Move to the U.S. Without Investment or a Job Offer
If you're a business professional dreaming of living in the United States—but without dropping hundreds of thousands into a U.S. business or landing a job offer—good news: you might not need either.
Why the U.S. Is Still a Top Choice for Entrepreneurs
Let’s start with the obvious: the U.S. is one of the best countries in the world for starting, growing, and scaling a business.
- $26 trillion GDP
- 333 million consumers
- Government support through grants, loans, and contracts
- Flexible tax policies by state
- Equal treatment for foreign and domestic businesses
Despite pandemics, supply chain disruptions, and more geopolitical drama than a Netflix docuseries, the U.S. remains a magnet for global entrepreneurs.
Visas Without Investment or Job Offers
Now here’s the real meat: how can someone with solid business skills move to the U.S. without investing or being hired?
Answer: You apply under a talent-based immigration category designed for exceptional professionals—especially those with entrepreneurial success.
EB-1A: Green Card for Extraordinary Ability in Business
If you're a top-tier business executive, founder, or entrepreneur, this self-petition green card may be your ticket in.
You need to meet 3 out of 10 criteria—but let’s be real, the more, the better.
Examples for business professionals:
- Awards: Business awards, entrepreneur recognitions, accelerator wins.
- Media Coverage: Has your company or work been featured in major outlets? Great—save the clippings.
- Leading Role: Document your executive leadership in a distinguished company.
- Commercial Success: Profitability, revenue growth, exit events—these matter.
If you can back these up with strong evidence, your odds of approval go way up.
EB-2 NIW: National Interest Waiver for Entrepreneurs
You’ve got:
- A strong business plan
- Advanced education or long-standing experience
- A project that benefits the U.S. economy, workforce, or industry innovation
Then EB-2 NIW may be for you.
Unlike traditional EB-2 paths, NIW allows you to skip the employer sponsorship and bypass labor certification.
But—and it’s a big but—you need to prove that:
- Your business has substantial national merit
- You’re well-positioned to make it succeed
- Waiving the job offer requirement benefits the U.S.
This typically involves submitting a solid business plan, market analysis, and evidence of your prior achievements.
How to Know If You Qualify
Ask yourself:
- Do I lead a successful business or project?
- Can I show my work has had a national or international impact?
- Do I have education or experience that sets me apart?
- Does my project help the U.S. economy, workforce, or innovation ecosystem?
If you answered “yes” to most of those, it might be time to speak with an attorney.
Need an Evaluation?
We offer a tailored 48-hour analysis of your case. Click on one of the visa links above and complete the short form. A licensed attorney will assess your profile and help determine which visa is best suited for your goals.
Skip the job hunt. Skip the $800K investment. Just bring your talent.