The decision to invest in the United States is particularly interesting and could be very convenient from an economic point of view: the USA is, in fact, the world’s leading economic power. Let’s see what we need, including visas.
For all those looking for an intelligent and effective solution to invest money abroad, the US is one of the most attractive countries in the world. World’s first economy, today the US– more generic and improperly known as“America”– are home to some of the largest and most important companies in the world, such as Google, Apple, Facebook or Intel, just to name a few within the tech industry.
Why to invest in the United States ?
- Because the United States has the most attractive economic environment in the world to make investments, in addition to a prosperous consumer market with more than 310 million inhabitants and a per capita gross domestic product of over 47,000 dollars.
- Because they have free trade agreements with 17 countries in the world besides the Treaty of Trade and Navigation (Treaty traders) with as many as 78 countries. Foreign investment in the US exceeds $2,300 billion.
- The country has a skilled workforce thanks to local educational institutions that are able to professionally prepare workers, also according to the needs of investors.
- American laws allow foreign investors to live and work temporarily or permanently in the country for those who decide to invest in America. The Green Card is an identity card attesting to the immigrant status of a person authorised to live and work permanently in the United States. It is difficult to achieve if you do not have family members with US citizenship or without a working relationship with an American society. Investing in America is one of the fastest ways to get a Green Card, having the chance to live and work in the country without time limits.
How to invest in the United States, the permanent residence
One of the biggest limitations that people have in investing in the United States is the right of residence in the country. Since you do not go for tourism, you need to have a business or investment visa (below we will investigate the matter), so you have to carefully plan the costs and benefits of this move.
The requirements for permanent residence based on an investment are:
1. submit the appropriate form I-526 (immigrant Petition by Alien entrepreneur);
2. be eligible for the United States;
3. be immediately available for an immigration visa.
In all this, the investor can be accompanied by his family (spouse and children). The US has over 4,000 universities and colleges, some of which are considered the best in the world.
Several investment visas are available, which are not subject to annual quotas and do not require sponsorship by an American citizen or company.
Investors who want to invest in America and get the Green Card almost always use an EB-5 Visa or immigrant investor program. In fact, if you have an important amount of money to capitalize in a business for profit, you can get a Green Card directly immediately after your arrival. The investment must be of 1,000,000 dollars in a commercial enterprise employing at least 10 full-time workers. If, on the other hand, the investment is made in a high-unemployment area or in a rural area, then 500,000 dollars is sufficient. After 5 years from the date of admission to the United States, the investor can apply for US citizenship. The spouse and children can get their own Green Card. There are also temporary or non-immigrant visas.
A B-1 Business Visa is issued to persons intending to travel to the United States for a limited period of time and to engage in commercial activities, including the purchase of real estate or control of the performance of a company in which a substantial investment has been made. The B-1 is granted up to a maximum of 1 year and allows you to apply for a status change to an E-2 investment visa without having to leave the United States in advance.
The E-1 visa, also known as Treaty Treader, is aimed at traders in a country with which the United States maintains a Trade and Navigation Treaty (Treaty traders). The United States has signed the Treaty traders with 78 countries, allowing foreign entrepreneurs who intend to invest in America to obtain an E-1 or E-2 visa. With an E-1 visa, you can only be admitted to the United States for international trade (Import/Export) on your own. The’E-1 is initially granted for 5 years (2 years for foreign exchange and status extensions in the United States). Extension periods of two years each (maximum) may be granted. There are no limits to the number of renewals, always and when the company is active and the volume of business remains substantial.
The E-2 or Treaty investors visa is for substantial investments in a business in the country to star and stripes. The term“substantial” does not cover the amount of money in the investment, but rather the volume of business, such as the number of transactions made. However, the lower the investment, the less likely it is to qualify. The E-2 can also be granted for a relatively low investment, always and when it is demonstrated that the commercial activity is feasible and will not only generate minimum income. However, an investment should not be less than $100,000. It is usually granted for 5 years, but all depends on the agreement of“reciprocity” between the United States and the foreign country and on the profitability of the activity in question. Start-up companies usually receive shorter periods of validity.
The L-1 or Intracompany Transferee visa allows companies operating in the United States and abroad to transfer certain categories of employees for a maximum of seven years. This classification also allows a foreign company, which does not yet have an American subsidiary, to send an executive or manager to the United States for the purpose of creating a branch or branch. Qualified employees entering the United States to create a new office will be able to stay in the US for a maximum initial period of one year.
The E-2 and L-1 visas allow to obtain a Green Card, only if the investor keeps the business operations, with already more than a year, outside the United States. The holder of an E-2 visa can get an EB-5, if the company whose investment is able to expand to meet the requirements for the EB-5 visa.
A foreign entrepreneur can in some cases obtain the H1-B visa through the company he has set up, always and when you have the required academic or professional qualifications. The H1-B visa is granted for a maximum of six years, but allows the dual purpose to obtain a Green Card, after the approval of a permanent certification by the Department of Labour (permanent Labor certification).
Although American-owned and foreign-owned companies are subject to the same level of treatment, Getting the benefits of immigration through investment is among the most complex areas of US immigration law.
The American regulatory and legal system allows broad operational freedom for those who want to invest in America, but migration and relocation processes are expensive and require detailed pre-planning. A lawyer specializing in immigration law can provide training and assistance to anyone who wants to invest in America opening a business in the United States. The assistance includes all the steps necessary to invest in America, from the creation of partnerships with US companies to immigration practices to stay in the United States temporarily or permanently.
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