FAQ

L-1A is for employees who worked abroad for a qualifying foreign company for at least one continuous year in the past three years in an executive or managerial capacity and who will work in a similar executive or managerial role at the related U.S. company.

L-1A status can be granted for up to 7 years total (an initial period plus extensions), with new-office L-1A petitions typically starting with a shorter initial approval, often one year.

L-1A executives and managers are well positioned to pursue an EB-1C green card, since the multinational manager/executive criteria closely mirror the L-1A qualifying criteria.

It generally means the person primarily manages the organization (or a department/function), supervises and controls other supervisory or professional employees, has authority over personnel decisions, and exercises discretion over day-to-day operations.

Yes. USCIS requires evidence that the new U.S. office will support an executive or managerial position within one year, which is typically shown through a business plan detailing staffing plans, organizational structure, and financial projections.

The L-1 is a nonimmigrant visa that allows a company to transfer an executive, manager, or employee with specialized knowledge from a foreign office to a related U.S. office (parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate).

L-1A is for executives and managers and permits stays up to 7 years, while L-1B is for employees with specialized knowledge and permits stays up to 5 years.

The applicant generally must have worked for the qualifying foreign organization for at least one continuous year within the three years immediately before the transfer.

Yes, but "new office" L-1 petitions face additional scrutiny — the petitioner must show it has secured sufficient physical premises and that, within one year, the new office will support the executive, managerial, or specialized-knowledge position, typically demonstrated through a detailed business plan.

USCIS requires evidence that the new U.S. office will be able to support the transferred position within one year, and a business plan with realistic staffing, revenue, and operational projections is the standard way to document that capacity.

Yes. Most H-1B petitions are subject to an annual numerical cap, and USCIS runs a registration/lottery process each year for cap-subject petitions; certain employers, such as universities and nonprofit research organizations, are cap-exempt.

It's possible but more complex — the petitioning U.S. employer must demonstrate a genuine employer-employee relationship with the right to control the applicant's work, which requires additional structuring (such as an independent board with hire/fire authority) when the applicant is also the business owner.

It's possible but more complex — the petitioning U.S. employer must demonstrate a genuine employer-employee relationship with the right to control the applicant's work, which requires additional structuring (such as an independent board with hire/fire authority) when the applicant is also the business owner.

A business plan helps demonstrate that the petitioning company is a legitimate, operating business with a genuine specialty-occupation position and the financial capacity to pay the required wage, which is especially important when the beneficiary has an ownership stake in the petitioning company.

Yes. Visa Business Plans prepares custom business plans and supporting documentation for H-1B petitions, particularly for cases involving entrepreneurial or ownership structures that require extra documentation of the employer-employee relationship and business viability.

EB-5 is an employment-based green card category for foreign investors who invest the required minimum capital in a new commercial enterprise in the U.S. and create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers.

The standard minimum investment is $1,050,000, or $800,000 if the investment is made in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) — a rural area or an area with high unemployment.

The investment must create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers within the required timeframe.

A direct EB-5 investment goes into a business the investor manages personally, while a Regional Center investment is made through a USCIS-designated regional center, which can count indirect and induced jobs toward the 10-job requirement in addition to direct jobs.

USCIS requires a comprehensive business plan (often called a "Matter of Ho" compliant plan) that details the new commercial enterprise's business model, market analysis, staffing, and financial projections to prove the investment will create the required number of jobs.

The EB-2 NIW is an employment-based green card category for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability whose work is in the national interest of the United States, allowing them to self-petition without a job offer or PERM labor certification.

Under the Matter of Dhanasar framework, an applicant must show that their proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance, that they are well positioned to advance it, and that it would benefit the U.S. to waive the standard job-offer and labor certification requirements.

A business plan or impact analysis report helps document the proposed endeavor's national importance, the applicant's ability to advance it, and the broader economic or societal benefit, which are central to satisfying all three prongs of the Dhanasar test.

Yes. Visa Business Plans prepares EB-2 NIW impact analysis reports, business plans, and National Interest Waiver recommendation letters specifically structured to support the Dhanasar eligibility criteria.

EB-1C is an employment-based immigrant (green card) category for multinational executives and managers who have worked abroad for a qualifying company for at least one of the past three years and are transferring to a related U.S. entity in a managerial or executive capacity.

