USA entrepreneur visa guide

Entrepreneur planning a U.S. business expansion in a New York office

Immigration business plans for every U.S. entrepreneur visa

Moose Advisors prepares USCIS-ready immigration business plans for entrepreneurs, investors and executives pursuing U.S. visas and green cards: E-2 treaty investor business plans, EB-5 business plans written to Matter of Ho standards, L-1A new office business plans, EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) proposed endeavor plans, and plans for EB-1C, O-1A founders and International Entrepreneur Parole.

Each plan combines industry and market research, a staffing and job-creation plan and five-year financial projections tailored to your visa category, so your immigration attorney can present a clear, credible case.

Five-year financial projections and market research for a U.S. immigration business plan

What’s inside a Moose Advisors U.S. immigration business plan

Every plan is written for the visa you are applying for and the officer who will read it.

Executive summary and company, ownership and investment structure
Industry, market and competitor research for your location
Marketing, sales and operations plan, including premises and suppliers
Organizational chart, hiring timeline and job-creation tables
Five-year financial projections: profit and loss, cash flow and break-even
Milestones and risk factors that support credibility

Officer reviewing a visa petition and supporting business plan

Built around what USCIS and consular officers look for

E-2: a real, operating enterprise that is not marginal, with your investment at risk
EB-5: a comprehensive plan consistent with Matter of Ho and credible creation of 10 full-time jobs
L-1A new office: premises, staffing and a path to a managerial or executive role within one year
EB-2 NIW: a proposed endeavor with substantial merit and national importance
O-1A and EB-1: business context that supports your record of achievement

Free consultation for a U.S. visa business plan

Start your U.S. visa business plan — free consultation

Whether you are opening a new company, buying a business, expanding an existing firm to the United States or investing in a new enterprise, the right plan makes your case easier to understand and harder to question. Tell us your visa category, industry, investment and timeline, and we will recommend the right approach, the scope of work and next steps — with no obligation.

Request your free consultation today. We also coordinate independent expert opinion letters and O-1 U.S. agent services, and we work in English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Moose Advisors is not a law firm; your immigration attorney confirms eligibility. No approval guarantee.

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U.S. visa pathways for entrepreneurs

Compare U.S. visa pathways for entrepreneurs, investors and executives: E-2, EB-5, L-1A, EB-2 NIW, EB-1 and O-1. Immigration counsel confirms eligibility using official USCIS guidance. No approval guarantee.

USCIS — official guidance

IMMIGRANT • EB-5 investment and job creation

Who it may fit: Investors committing lawfully obtained capital to a qualifying new commercial enterprise and creating at least 10 qualifying full-time U.S. jobs.

Capital: Generally US$1.05 million, or US$800,000 for a qualifying targeted employment area or infrastructure project. USCIS states these amounts adjust on January 1, 2027; verify before investing.

Planning focus: Explain the enterprise, use and timing of funds, market demand, operations, hiring schedule and financial assumptions. Coordinate job-creation methodology and source-of-funds evidence with counsel. A business plan alone does not establish EB-5 eligibility.

USCIS — EB-5 · USCIS — investment thresholds

IMMIGRANT • EB-2 National Interest Waiver

Who it may fit: Entrepreneurs who first qualify for EB-2 as advanced-degree professionals or people with exceptional ability.

NIW framework: Show that the proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance; that you are well positioned to advance it; and that, on balance, waiving the job offer and labor certification would benefit the United States. Eligible applicants may self-petition.

Planning focus: Define the specific endeavor and its broader impact, founder qualifications, milestones, customers or partners, funding and credible projections. Commercial success or ordinary local job creation alone does not automatically establish national importance.

USCIS — EB-2 and NIW

IMMIGRANT • EB-1A and EB-1C

EB-1A — extraordinary ability: For sustained national or international acclaim in business or another qualifying field. Self-petitioning is possible; the applicant must intend to continue work in the area of expertise. A strong business idea is not a substitute for evidence of extraordinary ability.

EB-1C — multinational executives and managers: Requires a qualifying U.S. employer and overseas entity, qualifying managerial or executive employment abroad, and a U.S. petitioner doing business for at least one year. Counsel should check the applicable one-year employment and three-year lookback rules.

Planning focus: For EB-1A, connect future business activity to recognized expertise. For EB-1C, document the corporate relationship, genuine operations, organizational structure and executive or managerial duties.

USCIS — EB-1 categories

NONIMMIGRANT • E-2 investors and E-1 traders

E-2 — treaty investor: For qualifying treaty-country nationals investing substantial, at-risk capital in a real, operating U.S. enterprise that is not marginal. The applicant develops and directs the business through ownership or operational control. There is no single fixed investment minimum that guarantees eligibility.

E-1 — treaty trader: For qualifying treaty-country nationals conducting substantial trade, principally between the United States and the treaty country. Trade volume, continuity and the treaty-country share matter.

Planning focus: E-2 plans explain invested funds, startup costs, customers, staffing and viability. E-1 plans organize actual trade history, contracts and cross-border revenue. These are temporary classifications; neither automatically grants a green card.

USCIS — E-2 · U.S. Department of State — E-1 / E-2

NONIMMIGRANT • L-1A and O-1A founders

L-1A — intracompany executive or manager: For transfers between qualifying related foreign and U.S. entities, with qualifying overseas employment. New-office cases require suitable premises and a plan showing that the U.S. operation can support a managerial or executive role within one year; initial new-office approval is generally up to one year.

O-1A — extraordinary ability: For founders with sustained recognition in business, science, education or athletics who will work in that field. A U.S. employer or agent must petition; a separate company owned by the founder may qualify as petitioner.

Planning focus: L-1A plans link funding, first-year hiring, revenue and reporting lines. O-1A planning explains the proposed work and business activity, alongside counsel’s evidence of achievements.

USCIS — L-1A · USCIS — O-1

OTHER TEMPORARY OPTIONS • Entrepreneur parole and B-1

International Entrepreneur Rule (IER): A discretionary parole pathway, not a visa or green card. It may suit founders with a substantial ownership interest and an active, central role in a recently formed U.S. startup with strong growth and job-creation potential. Qualified investment, government grants or other permitted evidence must meet current rules. Initial parole may be up to 30 months, with a possible additional period of up to 30 months.

B-1 business visitor: May cover activities such as meetings, negotiating contracts or seeking investment. It does not authorize operating or working for a U.S. business.

Planning focus: For IER, substantiate funding, founder responsibilities, growth milestones and hiring. Match any U.S. activities to the authorization actually granted.