What Is the EB-5 Visa?

The EB-5 visa allows foreign investors and their families to obtain a Green Card through a qualifying investment in the United States. It is one of the fastest and safest paths to permanent residence because it connects the investor’s capital with job creation in the country.

Main Requirements

• Minimum investment according to current USCIS regulations;

• Creation or preservation of at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers;

• Proof of the lawful source of invested funds.

Benefits of the EB-5

• Permanent residence for the investor, spouse, and children under 21;

• Freedom to live, study, and work in any U.S. state;

• A direct path to citizenship after five years of permanent residence;

• No need for employer sponsorship or a family-based petition.

What Is the E-2 Visa?

The E-2 visa is intended for foreign entrepreneurs who want to invest in and manage a business in the United States. Although it does not lead directly to a Green Card, it is one of the fastest and most flexible ways to live legally in the country with your family, and it can be renewed indefinitely as long as the investment remains active. This visa is available only to citizens of countries that maintain treaty agreements with the United States and gives the investor the opportunity to manage their own business on U.S. soil.

Main Requirements

• The investor must be a citizen of a country with a treaty of commerce with the United States;
• The investment must be substantial and sufficient to ensure the success of the operation;
• The business must be real and active, generating jobs or positive economic impact;
• The investor must prove the lawful source of the funds;
• The applicant must have an active role in managing the business.

Benefits of the E-2

• Allows the investor and family to live legally in the United States;
• Spouse may apply for work authorization and children may study in the country;
• Approval process is generally faster than other investment-based visas;
• Can be renewed indefinitely as long as the business remains active and profitable;
• Does not require a fixed minimum investment, but rather an amount proportional to the type of business.