E-2

For foreigners from a country with which the United States has a trade agreement and is coming solely to direct and develop the operations of a company in which it has investments, or actively participates in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital

L-1

Temporary nonimmigrant visa, designed to provide multinational companies with an option to transfer executives, managers and other personnel of the company with specialized knowledge to the affiliated US company

EB-5

The EB-5 Visa Program allows foreign entrepreneurs to make an investment in a business in the United States to obtain their "Green Card" and become a legal permanent resident of the United States.

WHAT IS THE VISA E-2?

The United States Immigration and Nationality Act establishes a visa category for citizens of countries that have signed a trade agreement with the United States or that are considered, in accordance with the laws of the United States, as a member of the treaty countries.

With this category of visa the applicant can travel to the United States to carry out an important business or to develop or direct the operations of a company in which the person has invested, or is actively in the process of investing.

The visas of investors and traders are under the category of nonimmigrant visas. These visas allow the applicant and their family members who qualify to accompany them, to live in the United States for a prolonged period of time.

Mutual funds can come from any country, including the United States, as long as they are under the control of the investor requestor.

The business of the United States must be the majority property of people from the member country of the treaty.

Benefits to obtaining the E-2 visa is:

• You can invest any industry and company size;
• It can be extended indefinitely;
• Can sponsor other entrepreneurs with the same nationality;
• It is a relatively fast process, with an average duration of approximately less than two months;
• Children under the age of 21 can attend school and their spouse can obtain work authorization.

Possible issues in obtaining the E-2 visa:

• The lack of uniformity in the application process by the foreign consulate in question;
• By the end of the fifth year, it must be demonstrated that the business is growing and profitable to obtain the extension;
• Requires a considerable initial investment (usually $120,000);
• Does not offer a direct way to obtain your Permanent Residency in the United States;
• The Investor may work only and exclusively for the business that served as the basis for the application for the E-2 visa.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CLASSIFICATION OF VISA IN YOUR COUNTRY?

Use this form to obtain more information about the countries participating in the Treaty of commerce and navigation (Treaty Countries).

Applicants must fill a managerial or executive position, or have a specialized knowledge type and have been hired by the same company or company, during a certain consecutive period of time (at least one consecutive year in the three (3) previous years and before the application for the L-1 visa)

When it is used for the creation of companies, the L-1 visa is considered as a visa "of a new company that starts its L-1 business"

After the first year in the United States, the new company must demonstrate that the operations have grown to the point at which a managerial or executive position is required, and that it will be responsible for a group of employees and professionals reporting directly to the manager or executive who received the L-1 visa.

The EB-5 visa requires an investment of $ 1,000,000 (or $ 500,000 in designated poor areas where there are few jobs) in a U.S. company that creates at least ten (10) jobs for Americans or residents (who are residents of the United States or having employment authorization) in the first two (2) years.

Investors can start their own businesses directly as active investors, or they can invest in other Regional Center designations where the legal costs would be much higher.

Investors initially receive a conditional "Residency Card" for a period of two years, which becomes a permanent "Residency Card" after the aforementioned employment figures are presented.