Foreign registration · Form CF-1

California Corporation Foreign Registration in West Virginia

To do business in West Virginia, a corporation formed in California registers there on Form CF-1, with $101 in state fees. West Virginia may ask for California's Certificate of Status ($5). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division from your California records, then serve as your agent for service of process there for year one.

What California and West Virginia each ask for

	California formed here	West Virginia registering here
Document	California Certificate of Status	Form CF-1, Application for Certificate of Authority
State fee	$5	$101 at order (filing fee $100 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	California: online as a PDF within minutes, or on paper by mail or drop-off in Sacramento	Filed with West Virginia
Paid expedite		next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25, 2-hour $250, 1-hour $500
Office	California Secretary of State, Business Entities	West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division
Official page	bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov	sos.wv.gov
Yearly filing	Statement of Information (Form SI-550), $25, every year	Annual Report, $25, every two years
Due	Last day of the corporation's registration-anniversary month, annually	July 1 each year
Late yearly filing	$250 late fee	$50 late fee
Turnaround	Certificate issued instantly online	Standard processing: standard processing takes 5 to 10 business days at no extra cost
Agent	Your California agent for service of process	Our West Virginia agent for service of process

From California to West Virginia, step by step

We prepare and file Form CF-1
It lists us as your West Virginia agent for service of process, next to your California name and formation date. If West Virginia wants the California certificate, it is ordered first. After approval, your California corporation is registered with West Virginia.

Your California name and West Virginia's rules

If another West Virginia company uses the California name, an alternate name is allowed. We check your exact California name against West Virginia's records before filing.

Your West Virginia agent and the California one

California and West Virginia both call it an agent for service of process. Your current agent for service of process stays for California; ours takes West Virginia's papers and notices.

Staying in good standing in California and West Virginia

California wants the Statement of Information (Form SI-550) every year ($25); West Virginia wants the Annual Report every two years ($25). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, California to West Virginia

An LLC formed in California files Form LLF-1 with West Virginia ($151 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Status ($5)). After that come California's Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) ($20) and West Virginia's Annual Report ($25). See the LLC filing.

Registering a West Virginia company in California

A corporation formed in West Virginia that registers with California files Form S&DC-S/N with $100 in state fees. See that filing.

Questions California owners ask about West Virginia

Does my California company need to register in West Virginia?

Yes, once a California business operates there; West Virginia registers it as a foreign corporation.

Is this a certificate of authority?

Yes: West Virginia issues one to California corporations once the form is approved.

How much does it cost to register a California corporation in West Virginia?

$300 at checkout; West Virginia may also want California's Certificate of Status, at extra cost.

How long does the West Virginia registration take?

West Virginia's standard processing takes 5 to 10 business days at no extra cost, plus time for California's certificate if West Virginia asks for it. Paid expedite: next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25.

What are the yearly costs for California and West Virginia?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), California's report ($25) and West Virginia's report ($25, every two years).

Does West Virginia require a registered agent?

Yes: the California agent for service of process stays, and ours covers West Virginia for year one.

Will West Virginia accept my California name?

Yes, if no company there has it; if one does, it uses an alternate name there and keeps its California name at home.

Can I form a new West Virginia corporation instead?

Yes, but California keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files West Virginia's Annual Report ($25), and the original keeps California's Statement of Information (Form SI-550).

How do I withdraw from West Virginia later?

California companies leave by filing a withdrawal application; until then, West Virginia's report stays due alongside California's filings.

Official sources

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