What are investment visas? There are a number of different types of visas if you are a foreign national seeking to live and work in the United States and the investment visa is just one option, but do you know everything you need to about this visa option?
What Are Investment Visas?
When you ask “what are investment visas?” you are almost always asking because you or a family member or friend is seeking entry to the United States on a visa that requires an investment that will benefit the U.S. economy. Of course, there are multiple visa options available when you are seeking to come into the country as a foreign national, but for many, investment visas are the most feasible option for obtaining residency.
What Are Investment Visas? The Different Types of Investment Visas
There are multiple options available when applying for an investment visa and the best way to determine which type of investment visa is right for you is to consult an immigration attorney. An attorney with experience in investment visas will listen to your specific circumstances and help you to determine which option is best for you and for your budget.
But, what are your choices?
- EB-5 Regional Center Investment
- EB-5 Direct Investment
- E-2 Work Visa
EB-5 Regional Center Investment
The EB-5 regional center investment program is a program that requires a foreign national to make an investment of $500,000 U.S. in an EB-5 government-approved regional center for approximately five years. You can find a list of USCIS approved EB-5 government-approved regional centers listed on the USCIS website. As of Jan. 7, 2019, there are 887 approved regional centers and those centers are listed by state on the USCIS website and updated periodically. It’s important, however, to speak with the main point of contact at each regional center to determine whether the UCIS website listings are up to date.
When making an EB-5 Regional Center Investment, this investment must also provide work for 10 American workers for a span of 2 years. With this type of investment, your money is invested in someone else’s commercial venture which means that it is at risk so it may or may not be the right type of investment for you depending on your circumstances.
EB-5 Direct Investment
The EB-5 direct investment program requires an investment of $1 million (or $500,000 in an area with high unemployment rates) into your own business in the U.S. This business must employ at least 10 Americans for a period of at least 2 years. This type of visa takes approximately 18 months to process, but it can be combined with the E-2 work visa. Many direct investments are made into restaurants (franchise and non-franchise), hotels, nursing homes, farms, and retail stores. When making this type of investment, your money is being invested directly into the new commercial enterprise and the timing of job creation is controlled by the investor based on the needs of the business. When making a direct investment into a new business, the investment made is not always made in the form of cash, it may also be made in the form of equipment needed by the business, property for the business, or supplies needed by the business. Keep in mind, though, that any investment made in the business must be traceable via official paperwork – for example, customs forms when equipment is brought into the country for the new business by the investor.
E-2 Work Visa
The E-2 work visa program is the fastest method of getting into the U.S. on an employment visa. This visa is only available if your native country has an investment treaty with the U.S. An E-2 work visa requires that you both own and work for the company in question. The amount that you must invest in this business depends on the industry and sector of the business you are forming in the United States. This investment ranges from approximately $75,000 to $200,000+. E-2 visas are given for as long as 5 years and they can be indefinitely renewed.
Currently the U.S. Department of State’s Treaty Countries include:
| Country | Classification | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | E-2 | January 4, 1998 |
| Argentina | E-1 | October 20, 1994 |
| Argentina | E-2 | October 20, 1994 |
| Armenia | E-2 | March 29, 1996 |
| Australia | E-1 | December 16, 1991 |
| Australia | E-2 | December 27, 1991 |
| Australia | E-3 | September 2, 2005 |
| Austria | E-1 | May 27, 1931 |
| Austria | E-2 | May 27, 1931 |
| Azerbaijan | E-2 | August 2, 2001 |
| Bahrain | E-2 | May 30, 2001 |
| Bangladesh | E-2 | July 25, 1989 |
| Belgium | E-1 | October 3, 1963 |
| Belgium | E-2 | October 3, 1963 |
| Bolivia | E-1 | November 09, 1862 |
| Bolivia | E-2 | June 6, 2001 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
| Brunei | E-1 | July 11, 1853 |
| Bulgaria | E-2 | June 2, 1994 |
| Cameroon | E-2 | April 6, 1989 |
| Canada | E-1 | January 1, 1993 |
