Ownership documents that show control, not an organisation chart. Share registers, subscription agreements, audited or reviewed financial statements and tax filings for both entities carry the weight.
Ownership records outrank diagrams
A qualifying relationship is a legal fact about control, so it is proved with the records that create control. For a closely held Quebec company that usually means the share register and any unanimous shareholder agreement, the incorporation documents of the U.S. entity, and evidence of who subscribed for its shares and with what money. Both entities must be doing business — regularly, systematically and continuously providing goods or services — so financial statements, contracts, invoices and payroll for each side belong in the file. An organisation chart is useful for explaining reporting lines, but it is drawn by the applicant and proves nothing about ownership. Where documents are in French, a complete certified English translation accompanies each one submitted to USCIS.
Hypothetical example: a custom cabinetry exporter owns its U.S. affiliate through several family holding companies. The first review should produce an ownership chain from original shares to the petitioner, with registers, agreements and incorporation records that agree with one another. It should also produce payroll and job records proving the employee's qualifying year abroad, plus a present-tense description of both companies' business. Decide whether any missing corporate record can be obtained from the issuing authority before filing. A polished chart cannot settle a discrepancy in the underlying registers, and a translated document should remain complete and faithful to the original.