Avoid these 10 costly mistakes that lead to RFEs and denials in visa business plans. Expert tips for L-1A, L-1B, E-2, EB-1C, EB-2 NIW, and O-1 petitions.
Common Mistakes in Visa Business Plans (And How to Avoid Them)
A business plan is often the most important piece of evidence in a visa petition. Yet many applicants and even some attorneys submit plans with critical errors that trigger Requests for Evidence (RFEs) or outright denials. Here are the 10 most common mistakes — and how to avoid them.
The mistake: Submitting a standard business plan that could apply to any company, with no visa-specific content.
The fix: Your business plan must be tailored to your specific visa category. An E-2 plan needs to address the "substantial investment" and "not marginal" standards. An L-1A plan must demonstrate managerial capacity. A one-size-fits-all approach signals to USCIS that the plan wasn't purpose-built for the petition.
The mistake: Providing a flat org chart with the beneficiary on top and two employees below, or no org chart at all.