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Investor Visa Attorneys

At Colombo & Hurd, our investor visa lawyers in Orlando and Tampa are proud to provide assistance, guidance, and representation for an array of investor visas. We are pleased to offer guidance regarding E-1 visas for treaty traders and E-2 visas. These visas are non-immigrant in nature and the beneficiary must maintain an intention to leave the United States upon their expiration, but can allow individuals the freedom to pursue their business goals within the United States. Our immigration lawyers also provide trusted guidance for immigrant investors who wish to come to live and work in the United States permanently. We assist these entrepreneurs with EB-5 filings and provide guidance regarding the fulfillment of visa conditions. At Colombo & Hurd, we never provide legal advice without first gaining a thorough understanding of your business or immigration goals. Furthermore, we believe in an individualized one-on-one approach to the practice of law. To schedule a confidential consultation with one of our experienced immigration lawyers at our Orlando office at (407) 478-1111 or at our Tampa law office at (813) 444-1114. You can also contact us online to schedule a confidential meeting via skype.
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E-1 Visas: Treaty Trader Visas

E-1 visas are issued to foreign nationals who wish to enter the United States in order to engage in a “substantial trade” between their country of origin and the United States. “Substantial trade” is typically defined as an ongoing flow of significant international trade involving many transactions. Furthermore, aside from being substantial, the trade must also be “principle trade.” Per 8 CFR 214.2(e)(10), principle trade exists when greater than half of the volume of the treaty trader’s home country’s international trade is with the United States. The trade refers to the international exchange of goods, services, money, and technology. It can also include transportation, international banking transactions, insurance, tourism, technology transfer, and certain news-gathering undertakings.

E-2 Treaty Investor Visas

E-2 visas permit foreign nationals to enter the United States in order to direct and develop a commercial enterprise or business in which they have invested or are in the process of investing, a substantial amount of money or capital. Foreign nationals wishing to obtain E-2 visas must be a citizen of a country with which the U.S. has a treaty of commerce. Although there is no specific dollar amount required under U.S. immigration laws, the investment must be “substantial” and cannot be marginal. An investor can also buy an existing business or create a new business in the U.S. The E-2 visa grants both qualified treat investors and employees the ability to stay in the United States for an initial two-year period. The visa may be renewed for a period of up to two years. There is no limit on the number of times the E-2 visa can be renewed.

EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visas

The Employment Based Fifth Preference Category, or EB-5, was created in the early 1990s by an act of Congress to attract foreign capital to the United States. The EB-5 Investor Visa program also has a job creation or preservation requirement in order to create more job opportunities and benefit the U.S. economy. In order to qualify under the EB-5 category, foreign investors must:

  • Invest $1 million in either a new or existing U.S. business or commercial enterprise that will create at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs, or
  • Invest $500,00.00 in a U.S. government designated Regional Center located in a Targeted Employment Area deemed to meet the job creation requirement, and
  • Prove that the investment will benefit the U.S. economy

Typically, the immigrant investor must also prove the source of the investment funds including the fact that the funds are not from an illegal source. In additional to the above, the EB-5 investor may also choose to invest in what is known as a Targeted Employment Area (TEA). Investment in a TEA requires a monetary investment of only $500,000 as compared to the $1 million investment typically required. Thus, for investors who are currently living in a country with strict capital controls, such as China, investment in a TEA is a popular choice.
Engaging in the EB-5 process is complex and requires substantial amounts of due diligence. An investor should not typically sign any documentation or begin the process without first consulting with an experienced immigration lawyer. The process begins with the filing of Form I-526, Petition by Alien Entrepreneur. Thereafter, following consideration of the attendant facts and circumstances, either I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status or DS-230/DS-260 Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration should be filed. Upon the filing and approval of the I-485, conditional entry to the United States is granted. Thereafter, at least, 90 days prior to the two-year anniversary of green card status, Form I-829 Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions must be filed. Removal of the conditions in a timely manner is necessary or the EB-5 investor is likely to lose the immigration benefit of the EB-5 visa. A successful EB-5 petition will confer the right to permanently live and work in the United States to the EB-5 investor and his or her qualifying family members. For more information on the EB-5 Visa please be sure to reference our comprehensive reference guide here.

Why Choose The Investor Visa Attorneys At Colombo & Hurd?

The experienced and strategic immigration attorneys of Colombo & Hurd have an excellent record representing investors who wish to obtain a US visa to conduct business, manage their investments or work for a US branch or subsidiary. Our Orlando Investor Visa Attorneys and Miami Investor Visa Lawyers handle all corporate and international work on behalf of the client to ensure that not only the initial visa is approved, but also to maximize the chances of approval for a renewal in the future. By leveraging technology, we can effectively keep clients informed of their case status, changes in their status in a timely manner, collect data, and ensure that all deadlines are timely met. Our approach is individualized and customized to make sure you focus on your business and investments while we take care of the numerous filings and bureaucracy of US immigration system. This saves you time and money, allowing our clients to travel freely as permitted without worrying unduly about the immigration process. We provide advice and guidance throughout the immigration process to increase the likelihood that all visa requirements are faithfully fulfilled. If you are interested in obtaining or learning more about U.S. investor visas including E-1, E-2, and EB-5 Visas please contact Colombo & Hurd, PL today. To schedule an initial consultation at our Orlando office call us at  (407) 478-1111. To schedule a confidential consultation at our Tampa law office call (813) 444-1114. You can also contact us online or via Skype.
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