Immigrant related Frequently Asked Questions 

Basic Requirements for Obtaining an Investor Visa
To qualify for immigrant investor status, the investor must: 
(1) invest or be actively in the process of investing at least $1 million dollars in the enterprise, 
(2) the capital invested must be obtained through lawful means, 
(3) the enterprise must benefit the US economy and must create full-time employment for not less     than ten US workers, 
(4) the investment must be made in a "new commercial enterprise" or a "troubled business,".
(5) the investor must be engaged in the management of the enterprise either through day-to-day 
    managerial control or through the formation of policy for the business. The amount of 
    investment can be lowered if the area where the investor seeks to invest is in a rural area that is     experiencing at least 150% of the nations average rate of unemployment. In this case, the 
    required investment amount drops to $500,000. However, if the investor seeks to invest in an 
    area that has unemployment rates significantly below the national average, the investment 
    amount required may be set as high as $3 million.

L-1 Visa
The investor may also try to qualify under the L-1 visa program. The branch that is opened in the United States may sponsor the investor for an L-1 visa. In order to obtain L-1 status, the investor must have worked abroad for the overseas affiliate of the new US Company seeking to sponsor him, for a continuous period of one year in the preceding three years. The company must be a qualifying organization (one that is doing business in the United States and at least one other country during the whole period of the proposed transfer of the alien). The alien to be transferred (the investor, in this case) must have been employed abroad in an "executive" or "managerial" position involving "specialized knowledge." The alien must also be coming to the US to fill a position involving the above capacities. The alien must be qualified for the position by virtue of prior experience or education. Finally, the alien must intend to depart the United States upon completion of the authorized stay (including extensions), however, the alien may pursue permanent resident status at the same time.