As an American citizen, you have two primary options for obtaining a US immigration visa if you are self-employed. These options are H-1B and L-1 visas. If you qualify for either one of these categories, you may be eligible for a green card. Read on to learn about your options. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to securing a US immigration visa for self-employed individuals.
H-1B application for self-employed
You can apply for the H-1B visa if you are self-employed and own a business in the US. In order to qualify, you need to have the authority to hire, fire, and supervise employees. A New York Immigration Attorney can help you prove this relationship and ensure your application meets all the requirements. You may even be able to work from home. Read on to find out more.
Advertisement
In addition, you must pay the higher of the prevailing wage or actual wage if you’re an H-1B employee. You can work for up to six years without any gaps in your status. However, you cannot exceed your authorized stay if you’re employed for less than six months. You also must reach certain employment-based green card milestones to maintain your H-1B status. You can also bring your family members on H-4 visas. Certain spouses can also apply for work authorization.
L-1 visa
The L-1 visa is a type of work visa for foreign nationals who are working in the United States. The person holding the visa must be employed by a U.S. company, and proof of location in the United States is required. In addition, the American company must have been active in the market for at least one year. The L-1 visa also allows foreign workers to work for the client companies of their American employers.
While the L-1 visa does not necessarily lead to a green card, it can be a powerful option for self-employed professionals looking to transfer their companies. This visa category requires a minimum investment of $1.8 million and the creation of 10 full-time jobs for US citizens. For more complex cases, hiring an attorney may be a good option. If you can afford to pay for one, you can search for a lawyer in the Nolo Lawyer Directory. The lawyer should have experience in business immigration law.
E-2 visa
If you’re looking for a reliable immigration strategy, you might want to check out the E-2 visa for self-employed options. The E-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa designed for foreign nationals of certain E-2 treaty countries who are planning to start a business in the U.S. E-2 visas can be used for almost any kind of business, as long as you’ve invested a substantial amount of money and have an established plan for growth and development.
However, before you can qualify for an E-2 visa, you’ll need to work for a U.S.-based company. If you’re an employee, you’ll need to hire employees to run the business. The Department of State has a list of qualifying treaty countries. There are some major countries without investor treaties, so make sure you check the requirements before you apply. Also, be sure to consider whether your business is going to be profitable in the United States.
Extraordinary Ability
You can qualify for an EB1A immigrant visa if you have extraordinary ability in your field. Exceptional ability is defined as “outstanding ability in a particular field.” In order to qualify for EB1A, you must have scholarly publications, be on the top of your field, or have sustained national acclaim. Extraordinary ability can be demonstrated through scholarly articles, publications, awards, or showcases of your work.
You can apply for an EB1 visa for self-employment if your company needs an individual with exceptional abilities. There are three subcategories of EB-1: Labor Certification, Outstanding Researcher/Professor, and O-1 nonimmigrant status. The O-1 visa is similar to EB-1A in the immigrant category, but you must prove that your abilities are extraordinary.