Supporting Documents for L-1 Petitions

As with all applications for visas there are always supporting documents that are required before approval takes place. The L-1 visa program application process is no exception.

The foreign company which is filing the L-1 petition must provide copies of the following supporting documents:

• The company’s brochure.
  
• Bank statements.
  
• Business leases, deeds or mortgages
  
• Utility and telephone bills.
  
• Contracts current with other companies, which includes U.S. companies.
  
• The Organizational Chart.

The U.S. entity, if it is a private corporation, is expected to provide the following:

• Articles of Incorporation.
  
• Minutes of Meetings which include a list of the stock shareholders including the number and percent of shares each owns.
  
• Stock Purchase Agreements.
  
• Stock certificates with each shareholder’s name which are up-to-date.
  
• A stock ledger, indicating all stock certificates that have been issued which includes the total number of shares of stock that have been sold, with the shareholders’ names.
  
• Evidence of capital contribution and Stock Purchase using the following:
  
• Statements from relevant banks.
  
• Wire Transfer receipts.
  
• Receipts showing deposits.
  
• Proof of the receiving of goods with their value.
  
• A capitalization table.
  
• A term sheet, memorandum of understanding or letter of intent including the signatures of the agreeing parties covering the investment details in the company.
  
  

If it is a public corporation, the following document copies should be provided:

• A recent SEC form, called the 10-K, which should have listed all subsidiaries, affiliates, and branch offices, showing their ownership percentage.

• The most current annual report listing all subsidiaries, affiliates and branch offices with ownership percentages.

If it is an LLC, supporting documents should include bylaws or articles of organization, including members’ names and the percentage of their membership interests, names of members and percentage of membership interests.

A partnership’s supporting documents should include the partnership agreement, as well as the registration documents, which must include partners’ names and their liability limits.

A sole proprietorship’s supporting documents should include registration documents for the Sole Proprietorship showing the name of the owner.

The foreign L1 visa employee will need to provide the following copies:

• passport;
  
• visa and I-94 (if currently in the U.S.A.);
  
• resume;
  
• degrees and diplomas with transcripts from relevant universities;
  
• letters indicating experience from prior employers;
  
• proof that the employee has worked for the petitioning overseas company for a minimum of 12 months in the previous 36 months. This could be old pay checks or letters of recommendation from previous employees.