L-1 Visa: Would You Like to set up a Branch or Subsidiary Business in the U.S.A.?

[Yvonne]

I estimate a budget of approx R35,000 - R50,000 for the visa application costs.

At least US$ 50,000 - $ 80,000 for basic food and shelter, for 9- 12 months whereafter the business would have to support you and your family, so ideally the business cannot be a risk venture, but a definitely viable business.
Ideally with some additional financial support coming from South Africa if you wish to maintain your current standard of living.

Living costs vary dramatically between cities in the US so this would need to be taken into consideration.

It is almost impossible to purchase anything on credit when you in the US on a visa.
So you may need sufficient cash for a vehicle. (Average ZAR 160,000 - 250,000 for a new vehicle, and used vehicle : ZAR 100,000 - 160,000 - for anything half decent!)

Then of course the funds in the US bank for the business, required to satisfy the visa requirements depending on the business itself.

Travel and moving costs will take a big chunk of your assets.

Please note, this is a rough estimate based on our own experience within the last few months:
Our cost for the visa and legal fees to register the business etc. was ZAR 80,000.

Do get comparison quotes from immigration lawyers, but better still, make sure you find someone who has obtained a visa and is willing to provide a personal reference.
Some immigration lawyers take months to submit the application, in fairness, this could be due to the client not supplying sufficient information, or be the "normal" procedure,
most people we have spoken to say it is between 1 - 6 months:
Our first legal meeting was in July 2008, the submission was denied mid October, another application was made in November and granted in December. We altered the application to a "transfer" application, when the "business" application failed.

So even for a non-immigrant visa, it could take over 6 months.

If your age excludes you from attempting to formally immigrate, it is the only way to even have a hope of eventually applying for a green card in the U.S. so if you have the finance, and this is something you are seriously considering, it is possibly the best option available to you.

Yvonne

[Pieter Greyling]

Hi Yvonne, I realise this an old post still I would value your input on L1A visa in the 2018? We have been in the USA since 2016 on this Visa. There is much speculation about current Green Card applications. Do you have any knowledge about this?
Cheers, Pieter Greyling