Case Studies: L-1A Intracompany Transfer for Small Business Videographer

Client: CEO/Creative Director
Industry: Media & Entertainment
Visa Type: L-1A Intracompany Managerial/Executive Transfer
Country: Australia

L-1A Intracompany Transfer for Small Business Videographer

“The team were delightful to deal with. She was able to provide the right advice to me in order to get the visa on the first try. Becky guided me from beginning to end of the lengthy process and answered every question I had with patience and confidence. I was always certain that I was getting the right advice for my situation.”


Synopsis

Davies & Associates represented the Founder of a specialized, content-driven videography services company in New South Wales, Australia. Seeking to expand his business into the United States, our client established an affiliated videography company in San Francisco, California. Specifically, our client wanted a U.S. visa that allowed him the ease of moving freely between the U.S. and Australia and also authorized him to work in the U.S. (working is not allowed on Visa Waiver Program entries). We decided the best option was the L-1A visa, which comes with an expectation that the holder will travel frequently in and out of the U.S. (and which does not require a substantial investment in the U.S. company, as does the E-2 investor visa).

Highlights & Challenges

In order to qualify for a L-1 intracompany transfer visa, the U.S. petitioning company must have a qualifying legal relationship with a foreign company. Typical qualifying relationships include parent/subsidiary, branch offices and affiliates. An “ affiliate ” includes two companies that are owned by the same individual or group of individuals (if it is a group, the ownership percentages must be similar between the two entities).

In addition, the person being transferred (i.e. intended beneficiary) must have been serving as a Manager, Executive or Specialized Worker for at least one year in the past three years for the foreign business. The challenge in this case was that the visa applicant had been running his company in Australia as a sole trader, and had only registered the business with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission less than a year prior to when he was first thinking of submitting the US visa application. USCIS tends to highly scrutinize sole trader businesses (called sole proprietorships in the US), and they disfavor them as corporate entities. It was decided that the application would have a greater chance for success if we waited to apply until after the applicant had been running the Sydney business in its Pty Ltd form for over a year.

The application was approved in 7 days and he now can move freely between Australia and San Francisco running his two businesses.

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Satya Choudhury
Satya Choudhury
2 months ago

I had a great experience with Davies & Associates. They are very thorough in the approach and their have experts in this field who know the domain very well.I would certainly be leaning onto them for any future needs as well.

Tanuj Dewan
Tanuj Dewan
5 months ago

Outstanding Immigration Attorney: Highly Recommended! Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) I had the pleasure of working with Verdie Atienza and his team at Davies & Associates , a top-notch immigration attorney in the United States. Their professionalism, expertise, and dedication throughout the process were exceptional. With in-depth knowledge of immigration law, they provided accurate advice and addressed all my concerns, instilling confidence. Verdie Atienza and his team meticulously reviewed my documentation and maintained excellent communication, keeping me updated regularly. What sets Davies & Associates apart is their unparalleled attention to detail. Communication with Verdie Atienza and his team in USA and Sukanya Raman in India was always prompt and efficient. They promptly returned my calls and emails, providing regular updates on the progress of my case. This level of responsiveness and transparency significantly reduced my stress levels, as I knew I could rely on their support and guidance throughout the entire process. Their personalized approach, ethical conduct, and genuine care for my success made them an outstanding attorney. I highly recommend Davies & Associates for all your immigration needs.

hoshino ryuichi
hoshino ryuichi
2 months ago

Thanks to them for handling my E2 visa very professionally. I had a study visa from F1 and changed it to E2. I encountered many problems during the application process. Verdie and Etta were very patient in helping me and it took a long time. I highly recommend this place.

Christine Envall
Christine Envall
7 months ago

Getting my E2 Visa was a very in-depth process that took just over a year from when I committed to it, but 8 months from when I found a business I wanted to purchase. The only reason I'm giving 4 and not 5 stars is because the timeframe was a lot longer than expected from the initial information. Aside from the timing, Verdie and his team led me through the Visa process, providing all the guidance I needed to be successful, including advising me on the RIGHT type of Visa to suit my goals. Within the process I purchased a business and the greater Davies team included lawyer Rinat who helped me put the deal together. One of the biggest parts was my Business Plan which created from my info by Ana Ortiz, who did an incredible job. The process is certainly tedious and Verdie & Christina were always there to answer my questions, provide suggestions and advice and ensure I had all the documents I needed to support my application. I appreciated their patience with my questions and their advice and in the end, the application was so thorough the interview process was quick and easy. I highly recommend Davies & Associates and look forward to working with them again when it's time to renew my Visa.

Adeelawazane
Adeelawazane
3 years ago

When we first started our search for a firm to represent us in our journey to acquire my E2 visa, we reached out to a couple of companies and individual Attorneys. The responsive of the team-at D&A and positive reviews made the choice obvious. From the start D&A staff were very professional and easy to work with. Our Attorney, Verdie was very knowledgeable in the matter. He answered all of my questions and addressed my concerns. The team is very professional and did a wonderful job on our Business plan. And helpful Etta put together all the documentations needed for my application. All in all, Davies & Associates organization and step by step system, helped the whole process to move smoothly with out a glitch. I highly recommend Davies & Associates for any one who is pursuing an E2 Visa.

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