EB-5 Visa
The EB-5 program is intended to encourage both foreign investments and economic growth. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program is one of five employment-based (EB) preference programs in the United States.
L-1 Visa
The visa allows such foreign workers to relocate to the corporation’s US office after having worked abroad for the company for at least one continuous year within the previous three years prior to admission in the US.
E-2 Visa
The E-2 Investor Visa allows an individual to enter and work inside the United States based on developing and directing a business venture funded by the investor. The amount of investment is generally much lower than EB-5’s.
U.S.A. Investor Visa Comparison Table
| E-2 | L-1 | EB-5 (Regional Center) | EB-5 (Direct) | |
| Investment Amount (USD) | No minimum. Any amount sufficient to buy or create a business | No minimum. Any amount sufficient to buy or create a business | $800,000 at TEA* zone $1,050,000 outside TEA | $800,000 at TEA* zone $1,050,000 outside TEA |
| Gifted Investment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Borrowed Investment (Loan) | Yes (certain rules apply) | Yes (certain rules apply) | Yes (certain rules apply) | Yes (certain rules apply) |
| Investment Location | Any | Any | TEA (Targeted Employment Areas) or outside TEA | TEA (Targeted Employment Areas) or outside TEA |
| Job Creation Requirements | Not required. However, investor must follow the Business Plan closely | Yes. Investor must follow the Business Plan closely | 10 direct or indirect jobs | 10 direct jobs (more difficult to make direct jobs |
| Investor’s Role | Investor has the option to hire a manager. Otherwise must be involved in day to day operations | Management/ Executive/ Key Employee | No active role requirement | Investor has the option to hire a manager. Otherwise must be involved in day to day operations |
| Option to purchase an existing company | Yes | Yes | N/A | Yes, must add 10 full-time jobs |
| Investor’s Overseas Employment Required | Prefer to have similar business as with E-2 entity | Yes, 1 year out of the last 3-years | No | Prefer to have managerial experience (option to hire a manager) |
| Country (Passport Specific) | Yes. Must be from a Treaty Country | Any (if foreign business is in certain countries like Iran there are restrictions) | All countries qualify | All countries qualify |
| Required to have company outside United States | No | Yes | No | No |
| Timeline** | Usually 2-4 months | 4-6 months. Expedited, 15 business days is available | Avg. 2-Years Nationality Specific | Avg. 2-Years Nationality Specific |
| U.S. Green Card (LPR) | May convert to EB-5 only if investment grows. May also qualify under EB-1C (consult U.S. lawyer) | Managers & Directors may qualify for LPR after 1-yr of entry under EB-1C (consult U.S. lawyer) | Yes, upon entry | Yes, upon entry |
| Fast Track | Yes, if change status in US; No if filing from abroad | Yes (optional) for USCIS approval, followed by regular Consular processing (if abroad); if changing status inside US, expedited (15-days) is an option | No | No |
| 1st Visa Issuance | 2-years (most nationals) | Depends on the type of L-1 (consult U.S. lawyer) | Starts with 2-years conditional LPR | Starts with 2-years conditional LPR |
| Maximum Length | Renewable as long as the business is running. Children over 21 do not qualify for renewal | 5- 7 years (consult U.S. lawyer). Children over 21 do not qualify for renewal | Permanent, upon approved I-829 | Permanent, upon approved I-829 |
| Who is considered Investor’s Family (Derivative) | Spouse & Unmarried Children under 21 | Spouse & Unmarried Children under 21 | Spouse & Unmarried Children under 21 | Spouse & Unmarried Children under 21 |
| Can Your Derivative work? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can Your Derivative Attend School/University? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Employment for investor | Immediately upon entry | Immediately upon entry | Immediately upon entry | Immediately upon entry |
**Average processing time from the receipt dates. Subject to change without further notification.
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