Investor Visa Pathways to the United States
Every visa option for foreign investors - from the EB-5 green card to the E-2 treaty visa and beyond
EB-5
Green Card
$800K-$1.05M
E-2
Treaty Visa
~$100K+
L-1
Transfer
No minimum
O-1
Extraordinary
No minimum
B-1
Visitor
Short-term
EB-5 Immigrant Investor (Green Card)
Direct path to permanent residence
$800K-$1.05M
Investment
10 Jobs
Required
2-4 Years
Processing
Permanent
Status
Advantages
- Direct green card for you and family
- No employer sponsor needed
- Work anywhere in US
- Path to citizenship
Considerations
- High investment amount
- Long processing times
- Investment at risk
- Must create 10 jobs
E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
Renewable work visa - treaty country required
$100K+
Typical
Treaty
Country
2-4 Mo
Processing
5 Years
Initial
Advantages
- Lower investment threshold
- Fast processing
- Indefinitely renewable
- Spouse can work (EAD)
Considerations
- No direct green card path
- Treaty country required
- Must maintain investment
- Must actively manage business
L-1 Intracompany Transfer
For executives/managers transferring to US affiliate
No Min
Investment
1 Year
Foreign Work
2-6 Mo
Processing
5-7 Yrs
Maximum
Advantages
- No investment required
- L-1A leads to EB-1C green card
- Spouse can work (L-2 EAD)
- Available to all countries
Considerations
- Must have foreign company first
- 1 year prior employment required
- Limited duration (5-7 years)
- Must be manager/executive
O-1 Extraordinary Ability
For top talent in business, science, arts, athletics
No Min
Investment
Evidence
Required
1-3 Mo
Processing
3 Years
Initial
Advantages
- No investment needed
- Fast processing available
- Unlimited renewals
- Can self-petition via own company
Considerations
- High evidentiary standard
- No direct green card path
- Tied to specific work
- Spouse cannot work
B-1 Business Visitor
Short-term for meetings and due diligence
None
Investment
Business
Purpose
1-2 Wk
Processing
6 Mo
Max Stay
Advantages
- Easy to obtain
- Good for due diligence
- Multiple entries allowed
- Starting point for investors
Considerations
- Cannot work in US
- No path to residence
- Limited duration
- No productive work allowed
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | EB-5 | E-2 | L-1 | O-1 | B-1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min Investment | $800K+ | ~$100K | None | None | None |
| Green Card Path | Direct | Indirect | EB-1C | Indirect | No |
| Treaty Required | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Can Work | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Spouse Can Work | Yes | EAD | EAD | No | No |
| Processing Time | 2-4 yrs | 2-4 mo | 2-6 mo | 1-3 mo | 1-2 wk |
| Max Duration | Perm | Unlimited* | 5-7 yrs | Unlimited* | 6 mo |
*With renewals while maintaining status
Common Questions
Which visa is best for getting a green card?
EB-5 provides the most direct path. L-1A offers a straightforward path through EB-1C. E-2 and O-1 holders typically need to change to an employer-sponsored category.
My country has no E-2 treaty. What are my options?
Consider: (1) EB-5 if you have capital, (2) L-1 if you can establish a foreign company first, (3) O-1 if you have extraordinary achievements, or (4) citizenship in a treaty country.
Can I invest passively and still get a visa?
E-2 requires active direction - passive investment does not qualify. EB-5 allows more passive investment through Regional Centers. For truly passive investors, EB-5 Regional Center is typically best.