CalgaryStampeder

Something that has always confused me, why a country that was founded on hard working people doesn't have a self employment type visa?

christmasoompa

What's the EB-2 then?

S Folinsky

Under American law, statutes originate in Congress. They must pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate. They then go to the President for signature. If the President vetos the legislation, the veto can be overridden by a 2/3 vote of each House. ["Pocket veto" being an exception to possible override.]

The basic statute is the Immigration & Nationality Act of 1952, as amended.

FWIW, President Truman vetoed the Act. Congress overrode the veto.

JAJ

You must mean E2. Very different from EB-2.

Or perhaps you mean EB-5.

scrubbedexpat099

Putting aside all the Family Categories, EB 5, O 1 come to mind, R 1? Depends on your circumstances maybe even a L 1.

I do not think E 2 would fall into this category.

Ray

The E2 Investor Visa allows an individual to enter and work inside of the United States based on an investment he or she will be controlling, while inside the United States. This visa must be renewed every other year, but there is no limit to how many times one can renew. Investment must be substantial. An investor must contribute to the US economy. (Setting up a small shop alone is not enough.) Investor visas are available only to treaty nations

christmasoompa

That's the one. Pesky B jumped in there!

Steve_

It does, E-1 and E-2 are the non-immigrant ones (treaty investor), or if you've got the money, EB-5 (immigrant investor). E-2 requires a "substantial investment", which is undefined, I hear people say that the embassy in London requires $250,000 but I know Canadians who've gotten it here with way less than that. EB-5 is $500,000 in an "economically depressed area" or $1 million, plus you have to directly or indirectly employ ten US citizens or LPRs. E-1 is for supply chains, e.g. you have a factory in the US.

The problem with self-employment in the US is that you have to pay both halves of FICA (payroll taxes), plus you have difficulty getting healthcare insurance. Which imo is one of the reasons the US economy is going down the toilet because the odds are stacked against small businesses. Everyone wants a job where they're going to get decent healthcare.

Steve_

You can start an office on L-1A but it's an intracompany transfer visa so you need a company that you have been transferred from, plus it can only be renewed up to seven years total, so if you're a small company there's no-one to file an I-140 for you so it's of limited use.