The U.S. employer must be the same company, or a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate, of the foreign employer that employed the applicant abroad, and both entities must be actively doing business.

No. EB-1C is exempt from the PERM labor certification process, which is one reason it's often faster than other employment-based green card categories.

A business plan helps establish that the U.S. entity is a viable, operating business capable of supporting a genuine managerial or executive position, and supports the required showing of the qualifying relationship and ongoing business operations between the U.S. and foreign entities.

No. EB-1C is commonly used by owners and executives of smaller multinational companies as well, provided the U.S. entity is a real, operating business with a genuine managerial or executive role and the required corporate relationship to the foreign entity.

The E-2 is a nonimmigrant visa for nationals of a treaty country who have invested, or are actively in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital in a real and operating U.S. business that they will develop and direct.

There is no fixed legal minimum, but the investment must be "substantial" relative to the total cost of the business — smaller businesses generally require a higher proportion of investment to cost, and the funds must be sufficient to ensure the business's successful operation.

The invested funds must be committed and subject to loss if the business fails — money merely set aside or held in a way that isn't irrevocably committed to the enterprise typically doesn't qualify.

The business generally must be more than marginal — meaning it must generate more than just enough income to support the investor and their family, and either currently or within five years have the capacity to make a meaningful economic contribution, which often includes hiring U.S. workers.

A detailed business plan demonstrates that the investment is substantial, at risk, and tied to a viable, non-marginal enterprise with realistic revenue, staffing, and growth projections — it's typically the central document consular officers rely on to evaluate E-2 eligibility.

The E-1 is a nonimmigrant visa for nationals of a country that maintains a qualifying trade treaty with the United States who will carry on substantial trade, principally between the U.S. and the treaty country, in a business they own or work for.

Substantial trade means a sizable, continuous volume of trade over time, rather than a single or occasional transaction — USCIS looks at the number of transactions and total trade value, not just one large deal.

No fixed dollar minimum is required by regulation, but the trading business must generate enough volume to support the trader and their family and to justify the applicant's presence in the U.S. managing it.

A business plan demonstrates the nature, volume, and continuity of trade between the U.S. and the treaty country, showing the adjudicating officer that the trading activity is substantial, ongoing, and principally (over 50%) between the two countries.

Yes. Visa Business Plans prepares custom E-1 business plans that document trade volume, market analysis, and financial projections to support the "substantial and principal trade" requirements USCIS and consular officers look for.

Yes. Beyond immigration cases, Visa Business Plans writes business plans for entrepreneurs and investors who need to raise capital, secure an SBA loan, or attract investors for business growth and expansion.

Each plan is comprehensive and highly detailed, including analysis of the business's market, competition, and industry trends, along with marketing strategy and financial projections tailored to the specific business and its goals.

The firm has written business plans across more than 120 industries, from small consignment stores and hospitality businesses to import/export operations and the oil industry.

Every plan starts from scratch — the firm does not use cookie-cutter templates — and the process isn't considered complete until the client (and attorney, if applicable) is fully satisfied with the final plan.

Call (888) 657-3515 or email/contact Visa Business Plans online for a consultation.

USCIS-compliant business plans built to strengthen attorney filings, typically delivered in about 10 business days, backed by priority support and volume pricing for referring attorneys.

Every plan is custom-built (never templated) to align with the attorney's specific case strategy and meet USCIS adjudication standards, which is designed to minimize the back-and-forth revisions that slow down a filing.

Yes. Visa Business Plans is an approved vendor of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and has earned multiple AILA Supporter recognitions for its ongoing support of AILA events.

Yes, referring attorneys who send multiple cases receive volume pricing.

Call (888) 657-3515 or contact Visa Business Plans online to set up a partnership or submit a case.

Yes. Visa Business Plans prepares business plans and supporting documents for Canadian immigration categories, including C-11 and C-12 work permits and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).

A C-11 work permit is an option for entrepreneurs who plan to own and operate a business in Canada that provides significant economic, social, or cultural benefit, and a supporting business plan helps demonstrate that benefit to immigration officers.

The C-12 category is generally used for intra-company transferees and business owners transferring specialized knowledge or executive/managerial functions to a Canadian branch, subsidiary, or affiliate of a foreign company.

