TN
That U.S. opportunity is worth a conversation. Explore professional work through the TN pathway.
North Vancouver (City) U.S. VISA SUPPORT · CANADAYOUR FUTURE HAS NO ZIP CODE.
A BIGGER LIFE IS CALLING.
U.S. visa support in North Vancouver (City). YOURAMERICANDREAM.
Let’s make your move.
✦WORK.
BUILD.
BELONG.
BUILD.
BELONG.
Imagine a North Vancouver City-based architecture or engineering firm sending an executive to establish a brand-new U.S. office rather than transferring into an existing one. New-office L-1A cases carry extra evidentiary requirements and a shorter initial approval period, so the planning starts earlier.
U.S. visa support for Canadians
ready for what’s next.
EXPLORE
CANADIAN ROOTSAMERICAN HORIZONS
Live the next chapter. Work. Build. Invest. Make your move.
THERE’S MORE THAN ONE WAY FORWARD.THE DREAM IS YOURS.
THE DREAM IS YOURS.
LET’S FIND THE WAY.
L-1A is one of six pathways tracked alongside TN, L-1B, E-2, EB-5 and Gold Card. A firm opening its first U.S. office is a distinct L-1A scenario worth planning differently from a transfer into an established office.
YOUR NORTH VANCOUVER (CITY) STARTING POINTMAKE THE FIRST
MAKE THE FIRST
CONVERSATION COUNT.
Choose what brings you here. Leave with a short list of things to discuss—not another long form to fill out.
0 OF 4 READY TO DISCUSS
Establish a real U.S. location
This evidence needs to exist before or alongside filing.
FOR PEOPLE WHO SEE A LITTLE FURTHER.YOU WEREN’T
YOU WEREN’T
MADE TO
THINK SMALL.
New-office petitions need to show that the U.S. operation will support an executive or managerial position within a reasonable time, including physical premises and a credible business plan, in addition to the standard L-1A requirements.
Meet the people in your cornerTHE BIG MOVE. BROKEN DOWN.FROM “ONE DAY”
FROM “ONE DAY”
TO YOUR NEXT STEP.
Personal support.
A practical plan.
No promises we can’t keep.
01
Secure physical premises for the U.S. office
Provide evidence of a lease or other suitable premises for the new office, since USCIS looks for a physical location, not just an intention to open one.
02
Prepare a detailed business and staffing plan
Show financial capacity to support the U.S. office and a realistic plan for growing into a genuinely managerial or executive structure within the initial approval period.
03
Document the qualifying relationship and employment history
Confirm the U.S. and Canadian entities are related as required and that the transferring executive has at least one year of qualifying employment abroad in the prior three years.
04
Plan for the shorter initial approval period
New-office petitions typically receive an initial approval of up to one year rather than the longer period available for established offices, so plan the extension timeline and evidence needs from the start.
A LITTLE CLARITY GOES A LONG WAY.YOUR FUTURE.
YOUR FUTURE.
NOW BOARDING.
If your firm is at an early planning stage, use the journey tool or book a free initial consultation before signing a lease, since the timing of that step can matter to the case.
Find your pathway
YOUR NEXT CHAPTERCANWHERE IT STARTSUSAWHAT COMES NEXT
TRAVELLERA BIG THINKER
PURPOSEMORE POSSIBILITY
FIND YOUR STARTING POINT
THE FIELD GUIDEBIG QUESTIONS.
The complete field guide BIG QUESTIONS.
STRAIGHT ANSWERS.
NORTH VANCOUVER (CITY) IS HOME. THE WORLD IS OPEN.SUPPORT THAT REACHES YOU.
SUPPORT THAT REACHES YOU.
A BIGGER HORIZON.
Planning from North Vancouver City? A free initial consultation is available remotely for the executive and any colleagues involved in the U.S. expansion. We are not a law firm and collaborate with licensed U.S. attorneys where needed.
Let’s connect YOUR VANCOUVER CONNECTION
Let’s talk about your plans.
Arrange a remote consultation to discuss your next steps.
BEFORE THE BIG MOVELET’S CLEAR
LET’S CLEAR
A FEW THINGS UP.
How long is the initial approval for a new-office L-1A petition?
USCIS guidance limits the initial period of stay for a new-office petition to one year, compared with up to three years for a transfer into an already-operating U.S. office. Extensions beyond that require evidence the office has become established.
What does 'established' mean for an extension?
USCIS looks at whether the U.S. operation has been doing business, has sufficient staff and organizational structure, and genuinely requires an executive or managerial role by the time an extension is requested, rather than remaining a one-person operation.
Do we need a lease before filing?
Evidence of suitable physical premises is part of a new-office petition, so a lease, purchase agreement or similarly firm arrangement is generally expected as supporting evidence rather than a future intention.
Could E-2 fit better for a smaller initial U.S. presence?
Possibly, if the Canadian company's principals are willing to structure the U.S. operation as a treaty investment rather than an intracompany transfer. This is worth comparing against L-1A based on the company's ownership and capital situation.
PLANNING SOURCES
Editorial source review: 2026-09-07.
ONE TEAM. MORE LOCAL STARTING POINTS.
All cities & coverage EXPLORE METRO VANCOUVER.
WHAT’S YOUR
NEXT CHAPTER?
Tell us where you are today.
Let’s talk about where you want to go.