Investment & Entrepreneur Visas

Investment-based immigration offers foreign nationals a unique opportunity to obtain U.S. immigration status through capital investment in American businesses. Unlike employment-based immigration that requires sponsorship from a U.S. employer, investment visas allow entrepreneurs, business owners, and investors to take control of their immigration destiny by creating or investing in U.S. commercial enterprises. These programs serve dual purposes: they facilitate foreign investment in the U.S. economy while providing qualified investors and their families with pathways to work authorization and permanent residence. Whether you are an established international businessperson looking to expand operations to the United States, an entrepreneur seeking to launch a startup in American markets, or an investor with capital to deploy in job-creating ventures, investment immigration programs offer flexible options tailored to different investment levels, business models, and immigration objectives.

The E-2 Treaty Investor visa is one of the most popular investment visa categories for citizens of countries that maintain treaties of commerce and navigation with the United States. The E-2 visa allows foreign investors to enter and work in the United States based on a substantial investment in a bona fide U.S. business enterprise. One of the key advantages of the E-2 visa is that there is no statutorily defined minimum investment amount—the investment must simply be "substantial" relative to the total cost of establishing or purchasing the business. In practice, most successful E-2 cases involve investments ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 or more, though the appropriate investment amount varies depending on the type of business. The E-2 visa is initially granted for up to five years and can be renewed indefinitely as long as the business continues to operate. E-2 visa holders' spouses are eligible for work authorization, and dependent children can attend school in the United States. However, it is important to note that the E-2 is a nonimmigrant visa and does not directly lead to a green card, so E-2 investors who wish to become permanent residents must pursue a separate immigration pathway.

For investors seeking a direct path to permanent residence, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program provides an opportunity to obtain a green card through job-creating investment. The EB-5 program requires a minimum investment of $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), which includes rural areas or regions with high unemployment, or $1.05 million in non-targeted areas. The investment must create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers within two years. EB-5 investors have two primary options: direct investment in a new commercial enterprise that the investor actively manages, or passive investment through an EB-5 Regional Center, which allows the investor to count both direct and indirect job creation. The EB-5 program offers significant benefits including permanent residence for the investor, spouse, and unmarried children under 21, with no requirement for the investor to actively manage the business on a daily basis when investing through a Regional Center. However, the EB-5 process is complex and requires meticulous documentation of the lawful source of investment funds, comprehensive business plans demonstrating job creation, and careful structuring of the investment to meet all USCIS requirements. Our EB-5 attorneys provide end-to-end guidance from selecting appropriate investment opportunities to navigating the conditional residence period and ultimately obtaining unconditional permanent residence.

At Vasquez Law Firm, our investment immigration attorneys bring over 30 years of experience helping foreign investors and entrepreneurs successfully navigate U.S. immigration law. We have assisted over 200 investment immigration cases with a 92% approval rate, representing clients from countries around the world in a diverse range of industries including technology, real estate, manufacturing, hospitality, retail, and healthcare. Our comprehensive services include initial eligibility assessments to determine which investment visa category best suits your situation, business plan development and review, corporate structure planning and entity formation, source of funds documentation and analysis, preparation and filing of visa petitions and applications, and representation throughout the adjudication process. We understand that investment immigration involves not only immigration law but also corporate law, tax considerations, securities regulations, and business strategy. Our firm works collaboratively with your accountants, business advisors, and financial planners to ensure that your immigration strategy aligns with your overall business and financial goals. Whether you are considering an E-2 treaty investor visa for immediate market entry, an EB-5 investment for permanent residence, or an EB-1C executive green card after establishing substantial U.S. operations, we provide the strategic counsel and meticulous case preparation necessary for success in today's complex investment immigration landscape.