Green card

Nonimmigrant visa

Immigrant Investor Program

Free Trade Agreement Professionals

Entrepreneurs, Business owners, Investors

Software developers, Financial analysts, Medical professionals, Engineers, Scientists, University professors, Physical therapists, Agronomists, Management consultants

• Invest personal funds of $800,000 in Targeted Employment Areas (TEA), such as rural or high-unemployment areas and certain infrastructure projects, or $1,050,000 in non-TEA areas.

• Create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers.

• Provide detailed documentation verifying the lawful source and transfer path of the investment funds.

• Maintain the investment for a minimum of two years.

• You must be a citizen of Chile or Singapore.

• You must hold a 4-year bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience (three years of professional experience for each missing year of formal education).

• The job must be a specialty occupation, requiring specialized knowledge typically obtained through a bachelor's degree or higher. This includes roles in fields like engineering, mathematics, and technology, where the complexity of the tasks necessitates advanced education.

• The employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the position — a rate set by the U.S. Department of Labor based on the occupation, work location, and level of experience. This wage is not flexible and must be met at a minimum.

• The only visa category that provides immigration status based on passive investment.

• Does not require employer sponsorship, offering significant flexibility.

• No specific educational or professional qualifications are required.

• Allows for investment directly into new or existing businesses or through regional centers that pool funds for larger projects.

• The only employment-based category allowing concurrent Green Card application filing for all nationalities.

• Easy renewal process with the option to extend stay.

• Far less competitive than the H-1B visa, as it does not require an annual lottery.

• Requires a substantial financial investment.

• The investment must be at risk, and job creation requirements must be met.

• Initially issued a two-year conditional Green Card, requiring a subsequent application to demonstrate continued compliance with the program requirements.

• Requires employer sponsorship and a job offer in a specialty occupation.

• Annual renewal adds administrative overhead.

Not required

Required

Permanent residency

18 months¹

Every 10 years

Indefinitely

6-24 months¹

1-4 months

No

No

Yes

No

¹Timeframe to obtain conditional residence, with a similar timeframe for achieving permanent residence.

¹Visa issued for 18-month terms with admission to the U.S. in 12-month periods, renewable in 12-month increments.