PNPs allow individual Canadian provinces and territories to nominate immigrants — often including entrepreneurs and business owners — for permanent residence based on the province's specific economic and labor needs.

Call ((888) 657-3515 or contact Visa Business Plans online to discuss your Canadian work permit or PNP case.

Yes. Visa Business Plans has helped dozens of clients secure SBA loans with structured business plans built to present what SBA lenders want to see in a well-organized manner.

Clients have used SBA loan programs supported by these business plans to purchase land, buildings, and equipment, make leasehold improvements, and cover working capital needs.

According to Forbes, the approval rate for SBA loans at larger banks is only around 25%, making a strong, well-organized business plan critical to approval.

The most common reasons are a poor business plan that doesn't clearly articulate the company, products, target market, marketing strategy, staffing, and financial projections; poor credit history; and low capacity to repay the debt.

Banks scrutinize business plans closely to gauge whether a business is likely to succeed, so a clear, well-organized plan that addresses target market, financial projections, and repayment capacity directly increases the likelihood of approval.

Visa Business Plans offers business coaching led by CEO Marco Scanu, a certified coach who has advised Fortune 1000 executives and entrepreneurs across four continents on turnaround strategy and crisis management, alongside guidance on day-to-day performance and growth.

Visa Business Plans offers business coaching and consulting led by CEO Marco Scanu, a certified coach who has advised Fortune 1000 executives and entrepreneurs across four continents. The service focuses primarily on executing the actions required to scale a business, particularly by implementing systems, standard operating procedures (SOPs), processes, and performance metrics. This hands-on approach helps owners transform businesses that depend entirely on their daily involvement into structured organizations that can operate effectively without them.

Marco Scanu, a University of Miami-certified coach with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida and an MBA from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, is a university venture coach and advisory board member who has served as an invited professor, international speaker, immigration CLE panelist, and judge for renowned business plan competitions.

Industry data cited by the firm shows coaching is most commonly used to improve individual performance and productivity, and Fortune 1000 companies have reported measurable gains in customer service ratings as a result of coaching engagements.

No. While many clients are visa-holder entrepreneurs, business coaching is available to any business owner or executive looking to strengthen strategy, performance, or growth.

Call ((888) 657-3515 or contact Visa Business Plans online to request a consultation.

It is a structured financial management system designed for businesses owned by foreign investors. The system can be implemented whether clients manage their own books, use another bookkeeping provider, or choose optional bookkeeping services from ProfitWise. It helps keep financial records organized, compliant, and prepared to support visa filings, renewals, and potential government reviews.

Depending on the client’s needs and the condition of the business’s financial records, the service may include one or several of the following components: Financial Reconstruction for businesses without structured bookkeeping; Financial Cleanup to correct inaccurate or disorganized records; Financial Review and Correction to ensure records accurately reflect business operations; VisaGuard Ongoing Bookkeeping to support future visa filings and renewals; and a Visa and Business Health Audit to identify financial and operational risks before a renewal.

These services are provided by ProfitWise, a Visa Business Plans company.

VisaGuard Ongoing Bookkeeping keeps financial records continuously clean and current specifically to support future immigration pathways and renewals, such as moving from L-1A to EB-1C, E status to EB-1C, or E-2 to EB-5.

The audit reviews the company's financial records and operational activity, benchmarks performance against industry standards, evaluates whether financial and payroll records support immigration reporting requirements, flags financial or operational red flags, compares actual results to the original business plan's projections, and provides guidance on corrective actions before a visa renewal or review.

The service analyzes and benchmarks a restaurant's key financial metrics ( revenue, food and labor costs, and operating expenses) against industry standards and offers guidance ranging from entry-level financial troubleshooting to growth planning and full operational assessments covering marketing, menu, brand image, and ambiance.

Restaurants commonly fail within three years due to poor financial management, inconsistent product and service, and inadequate menu offerings. Visa Business Plans' consulting targets these specific failure points with financial analysis and operational assessments.

Yes. For new restaurants, the consulting focuses on establishing effective systems, processes, financial controls, and operating standards from the outset. For established restaurants, the consulting focuses on reviewing existing operations, identifying weaknesses and opportunities, and improving current systems and processes to strengthen efficiency, profitability, and overall performance.

The team brings more than 70 years of combined experience owning, operating, growing, and selling foodservice concepts.

