Visas for Investors

VISAS FOR INVESTORS

This is my Visa for Investors Information Page.

For most of America's 210 year history, it has remained one of the most favored destinations for international investments. A strong, stable economy and tremendous natural resources have made America the envy of many. If you are an investor and/or wish to operate a business enterprise in the United States, the US Government has designed more than one way for you to do so.

Generally speaking, you can get permission to own and operate a business in the United States if the minimum following conditions exist:

You must be a national (citizen) of a country listed as one of the countries on the US Immigration Treaty Investor List. Any of these:
The investment in the business itself must be substantial. The actual amount of investment (stated in US Dollars) will depend upon the percentage which you directly invest and what percentage of the overall business operation that percentage represents. Immigration guidelines provide that in sums less than $500,000 USD you must invest not less than 75% of the total investment required. For sums between $500,000 and $3,000,000 USD, your investment must equal or exceed 50% of the total. And for sums in excess of $3,000,000 USD a minimum investment equal to or exceeding 30% of the total is required.
Your investment in the business operation must signify that the investment has been placed at risk. For example, a direct deposit in a bank account would not be considered an "at-risk" investment. Nor would an investment in a house mortgage. But a direct investment in a large scale shopping center, where you had majority of the management control of its operations would most definitely qualify. The rule is, you must put the money at risk and you must be responsible for the operation of the business enterprise.
You must be responsible for the direction and control of the investment. That means you cannot be an "absentee owner-operator". You must be here and manage the business directly.
The investment must be an active and not a passive one. Investing money in raw land with the hope that someday it is to be developed would not qualify. On the other hand, purchasing an existing or starting up your own restaurant would qualify. The key phrase here is active investment.
You must also show that you have the necessary experience, education, and history to operate a business successfully.
The size of the business is not near as important as the amount of risk, direct involvement and active participation you will bring to it.

If you own an existing business outside the United States and wish to expand the business into the US marketplace, then the Intercompany Transferee Visa may be more appropriate. You can get information on this type of visa by checking in at the Inter-Company (Employment) Visas page here on my website.

If you plan to invest $1,000,000 USD or more ($500,000 in certain key areas) and if your business will generate employment for 10 or more American workers or permanent residents, you may qualify as a special investor eligible for permanent residency status ("Green Card"). If you feel that you fit this particular program, please make a special note to me in the comments section of the form provided below.

In most cases, investor visas are usually valid for the entire period of the investment (and can be renewed) so long as the business remains active. This means that even if you are not accorded permanent residency status, you can still remain in the United States for as long as the business is active!

Remember, you will not be charged a fee for providing this information and any information you give me will remain strictly confidential. Unless and until you have retained me as your attorney and we have agreed to my fees and services, there is no attorney-client relationship and you will not be required to pay a fee.

Please take a few minutes and fill out the form below:

VISAS FOR INVESTORS INQUIRY FORM

Personal Name:
Street Address:
City:
State:	Post Code:
Country:
Telephone:	Fax:
Company Name:
Title/Position:
Address:
City/State/Zip
Business Phone:	Fax:
E-Mail Address:
Investor Info:	Minimum Planned Investment: Type of Investment: Number of Key Employees (est.):
Visa Info:	Family Members Accompanying You: Any Family Members Accompanying Your Employees? I Will Be Travelling Outside US at least once yearly? I Own Other Business Outside the US. I Have Formed a US Company Already.

My Comments:

Thanks for your interest.

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