Can I use the L-1 to open a restaurant if the foreign company is in the same industry?

It may be possible. The L-1 visa allows a foreign company to expand its operations to the United States by transferring key personnel to an entity within the same corporate group. Opening a restaurant fits this framework when the new operation is connected to an existing business abroad in the same industry, the food and beverage sector.

Two points tend to be central. First, the qualifying corporate relationship between the entities: parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate, with the tie duly documented. Second, your background: having served in a managerial or specialized knowledge capacity at the foreign company, fulfilling the required qualifying period.

Opening a new location typically requires additional evidence of viability, such as a solid business plan, the physical and administrative infrastructure being put in place, and a clear rationale for transferring responsibilities from the overseas operation to the U.S. entity.

Because the analysis depends on the specifics of your case, it is worth confirming updated requirements with USCIS or a specialist before structuring the project.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.