The E-1 nonimmigrant classification allows a national of a treaty country (a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation, or which the United States maintains a qualifying agreement, or which has been deemed a qualifying country by legislation) to be admitted to the United States solely to engage in international trade on his or her own behalf.

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Certain employees of such a person or of a qualifying organization may also be eligible for this classification.

See U.S. Department of State's Treaty Countries for a current list of countries with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation.

The E-2 nonimmigrant classification allows a national of a treaty country (a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation, or with which the United States maintains a qualifying agreement, or which has been deemed a qualifying country by legislation) to be admitted to the United States when investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business.

​Certain employees of such a person or of a qualifying organization may also be eligible for this classification.

​See U.S. Department of State's Treaty Countries for a current list of countries with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation.

USCIS administers the EB-5 Program. Under this program, investors (and their spouses and unmarried children under 21) are eligible to apply for a Green Card (permanent residence) if they:

​• Make the necessary investment in a commercial enterprise in the United States;

• Plan to create or preserve 10 permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers;

​Congress created the EB-5 Program in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. In 1992, Congress created the Immigrant Investor Program, also known as the Regional Center Program, which sets aside EB-5 visas for participants who invest in commercial enterprises associated with regional centers approved by USCIS based on proposals for promoting economic growth. Click here for more information.

The L-1A nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer an executive or manager from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This classification also enables a foreign company that does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send an executive or manager to the United States with the purpose of establishing one.

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The L-1B nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer a professional employee with specialized knowledge relating to the organization’s interests from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This classification also enables a foreign company that does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send a specialized knowledge employee to the United States to help establish one.

The employer must file a Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, with fee, on behalf of the employee. Click here for information on L-1A and L-1B Visas.

U.S. immigration law offers several employment-based pathways to lawful permanent residence (Green Card), including:

EB-1 – Priority workers: individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors/researchers, and certain multinational managers or executives.

EB-2 – Advanced degree or exceptional ability: professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, including National Interest Waiver cases.

EB-3 – Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers.

You may need a business plan for investment-based or self-petition cases such as EB-5, EB-2 NIW, or EB-1C.

You typically do not need one for traditional employer-sponsored green cards, such as EB-2 or EB-3 with PERM.

If you’re unsure which category applies, we can help clarify the right approach.