For an L-1A new office, the initial proposal must explain an operation capable of supporting a managerial or executive role within one year of approval. When an Ottawa-based contractor's U.S. office plan depends on a specific anchor client relationship, for example a services or supply contract that has been proposed but not yet awarded, keep that contract's actual status distinct from the staffing and operational forecast built around it.
State the contract's actual status, not its expected outcome
Hypothetical example: an Ottawa systems-integration company proposes a U.S. office premised on winning a specific contract that is still under evaluation by the prospective client. Describe the bid's current stage, the realistic timeline for an award decision, and what the office's initial activity would be if the award is delayed or not obtained, rather than presenting the anticipated contract as an existing operational fact.
Separate the office's committed resources from the contract-contingent plan
Identify the premises, funding and staffing the company will commit regardless of the anchor contract's outcome, and distinguish that base commitment from activity that only occurs if the contract is awarded. A reviewer needs to see what the beneficiary will actually manage during the first year even if the anticipated client relationship does not materialize on the expected schedule.
Update the extension record with the contract's real outcome
If the anchor contract is awarded, delayed or lost, record the date and the resulting change to staffing and duties before preparing an extension. Gather evidence of whatever business activity actually occurred, whether or not it matches the original contract-dependent forecast, since the extension needs the true first-year record rather than a restated version of the initial plan.
Check the new-office eligibility behind the plan
A U.S. organization doing business for less than one year is a new office. Establish the qualifying corporate relationship and continuous foreign year within the relevant three years. New-office L-1A specifically needs foreign managerial or executive service, sufficient premises and support for the U.S. managerial or executive role within one year of approval; initial approval is at most one year. The qualifying group must continue business abroad as well as establish U.S. operations. The foreign year must be full-time; brief U.S. visits need not break continuity but their days do not count toward it. For L-1B new offices, show qualifying specialized knowledge, sufficient premises and financial ability to pay the worker and commence business; initial approval cannot exceed one year.
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.