There are two main investor visa options: the EB-5 Immigrant Visa and the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa. The former offers permanent residency and the latter offers temporary residency.
EB-5 eligibility key requirements:
- Investment Amount: Minimum of $1.05 million in a standard commercial enterprise. $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA). Let’s not forget that funds must be at risk, in other words, no guaranteed returns.
- Job Creation: By creating at least 10 full time jobs for US workers.
- Source of funds: The investor must prove that funds are obtained lawfully.
E-2 eligibility key requirements:
- Investment Amount: No fixed minimum, but a substantial amount of $100,000 is considered. For instance, a $1 million business might need $500,000 investment.
- Citizenship: available for nationals of a U.S Treaty Country only.
- Business Requirements: must be an operational and active enterprise and it has to generate more than basic marginal income.
- Control: Ownership of at least 50% of the business and active management.