Call (888) 657-3515 or contact Visa Business Plans online to get started, regardless of what life stage your restaurant is in.

Competition for retail space can be intense, so landlords need to understand a prospective tenant’s concept quickly, including how the business will differentiate itself in the marketplace. A professionally crafted presentation helps prospective tenants make a compelling case to landlords or property owners by clearly communicating the strengths and potential of the business, helping the applicant stand out from others competing for the same space.

In competitive retail markets, landlords often have many tenant options to choose from, so prospective tenants who prepare a diligent, professional presentation are in a stronger position to be selected as the preferred tenant over less-prepared applicants.

Visa Business Plans assembles a professionally crafted presentation designed to differentiate the client from competing tenant applicants and give landlords or their representatives confidence that selecting the client is in their best interest. The presentation includes visuals, a clear description of the business concept, an overview of the marketing plan, and high-level financial information that demonstrates the business’s potential and viability.

Call ((888) 657-3515 or contact Visa Business Plans online to schedule an appointment.

An investor assessment analyzes an investor's profile, including financial capacity, vision, skills, and lifestyle preferences, and directs them toward the type of business or investment that fits both their personal goals and their visa objectives, before they commit money to a business or franchise.

The assessment helps clients identify a business or franchise that does more than satisfy visa requirements. The goal is to find a business that can genuinely work for each client by aligning the opportunity with the client’s financial profile, personal vision, professional skills, experience, and desired lifestyle. This approach helps clients make realistic, sustainable investment decisions based on individual suitability rather than focusing solely on securing visa approval.

Anyone considering an investment in a new business or franchise, especially investors also pursuing a U.S. business visa, who wants an independent, candid evaluation of the risks and rewards before committing funds.

Many clients seeking an investor assessment are also pursuing a business visa, so the assessment is structured to identify business opportunities that are both financially sound and aligned with the client's immigration objectives. More importantly, the assessment ensures that the business meets specific visa requirements.

Contact Visa Business Plans online or call (888) 657-3515 to schedule a consultation with an investment assessment consultant.

Visa Business Plans offers a full suite of U.S. immigration support services, including custom visa business plans, pre-immigration business feasibility assessments, business plan assessments, EB-2 NIW impact analysis reports, National Interest Waiver recommendation letters, immigration resumes, CPA letters for E-2 petitions, responses to Requests for Evidence (RFEs), and post-visa approval support.

The firm works with two main groups: investors and applicants pursuing a U.S. visa who need a business plan or supporting document that meets USCIS and consular standards, and immigration attorneys who need a reliable business-plan partner for their clients' filings.

Visa Business Plans has delivered more than 9,000 highly detailed business plans, all custom-made from scratch for each case — the firm does not use templates or a cookie-cutter approach, and each plan is built to align with the attorney's strategy and meet USCIS or consular adjudication standards.

The team is fluent in English, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, and also serves clients in French, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.

Turnaround is usually about 10 business days. A highly detailed, customized plan can be produced faster to meet a tighter deadline for an additional expedited-service fee.

Visa Business Plans is a Miami-based boutique consulting firm that writes custom business plans and supporting documents for U.S. and Canadian immigration cases, as well as for entrepreneurs and investors seeking SBA loans or capital. The firm has completed more than 9,000 business plans across 120+ industries for over 1,500 immigration attorneys nationwide.

Visa Business Plans prepares business plans for U.S. visa categories including E-1, E-2, EB-5, EB-1A, EB-1C, EB-2 NIW, L-1 (L-1A and L-1B), and H-1B, as well as Canadian immigration categories such as C-11, C-12, and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).

Turnaround is typically about 10 business days for a fully custom, detailed business plan. Rush/expedited service is available for an additional fee for clients with tighter deadlines.

Both. Visa Business Plans serves individual investors and applicants directly and also partners with immigration attorneys nationwide as a business-plan consultant, providing plans aligned with each attorney's case strategy.

No. Visa Business Plans is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The Company provides business planning and supporting documentation for immigration cases, as well as pre-immigration consulting services, such as helping clients identify suitable business opportunities and conducting feasibility analyses. Ongoing business support, including bookkeeping, financial management, and fractional CFO services, is provided through ProfitWise, a sister company of Visa Business Plans. Applicants should work with a licensed immigration attorney for legal guidance.