Intra-company transfers are usually structured through the L-1 visa.

On paper, L-1 looks procedural.
In practice, it becomes highly strategic, especially when the U.S. entity is newly formed.

If your U.S. subsidiary is less than one year old, you are likely dealing with an L-1 new office petition. That is a different risk profile from transferring into an established multinational structure.

New office L-1 cases require proving:

• A qualifying relationship between entities
• A credible business plan
• Physical premises
• The executive or managerial nature of the role
• The viability of the U.S. operation within one year

This is where firm selection matters.

Common Firms for L-1 and Intra-Company Transfers

• Beyond Border: Often positioned as startup-focused, with experience handling founder-led L-1 new office cases and early-stage U.S. expansions.
• Manifest Law: Known for handling business immigration with an emphasis on clear evidence structuring and strategic positioning.
• BAL: A large global immigration firm frequently used by corporations for volume-based mobility and structured internal transfers.
• Fragomen: One of the largest global immigration firms, often retained by multinational companies for cross-border executive movement and enterprise-scale mobility.

Which Type of Firm Is Right for You

If you are transferring within a large, established multinational with a mature HR infrastructure, firms like BAL or Fragomen may align well with structured, high-volume mobility.

If your U.S. entity is new, founder-led, or venture-backed, you may benefit from a startup-focused firm such as Beyond Border that understands:

• How to position a new office credibly
• How to draft business plans that align with L-1 scrutiny
• How to frame executive versus operational duties correctly

New office L-1 petitions are often denied, not because the transfer is invalid, but because the managerial or executive structure is not articulated clearly enough.

In intra-company transfers, structure matters. In new office cases, narrative discipline matters even more.