requirements
What the file has to prove
Qualifying business abroad, U.S. entity, managerial role.
L-1A needs a qualifying business abroad
You need an existing business outside the U.S., a qualifying relationship between it and the new U.S. entity, and a genuinely managerial or executive role. Without the business abroad, this route is not available.
Must be verified for your case: qualifying-relationship rules and new-office requirements. All figures on this page are indicative.
Our process
How we run the file
Business Consultation
Understanding the company, the owners and the goal.
Eligibility Assessment
Which programmes the profile genuinely qualifies for.
Strategic Planning
A roadmap built around the business plan and timeline.
Documentation Support
Every form, record and exhibit prepared and checked.
Application Guidance
Filing, responses and interview preparation.
Expansion & Ongoing Support
Setting up, hiring and growing after approval.
Included alongside the file
Beyond the application
Expansion support runs alongside the immigration file, so the business is ready to trade on arrival — not months after it.
Compare
Other routes worth weighing
Ready to expand?
Take the first step toward building your future in Canada or the United States.