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U.S. immigration pathways

More ways to live, work, invest and build a future in America.

EB‑5 is unusually direct because it does not require family or employer sponsorship. But it is not the only option. The right strategy depends on nationality, business ownership, professional credentials, family relationships and long-term goals.

Temporary visasGreen Card pathwaysWhy EB‑5E‑2 countries

Work, business and study

Important temporary U.S. visa options

Temporary visas can be powerful, but they do not all permit the same activities and most do not create an automatic path to permanent residence.

E‑2 is a temporary, nonimmigrant visa.It can be renewed while the treaty enterprise and investor continue to qualify, but it does not itself grant a Green Card or create an automatic permanent-residence pathway.

E‑2 Treaty Investor

Invest a substantial amount in a real, operating U.S. enterprise that you will develop and direct. There is no fixed statutory minimum, but the investment must be substantial relative to the business. E‑2 is temporary, renewable while the enterprise qualifies, and limited to treaty-country nationals.

E‑1 Treaty Trader

For nationals of qualifying treaty countries conducting substantial, principally treaty-country trade with the United States.

L‑1 Intracompany Transfer

Allows a qualifying international company to transfer a manager, executive or specialized-knowledge employee to a related U.S. office. It can also support opening a new U.S. office.

H‑1B Specialty Occupation

For qualifying professional positions that normally require a relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Most private-sector cases are cap-subject.

O‑1 Extraordinary Ability

For people who can document sustained distinction in business, science, education, athletics or the arts. A U.S. petitioner or agent is required.

TN Professionals

Canadian and Mexican citizens in listed professional occupations may qualify under CUSMA/USMCA.

F‑1 Student and OPT

Academic study can lead to authorized practical training related to the field of study. F‑1 is not itself permanent residence.

J‑1 Exchange Visitor

For approved exchange programs, including trainees, interns, researchers and physicians. Some participants face a two-year foreign-residence requirement.

B‑1 Business Visitor

Permits limited activities such as meetings, negotiations and conferences—not productive employment or day-to-day operation of a U.S. business.

Permanent residence

Principal U.S. Green Card pathways

Family-based immigration

U.S. citizens and permanent residents may sponsor defined relatives. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are not subject to annual category quotas; preference categories can involve long waits.

EB‑1 priority workers

Includes extraordinary ability, outstanding professors or researchers, and certain multinational executives or managers. Some EB‑1 applicants can self-petition.

EB‑2 and National Interest Waiver

Advanced-degree professionals and people of exceptional ability may qualify. A National Interest Waiver can remove the usual employer sponsorship and labour-certification requirements.

EB‑3 skilled, professional and other workers

Usually requires a permanent U.S. job offer and labour certification. Timing depends on the category, nationality and Visa Bulletin.

EB‑5 immigrant investor

A direct permanent-residence pathway based on a qualifying job-creating investment. The reduced amount is currently $800,000 for a targeted employment area or infrastructure project.

Why EB‑5 is often preferable

A direct pathway to U.S. permanent residence.

For families able to make the qualifying investment, EB‑5 combines immigration independence, flexibility and family-wide benefits in a way most temporary visas cannot.

Explore the EB‑5 pathway
No employer sponsorYour immigration strategy is not tied to keeping one specific job.
No qualifying relativeYou do not need a U.S. citizen or permanent-resident family sponsor.
Passive regional-centre optionYou generally do not need to manage the EB‑5 enterprise day to day.
One investment, one familyA spouse and qualifying unmarried children under 21 may be included.
Live and work anywherePermanent residents are not restricted to the project location.
A route to citizenshipAfter meeting residence and other requirements, permanent residents may later apply for naturalization.

Treaty investors

Countries whose nationals may qualify for E‑2

This list reflects the U.S. Department of State treaty table. Nationality—not merely residence—controls. Bolivia and Ecuador have restricted legacy treatment and are not included in this general list.

AlbaniaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahrainBangladeshBelgiumBosnia and HerzegovinaBulgariaCameroonCanadaChileTaiwanColombiaCongo (Brazzaville)Congo (Kinshasa)Costa RicaCroatiaCzech RepublicDenmarkEgyptEstoniaEthiopiaFinlandFranceGeorgiaGermanyGrenadaHondurasIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanSouth KoreaKosovoKyrgyzstanLatviaLiberiaLithuaniaLuxembourgNorth MacedoniaMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoNetherlandsNew ZealandNorwayOmanPakistanPanamaParaguayPhilippinesPolandPortugalRomaniaSenegalSerbiaSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSri LankaSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTürkiyeUkraineUnited Kingdom

Treaty eligibility and country-specific footnotes can change. Confirm the current Department of State table before proceeding.

Compare the trade-offs

Most alternatives depend on someone—or something—else.

Not sure which U.S. pathway fits?

VisaV can help identify the relevant questions and coordinate your matter with qualified U.S. immigration counsel.

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