An investor visa is a general term for U.S. visa chains that allow foreign nationals to reside and work in the United States based on investing significant amounts of capital in an American business. The visas invite foreign businessmen to contribute to the American economy through investment and job opportunities. In return, the investor can reside in the U.S., either temporarily or permanently, depending on the category of visa. For instance, the U.S. has an immigrant investor program (EB-5) that can result in a green card (permanent residence) for the investor and family members and a nonimmigrant (temporary) treaty investor visa (E-2) for entrepreneurs of specified treaty countries​. In both instances, the investor must put capital into a real U.S. business enterprise, and (in the case of the EB-5) such investment must put American workers on the payroll. U.S. immigration policy mandates that through this channel, the applicant must invest to enrich the U.S. economy in terms of job creation and investment capital.