Buy a Business in the USA—Get a Visa
Did you know that more than 50% of the negotiating buyers for Utah Businesses are foreign buyers?
Work with an E-2 Visa Business Broker
Your Sunbelt Business Broker can locate and market to these
Visa seeking prospects!
Globally, there are many with goals of immigrating to the United States due to the unlimited opportunities and potential for individuals and families.
Obtaining an investor visa is one of the easiest ways to permanently re-locate to the United States. E2 and L1 visas are the two varieties of investor visas currently available.
The E2 Visa
The E2 Visa is the most popular and easiest to obtain. There’s a required minimum investment of no less than $100,000 US dollars for British nationals (varies by country of origin). Canadian nationals also have a requirement of investing at least $100,000 US dollars. For other countries, the investment requirement can reach $500,000 US dollars.
The EB5 Visa
The EB5, or investor green card program, has a $500K to $1MM required investment. A minimum of 10 US residents must be hired within two years, and survive 5+ years. Following the probation period, this EB5 Visa leads to permanent residence.
If standard procedures are complied with, and you have a good grip on issues involved, E2 and L1 Visas are easily attainable. Dean Wiltse, a tenured Utah Business Broker and professional intermediary can assist you, in order, through all the steps involved. Additionally, he may help you in determining where to reside and what type of businesses thrive in a given location.
Finding businesses that qualify for L1 Visas can be tricky. It’s mandatory for qualifying businesses to have good tax returns and employ “properly documented” individuals. Businesses that meet this criteria are in high demand by United States residents. Therefore, coaching is necessary to achieve negotiations with local sellers.
Summary of US Business Visas
B1 Visa
Short term business visa
Cannot sign contracts or engage in work made for hire.
Length
Temporary
Up to six months
Limitations
Negotiable, but cannot sign contracts
B2 Visa
Short-term tourist visa
Length
Temporary
Up to 6 months
Limitations
Negotiable, but cannot sign contracts
E-1 Visa
Treaty Trader Visa
Ideal for starting up a business that will trade with the home country of the visa owner
Must be with a country with an appropriate treaty with the United States
Length
Temporary
Renewable until the business is no longer in operation
Limitations
Is only valid as long as there is a business
Individuals under 21 cannot work and lose their status once they reach 21
E-2 Visa
Treaty Investor Visa
Allows treaty country citizens to re-locate to the US for a business start-up
Length
Temporary
Renewable until the business is no longer in operation
Limitations
Is only valid as long as there is a business
Individuals under 21 cannot work and lose their status once they reach 21
EB5 Visa
Investor Green Card program
Investment of $500k to $1MM is a requirement
A minimum of ten US residents must be hired within two years, and survive five plus years
Length
Leads to permanent residence following probation period
Limitations
Negotiable, but cannot sign contracts
L-1 Visa
Intercompany transfer Visa
Allows holder to transfer from a foreign company to a US company subject to restrictions
Length
A year, with up to 3 extensions
Limitations
Employee must have worked for a foreign, related company for more than a year in the last three years
H-1B Visa
Specialized labor Visa
Length
Three years
Extendable
Limitations
Annual quota restricts the number of visas available
Cannot be used for self-employment.
O-1 Visa
Extraordinary Ability Visa
Length
Up to three years
Extendable
Limitations
Must be able to document extraordinary ability
L-1 Visa
NAFTA temporary work Visa
Length
Up to three years
Extendable
Limitations
Cannot be used for self-employment