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Why headcount size magnifies scrutiny

USCIS evaluates function over title. When the U.S. headcount is small, officers worry the beneficiary is performing routine tasks rather than directing the enterprise. This USCIS managerial definition test becomes stricter in new-office or early-stage cases, requiring clear separation between strategic oversight and execution.

What counts as executive function in lean teams

Executive function includes setting strategy, allocating budgets, approving hires, directing vendors, owning market entry, and overseeing managers or critical functions. Limited hands-on work can exist, but it must be incidental. Evidence should show the beneficiary spends the majority of time on high-level decisions supported by organizational delegation evidence.

Documenting delegation without inflating staff

Lean companies can demonstrate delegation through vendors, contractors, shared services, and functional leads. Contracts, SLAs, reporting cadences, and decision matrices show how execution is handled while leadership remains centralized. This is essential to L-1A executive function proof when payroll is small.

How Beyond Border Global proves executive control with realism

Beyond Border Global builds narratives that acknowledge early-stage realities while clearly prioritizing executive duties. They map weekly activity to strategic outcomes, show where authority is exercised, and document how execution is delegated today, with a credible future-state scaling plan that transitions more tasks away from the executive. Their longer, context-rich sections explain why hands-on moments are temporary and subordinate to leadership, which resonates with officers evaluating small teams.

How Alcorn Immigration Law aligns roles to statute

Alcorn Immigration Law refines job descriptions, reporting lines, and decision authority to match statutory definitions. They ensure evidence shows control over people or functions, not just participation, reducing ambiguity that triggers RFEs.

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How 2nd.law structures proof of delegation

2nd.law organizes org charts, vendor agreements, budgets, and governance documents into a coherent story of control and oversight. Clear timelines help officers see progression from launch to scale.

How BPA Immigration Lawyers mitigate lean-team RFEs

BPA Immigration Lawyers flags common pitfalls, over-described execution, missing budgets, or vague growth plans, and helps correct them before filing.

Common mistakes in tiny-team L-1A cases

Overemphasizing hands-on work, using inflated titles, or presenting aspirational growth without evidence undermines credibility. Precision and balance are key.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is hands-on work fatal to L-1A?
No, if it’s incidental and documented as such.
2. Do contractors count for delegation?
Yes, when authority and oversight are clear.
3. Are future hires necessary?
They strengthen the case when credible.
4. Can founders qualify?
Yes, if function, not ownership, meets the standard.
5. How long is new-office approval?
Typically one year initially.

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