IMMIGRATING TO USA

• It must meet the minimum capital amount. Either $900,000 in a TEA or $1.8 million outside TEAs.
• It must create at least 10 new full-time jobs for at least two years. If you cannot prove immediately that the investment has created the positions, you should be able to prove that the need for at least 10 new full-time employees will arise.
• The money you invest must have been acquired legally.
• The investment must be approved by the USCIS.
• The enterprise you invest in must be a “for-profit” new commercial enterprise that was established after 1990.
• The money you invest must be considered “at-risk’”, meaning that there is no guarantee of capital return.

• EB-1 Priority Workers
• EB-2 Advanced-degree Holders & Aliens of Exceptional Ability
• EB-3 Professional, Skilled and Other Workers
• EB-4 Religious Workers

Non-immigrant visas are granted to individuals who plan to enter the United States for a limited period and intend to leave upon completion of their stay. The U.S. law has established various non-immigrant visa categories, including those for tourism, business, temporary employment, study, transit, investment, training, and other purposes. These visas are specifically designed for individuals who do not intend to reside permanently in the United States and are seeking temporary admission for a particular purpose.

NON-IMMIGRANT VISA CATEGORIES

• A – Diplomatic Personnel and their Families (A-1/A-2/A-3)
• B – Temporary Visitors for Business/Pleasure (B-1/B-2)
• B-1 “Business” Visa includes visas to the U.S. to attend conventions, conferences, consultations and other legitimate activities of a commercial or professional nature. This may include taking steps to establish a branch office of a foreign company or to set up an investment in the United States
• B-2 “Tourist” Visa includes visits to the U.S. for pleasure involving recreation, tourism, amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, and social networking
• C – Visitors in Transit
• D – Crew Members
• E-1 & E-2 Treaty Trader & Treaty Investor
• E-1 “Treaty Traders” are persons engaging in substantial trade between the U.S. and their home country
• E-2 “Treaty Investors” are persons coming to the U.S. to develop and direct enterprises in the U.S. in which they are investing a substantial amount of capital
• L – Intracompany Transferees Available for employees who have been employed by a multinational company abroad that seeks to open new business operations in the United States or transfer the employee to an existing business that is related to the company abroad
• L-1A for Managers/Executives
• L-1B for Employees with Specialized Company Knowledge
• L-1 regulations also recognize a visa may be issued for opening a “new office”
• H – Temporary Workers who fill an immediate and temporary need for labor
• H-1B Specialist/Professional
• H-1B1 for non-immigrant professionals from Chile & Singapore
• H-1C for Registered Nurses
• H-2A for Temporary Agricultural Workers
• H-2B for Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers
• H-3 Trainees
• H-4 for spouses and children of persons in the other H classes
• O – Persons with “Extraordinary Ability” in the fields of Science, Art, Education, Business, or Athletics
• P – Internationally Recognized Athletes, Artists, or Members of Recognized Entertainment Groups
• Q – Participants in International Cultural Exchange Programs
• F – Academic Students
• J – Exchange Visitors
• G – International Organization Representatives
• K – Fiancé(e)s and Spouses of U.S. Citizens
• M – Vocational or Non-Academic students seeking to enter the U.S. temporarily to pursue a full course of study at an established or recognized vocational or other non-academic institution
• R – Religious Workers