LEBLANC

aterim Decision #2110

MATTER OF LEBLANC In Visa Petition Proceedings LOS—N-12900 Decided by Regional Commissioner November 26, 1971

The statute does not require that the beneficiary of a visa petition to accord nonimmigrant classification as an intra-company transferee under section 101(a) (15) (L) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, be coming to an existing office, branch or other establishment of his employer in order that the petition may be approved. While there may be a question as to whether or not the petitioning company actually has an established and existing affiliate in the United States at this time, where, as the rec- ord in the instant case shows, the petitioner has acquired physical prem- ises necessary to its functions here which evidences the bona fides of its intended operation in this country, the petition may be approved if other- wise approvable.

ON BEHALF OF PETITIONER: Paul Gutman, Esquire 1900 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1060 Los Angeles, California 90067

This case comes before the Regional Commissioner on appeal from the decision of the District Director, Los Angeles, who de- nied the petition on October 7, 1971, stating in pertinent part that: "Inasmuch as the services of the beneficiary are requested to participate in the organization of the United States branch, not yet in existence, it is concluded that the beneficiary does not meet the criteria for classification as intra-company transferee under section 101(a) (15) (L) of the Act, as amended." The petitioner, Thriftmart Ltd., is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the province of Ontario, Canada, since 1964, intending to conduct its business in the State of California under the name of Cosmetiques Herbelle. It intends to promote the door-to-door retail sales of cosmetics on credit as it has been doing in Canada. The petitioner has submitted a certificate of qualification certifying the petitioner, dba Cosmetiques Herbelle, as a Canadian corporation qualified to transact intrastate business in California. The petition was filed on October 7, 1971, under

Interim Decision #2110

section 101 (a) (15) (L) of the Act seeking the services of the ben- eficiary as an intra-company transferee. The beneficiary is a 26-year-old married male, a native and citi- zen of Canada. The petitioner has stated that beneficiary "has unique, peculiar and specialized knowledge and talent in the screening, recruiting, contracting with and training of persons to participate in a sales program selling cosmetics marketed by peti- tioner. Mr. LeBlanc has been employed by petitioner for more than four years and, in respect of the last year and a half, has had full charge of screening, recruiting, contracting with and training sales personnel and has supervised sales of our products for the entire western Canadian area." The petitioner states that the beneficiary is to be employed in California for twelve months at $200.00 a week with "override commission" and will be hiring and training sales personnel to sell cosmetics on credit. Section 101 (a) (15) (L) of the Act describes an intra-company transferee as follows: An alien, who immediately preceding the time of his application for admis- sion into the United States, has been employed continuously for one year by a firm or corporation or other legal entity or an affiliate or subsidiary thereof and who seeks to enter the United States temporarily in order to continue to render his services to the same employer or a subsidiary or af- filiate thereof in a capacity that is managerial, executive or involves special- ized knowledge.... In support of the petition, the petitiorier submitted a statement dated September 24, 1971, stating that at the present time there were no employees in the proposed Los Angeles affiliate branch but that "It is intended that Mr. LeBlanc set up the Los Angeles branch office. Currently the address of the petitioner is that of petitioner's firm of accountants until such time as a formal branch office facility can be established by Mr. LeBlanc. It is in- tended that the beneficiary will come to the United States to par- ticipate in the establishment and commencement of business in Los Angeles." On appeal, counsel for petitioner concedes that at the time the petition was filed there were no employees in the "proposed" Los Angeles branch office and that it had been petitioner's intention to use the beneficiary "to set up the Los Angeles office." He goes on to state that "since that time conditions have changed signifi- cantly and materially justifying reconsideration of petitioner's petition and of the District Director's decision." Counsel now states that the petitioner has leased an office and warehouse in Los Angeles and, as evidence, has submitted copy of

erim Decision #2110 'Standard Form Business Property Lease" dated November 8, 11, and showing the lease to start January 1, 1972, and run for 'ee years. An addenda to the lease indicates that the petitioner Ly have limited access to the premises prior to January 1, 1972, on the signing of the lease. Counsel also states that petitioner s employed an "American national" resident of California as ,s California manager in full charge of petitioner's office in the iited States and who will supervise the conduct and activities the beneficiary." Counsel then states that "Petitioner is in the process of estab- ling its inventory of merchandise for marketing and sale in ilifornia which merchandise, upon receipt from time to time, ill be stored in petitioner's warehouse facilities at the above )ted address. As a consequence petitioner can now be deemed to an operating branch of petitioner's Canadian based business ith physical and managerial facilities and with active, resident Lanagement. All that beneficiary will be doing will be the re- ruiting and training of a sales force to facilitate what has now ecome a going business of applicant." The statute requires that the beneficiary, immediately preced- Ig the filing of the petition, had been employed continuously for ne year by petitioner and that he seek to enter the United States emporarily in order to continue to render his services to the ame employer, the petitioner, or a subsidiary or affiliate in a Ca- iacity that is managerial, executive or involves special knowl- dge. The statute does not require that the beneficiary be coming to ,n existing office, branch or other establishment of his employer n order that the petition may be approved. While there may be a [uestion as to whether or not the petitioning company actually ias an established and existing affiliate in the United States at his time, where, as the record in this case shows, the petitioner las acquired physical premises necessary to its functions here Nhich evidences the bona fides of its intended operation in this :ountry, the petition may be approved if otherwise approvable. The record shows that beneficiary had been employed for more than a year in Canada by the petitioner in the recruiting, hiring and training of sales personnel in door-to-door credit sales tech- niques which requires and involves specialized knowledge, and that he is expected to perform the same services for an affiliate branch in the United States. On careful review, we find that the beneficiary qualifies as an intra-company transferee and is eligible for classification under

Interim Decision #2110 section 101(a) (15) (L) of the Act. The appeal will be sustained and the petition granted. ORDER: It is ordered that the appeal be sustained and the pe- tition granted.