Moving Your Business to the United States: Visa Routes for Founders and Investors

This guide covers the 3 verified routes for founders and investors moving a business to the United States. Every figure comes from our program review dated September 15, 2026. Rules change often, so treat this as a starting point and confirm the details with an expert before you commit money or time.

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

EB-5 requires investors to create at least 10 full-time jobs through a qualifying investment — $800,000 if the investment is in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA, generally rural or high-unemployment areas), or $1,050,000 standard elsewhere. Unlike E-2 or the IER, EB-5 leads directly to a conditional green card and eventually full permanent residence — it is the only route on this list that is a direct-to-immigrant-visa pathway rather than a temporary or discretionary status. Current thresholds were set under the 2022 EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act.

Who it suits: Investors seeking a direct path to a US green card through job-creating investment. Minimum investment: $800,000 (Targeted Employment Area) or $1,050,000 (standard). Active involvement: Policy/oversight role and at-risk capital — less hands-on than E-2. What you receive: Conditional green card, converting to permanent green card. Family: Yes — spouse and unmarried children under 21. Path to permanent residence: Yes — direct path to permanent green card.

Worth knowing: Processing can face long, country-specific backlogs, notably for people born in China, India and Vietnam. Timelines differ by nationality.

E-2 Treaty Investor Visa

The E-2 has no fixed statutory minimum investment — it must simply be "substantial" relative to the type of business, and the investor must be actively directing and developing the enterprise, not investing passively. Critically, this visa is only available to nationals of countries with a qualifying treaty with the United States (the current list is maintained by the State Department). Unlike EB-5, the E-2 does not lead directly to permanent residence — it's a renewable nonimmigrant status.

Who it suits: Nationals of E-2 treaty countries actively running a US business they've invested in. Minimum investment: No fixed statutory minimum; must be "substantial" relative to the business. Active involvement: Yes — must actively direct and develop the enterprise. What you receive: Renewable nonimmigrant status. Family: Yes — spouse and unmarried children under 21. Path to permanent residence: No direct pathway — E-2 does not lead to a green card on its own.

Worth knowing: E-2 is only open to nationals of treaty countries. Check the current treaty country list at state.gov before you plan.

International Entrepreneur Rule (IER)

The IER is not a visa — it's a discretionary grant of parole (temporary permission to be present in the US) for founders with at least $311,071 in qualified investment from qualified investors (raised from $264,147, effective October 1, 2024), or evidence of $622,142 in revenue for a re-parole application. The founder must hold a central, active role with at least 10% ownership. Parole is granted for up to 5 years total (an initial period plus one renewal of up to 30 months each). Because this is parole rather than a status or visa, it carries more legal fragility and has historically been small in volume and politically vulnerable to policy reversal.

Who it suits: Startup founders with qualified institutional investment, as a temporary bridge rather than a long-term status. Minimum investment: At least $311,071 in qualified investment from qualified investors; or $622,142 in revenue for re-parole. Active involvement: Yes — central, active role with at least 10% ownership. What you receive: Parole (not a visa or formal immigration status), up to 5 years total (2×30 months). Family: Yes — spouse and unmarried children under 21. Path to permanent residence: No — parole does not itself lead to permanent residence.

Worth knowing: The International Entrepreneur Rule grants parole, not a visa or a lawful status in the usual sense. It carries different legal protections and is more exposed to policy change. Few people have used it.

This guide is directional guidance only and is not legal or immigration advice. A consulting session will tell you which route fits your business and what to prepare first.