| Canada | E-2 | January 1, 1993 |
| Chile | E-1 | January 1, 2004 |
| Chile | E-2 | January 1, 2004 |
| China (Taiwan) | E-1 | November 30, 1948 |
| China (Taiwan) | E-2 | November 30, 1948 |
| Colombia | E-1 | June 10, 1848 |
| Colombia | E-2 | June 10, 1848 |
| Congo (Brazzaville) | E-2 | August 13, 1994 |
| Congo (Kinshasa) | E-2 | July 28, 1989 |
| Costa Rica | E-1 | May 26, 1852 |
| Costa Rica | E-2 | May 26, 1852 |
| Croatia | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Croatia | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
| Czech Republic | E-2 | January 1, 1993 |
| Denmark | E-1 | July 30, 1961 |
| Denmark | E-2 | December 10, 2008 |
| Ecuador | E-2 | May 11, 1997 |
| Egypt | E-2 | June 27, 1992 |
| Estonia | E-1 | May 22, 1926 |
| Estonia | E-2 | February 16, 1997 |
| Ethiopia | E-1 | October 8, 1953 |
| Ethiopia | E-2 | October 8, 1953 |
| Finland | E-1 | August 10, 1934 |
| Finland | E-2 | December 1, 1992 |
| France | E-1 | December 21, 1960 |
| France | E-2 | December 21, 1960 |
| Georgia | E-2 | August 17, 1997 |
| Germany | E-1 | July 14, 1956 |
| Germany | E-2 | July 14, 1956 |
| Greece | E-1 | October 13, 1954 |
| Grenada | E-2 | March 3, 1989 |
| Honduras | E-1 | July 19, 1928 |
| Honduras | E-2 | July 19, 1928 |
| Iran | E-1 | June 16, 1957 |
| Iran | E-2 | June 16, 1957 |
| Ireland | E-1 | September 14, 1950 |
| Ireland | E-2 | November 18, 1992 |
| Israel | E-1 | April 3, 1954 |
| Italy | E-1 | July 26, 1949 |
| Italy | E-2 | July 26, 1949 |
| Jamaica | E-2 | March 7, 1997 |
| Japan | E-1 | October 30, 1953 |
| Japan | E-2 | October 30, 1953 |
| Jordan | E-1 | December 17, 2001 |
| Jordan | E-2 | December 17, 2001 |
| Kazakhstan | E-2 | January 12, 1994 |
| Korea (South) | E-1 | November 7, 1957 |
| Korea (South) | E-2 | November 7, 1957 |
| Kosovo | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Kosovo | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
| Kyrgyzstan | E-2 | January 12, 1994 |
| Latvia | E-1 | July 25, 1928 |
| Latvia | E-2 | December 26, 1996 |
| Liberia | E-1 | November 21, 1939 |
| Liberia | E-2 | November 21, 1939 |
| Lithuania | E-2 | November 22, 2001 |
| Luxembourg | E-1 | March 28, 1963 |
| Luxembourg | E-2 | March 28, 1963 |
| Macedonia | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Macedonia | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
| Mexico | E-1 | January 1, 1994 |
| Mexico | E-2 | January 1, 1994 |
| Moldova | E-2 | November 25, 1994 |
| Mongolia | E-2 | January 1, 1997 |
| Montenegro | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Montenegro | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
| Morocco | E-2 | May 29, 1991 |
| Netherlands | E-1 | December 5, 1957 |
| Netherlands | E-2 | December 5, 1957 |
| Norway | E-1 | January 18, 1928 |
| Norway | E-2 | January 18, 1928 |
| Oman | E-1 | June 11, 1960 |
| Oman | E-2 | June 11, 1960 |
| Pakistan | E-1 | February 12, 1961 |
| Pakistan | E-2 | February 12, 1961 |
| Panama | E-2 | May 30, 1991 |
| Paraguay | E-1 | March 07, 1860 |
| Paraguay | E-2 | March 07, 1860 |
| Philippines | E-1 | September 6, 1955 |
| Philippines | E-2 | September 6, 1955 |
| Poland | E-1 | August 6, 1994 |
| Poland | E-2 | August 6, 1994 |
| Romania | E-2 | January 15, 1994 |
| Senegal | E-2 | October 25, 1990 |
| Serbia | E-1 | November 15,1882 |
| Serbia | E-2 | November 15,1882 |
| Singapore | E-1 | January 1, 2004 |
| Singapore | E-2 | January 1, 2004 |
| Slovak Republic | E-2 | January 1, 1993 |
| Slovenia | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Slovenia | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
| Spain | E-1 | April 14, 1903 |
| Spain | E-2 | April 14, 1903 |
| Sri Lanka | E-2 | May 1, 1993 |
| Suriname | E-1 | February 10, 1963 |
| Suriname | E-2 | February 10, 1963 |
| Sweden | E-1 | February 20, 1992 |
| Sweden | E-2 | February 20, 1992 |
| Switzerland | E-1 | November 08, 1855 |
| Switzerland | E-2 | November 08, 1855 |
| Thailand | E-1 | June 8, 1968 |
| Thailand | E-2 | June 8, 1968 |
| Togo | E-1 | February 5, 1967 |
| Togo | E-2 | February 5, 1967 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | E-2 | December 26, 1996 |
| Tunisia | E-2 | February 7, 1993 |
| Turkey | E-1 | February 15, 1933 |
| Turkey | E-2 | May 18, 1990 |
| Ukraine | E-2 | November 16, 1996 |
| United Kingdom | E-1 | July 03, 1815 |
| United Kingdom | E-2 | July 03, 1815 |
| Yugoslavia | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Yugoslavia | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
Ref: https://travel.state.gov
Have More Questions Than “What are Investment Visas?”
If you are a non-national seeking to live and work in the U.S. and want to know more information about your visa options and which would be the best option for your situation, Nelson and Associates can help! Just pick up the phone and give us a call today at 626-683-3451!
