---
kind: "section"
citation: "11 U.S.C. § 1511"
title: "11"
title_heading: "Bankruptcy"
number: "1511"
heading: "Commencement of case under section 301, 302, or 303"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/11/1511"
units:
  - "Chapter 15 — Ancillary and Other Cross-Border Cases"
  - "Subchapter II — Access of Foreign Representatives and Creditors to the Court"
---

# §1511. Commencement of case under section 301, 302, or 303

- (a) Upon [recognition](/usc/11/1502.md?p=7), a [foreign representative](/usc/11/101.md?p=24) may commence—
  - (1) an involuntary case under [section 303](/usc/11/303.md); or
  - (2) a voluntary case under section [301](/usc/11/301.md) or [302](/usc/11/302.md), if the [foreign proceeding](/usc/11/101.md?p=23) is a [foreign main proceeding](/usc/11/1502.md?p=4).
- (b) The [petition](/usc/11/101.md?p=42) commencing a case under [subsection (a)](#a) must be accompanied by a certified copy of an order granting [recognition](/usc/11/1502.md?p=7). The court where the [petition](/usc/11/101.md?p=42) for [recognition](/usc/11/1502.md?p=7) has been filed must be advised of the [foreign representative](/usc/11/101.md?p=24)’s intent to commence a case under [subsection (a)](#a) prior to such commencement.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 109–8, title VIII, § 801(a), Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 138; amended Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(45), Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3562.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2010—Pub. L. 111–327 inserted “, 302,” after “301” in section catchline.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 180 days after Apr. 20, 2005, and not applicable with respect to cases commenced under this title before such effective date, except as otherwise provided, see section 1501 of Pub. L. 109–8, set out as an Effective Date of 2005 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.