Client Background:
HSD Immigration Lawyer was approached by a newly formed U.S. company headquartered in Naperville, Illinois—an affiliate of a globally recognized and well-established technology company based in South Africa. The parent company has earned an international reputation for innovation in smart sensing solutions, industrial data science, and advanced process control systems. As part of its global expansion strategy, the South African company established its U.S. operations to bring its cutting-edge technologies to the North American market.
Initial Challenges:
The U.S. entity had initially secured L-1A status for its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) through a different immigration law firm. That initial petition, however, was only approved after responding to a Request for Evidence (RFE), and the New Company’s leadership expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of legal representation they had received during that process. In particular, the company representative voiced serious concerns over the Business Plan submitted with the initial petition, citing several critical deficiencies. These included unrealistic and unsupported personnel and revenue projections, which were now part of the permanent USCIS administrative record.
As the CEO approached the end of the initial one-year L-1A period granted to new office transferees, the company knew that the extension petition needed to be meticulously prepared and strongly supported to overcome any lingering concerns from USCIS.
Our Approach:
HSD Immigration Lawyer took a holistic and strategic approach in preparing the L-1A extension petition. Recognizing the weaknesses in the original Business Plan, our team provided the U.S. company with in-depth guidance on how to address and explain the deficiencies, without contradicting the previous record. We worked closely with the client to craft a robust supplemental narrative that clearly demonstrated:
- The CEO’s ongoing role as a true executive, supported by an evolving organizational structure;
- The company’s operational growth and achievements during the initial L-1A period;
- Clear, updated personnel and revenue plans backed by actual developments and realistic projections;
- Strong documentary evidence showing progress toward the goals originally set at the time of new office establishment.
We filed the L-1A extension petition using USCIS’s premium processing service.
Outcome:
Within just a few days of submission, USCIS approved the L-1A extension petition without issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE). This swift and favorable decision speaks to the clarity and strength of the petition prepared by HSD Immigration Lawyer.
Client Impact:
The CEO of the U.S. company expressed tremendous relief and gratitude upon receiving the approval. The outcome not only secured his ability to continue leading the U.S. affiliate but also restored the company’s confidence in the U.S. immigration process. With his immigration status secured, the CEO can now devote his full energy and attention to expanding the company’s footprint in the U.S. market and fostering innovation in the smart sensing and industrial analytics space.
Conclusion:
This case highlights the importance of precision, strategic planning, and experience in handling L-1A petitions—particularly when prior filings contain problematic elements. HSD Immigration Lawyer is proud to have played a role in securing this successful outcome and remains committed to supporting innovative global companies and their executive leadership in achieving their U.S. business goals.
If you are interested in filing a New Company L-1A petition or an L-1A extension petition, please reach out to one of our offices located in Chicago, IL, Naperville, IL, Raleigh, NC, or Clark, NJ, for guidance.
At HSD Immigration Lawyer, we specialize in complex employment– investment- and family-based immigration matters.