Our client, a global executive and CEO of a new U.S. subsidiary in California, was initially granted L-1A status from December 2023 to August 2024. Unfortunately, when her prior counsel handled her L-1A extension, a series of filing errors and inconsistencies led to a denial. After facing a complex and lengthy denial, the client turned to the Law Offices of Sabrina Li in March 2025. Through careful analysis, strategic planning, and persistent advocacy, we successfully refiled her L-1A extension , which was approved just two days after we submitted the RFE response.

A Mismanaged Extension Filing Led to Denial

When the client’s first L-1A extension was filed in October 2024, it was submitted late and contained numerous inconsistencies, including a change in her title from CEO to Director and discrepancies in employee information across documents. USCIS issued a detailed Request for Evidence (RFE), questioning both the client’s executive capacity and the accuracy of the filing. 

The prior counsel’s response was inadequate, relying primarily on a few email correspondences to demonstrate executive duties. USCIS deemed this insufficient and issued an 11-page denial notice in February 2025, concluding that the petition failed to establish the client’s eligibility for L-1A classification.

Rebuilding and Refiling the L-1A Extension

Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the client engaged our firm shortly after the denial. Our legal team promptly rebuilt the case, focusing on establishing executive capacity and mitigating unlawful presence risks following the denial. 

After thoroughly reviewing the prior submission and USCIS’s concerns, we created a comprehensive checklist to guide the client in gathering the necessary documents. Despite challenges arising from the company’s internal bookkeeping, we guided the client through a comprehensive evidence-gathering process and refiled the L-1A extension in mid-2025 with the strongest possible evidentiary record.

Strategic Departure to Prevent Unlawful Presence

After refiling, USCIS issued another RFE requesting further proof of executive duties and an explanation for the prior late filing.To safeguard her immigration record, we advised the client to depart the U.S. in July 2025, which immediately stopped unlawful-presence accrual while allowing us to continue advocating for her case abroad. This strategy protected her future eligibility for visa issuance.

Over the following months, we worked closely with the client and her U.S. company to compile detailed organizational charts, managerial reports, operational summaries, and decision-making records that clearly demonstrated her executive role.

Proving Executive Capacity in a Small Organization

USCIS also raised concerns about the size of the U.S. company, which had four full-time employees at the time her initial L-1A status was set to expire. Although L-1A regulations do not require supervising a specific number of employees, smaller organizations often undergo heightened scrutiny. After reviewing the business model, we demonstrated that the company—an after-school education provider—operated under a structure common in the industry, where administrative and instructional functions overlap and flexible staffing models are standard. With clear explanations and industry context, we resolved USCIS’s concerns about the organizational hierarchy and the client’s executive capacity.

Swift Approval and Return to the United States with an L-1 Visa

Our final response was submitted on October 4, 2025.Only two days later, USCIS approved the L-1A extension—an exceptionally fast and decisive outcome for a case that had previously been denied and carried multiple vulnerabilities.With this approval, the client can now confidently apply for her L-1 visa abroad and return to the United States to continue leading her company as CEO, without any unlawful-presence issues.

The Law Offices of Sabrina Li: Turning Setbacks into Success

This case exemplifies Law offices of Sabrina Li’s ability to rebuild complex L-1A cases and overcome procedural and evidentiary challenges. By identifying weaknesses in prior filings, addressing USCIS concerns head-on, and employing precise legal strategy, we transformed a denied petition into a success story.

If you or your company face challenges with an L-1A petition or extension, don’t lose hope. Contact the Law Offices of Sabrina Li at (213) 375-8096 or email us at info@sabrinali.law. Our experienced team is ready to help you secure, restore, and protect your immigration status.