Investment & Business Visas

EB-5 Investor Visa

EB-5 Investor Visa is designed for foreign investors who want to obtain a U.S. Green Card by investing in the American economy.

It's a path often chosen by entrepreneurs, business owners, or high-net-worth individuals who want to live in the U.S. with their families while contributing to job creation. Both direct investors (those starting or expanding a business) and regional center investors (those investing through USCIS-designated programs) may qualify.

To qualify for the EB-5 visa, applicants must: Invest the required amount in a U.S. new commercial enterprise (NCE). The threshold depends on whether the business is located in a targeted employment area (TEA) or if you opted for a regional center investment. Create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers. Prove the lawful source of funds, showing where the investment capital came from (such as earnings, business sales, or inheritance). Participate in the business, either by directly managing the NCE or if investing through a regional center.

The EB-5 program offers some of the most significant advantages in the U.S. immigration system: A direct path to a Green Card for the investor, their spouse, and unmarried children under 21. No need for a job offer, employer sponsorship, or extraordinary ability. The investment itself is the basis for eligibility. Freedom to live, work, and study anywhere in the U.S., regardless of the location of the investment project. Potential path to U.S. citizenship after five years of permanent residency.

While EB-5 applications can be complex, the process usually follows these steps:

  1. Choose your investment: Decide whether to invest directly in your own enterprise or through a USCIS-approved regional center.

  2. File your Form I-526 petition: Petition for the EB-5 visa, showing your investment details, job creation plan, and source of funds.

  3. Wait for visa availability: Depending on your country of origin, you may need to wait for a visa number in the Visa Bulletin.

  4. Apply for a Green Card: File Form I-485 (if in the U.S.) or complete consular processing abroad.

  5. Conditional Green Card issued: If approved, you and your family receive two-year conditional Green Cards and become conditional permanent residents in the U.S.

  6. Remove conditions: File Form I-829 within 90 days before the two-year card expires to prove job creation and maintain your permanent residency.

You can learn more about the EB-5 Immigrant Investment Program discussed on this page Here.

E-1/E-2 Visas

Nonimmigrant visa for treaty traders and treaty investors coming to the U.S. under a treaty of commerce and navigation between the U.S. and the country of which they are a citizen or national.

The purpose of E-1 treaty trader visa is for an applicant or their business to conduct substantial trade between the U.S. and the treaty country. It is a key requirement for E-1 for the trade to be continuous and trade with the U.S. must comprise more than 50% of the firm’s total international trade.

The purpose of E-2 treaty investor visa is for an applicant to develop and direct an enterprise in which he/she makes a substantial capital investment. It is a key requirement to prove that the capital you invest is “at risk” and the business is not “marginal”.

Both E-1 and E-2 visas allow for an initial two-year stay that can be renewed indefinitely if you keep meeting the qualifications. Neither E-1 nor E-2 is a direct path to green card, they both require switching to an immigrant visa, such as EB-1 or EB-2.

L-1A Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager

The L-1A nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer an executive or manager from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This classification also enables a foreign company that does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send an executive or manager to the United States with the purpose of establishing one.

L-1B Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge

The L-1B nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer a professional employee with specialized knowledge relating to the organization’s interests from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This classification also enables a foreign company that does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send a specialized knowledge employee to the United States to help establish one.