Business Immigration Lawyer: Visas for Executives and Investors

A business immigration lawyer clears the path for the people who drive your company: founders, executives, investors, and essential talent. Transnational Matters PLLC handles employment and investment based visas for companies expanding into the United States and for entrepreneurs building here. Because we also practice international business law, we structure the company and the visa together.

Business Visas We Handle

Our practice focuses on the visas that move business forward: the E-1 treaty trader visa for import and export businesses, the L-1A visa for executives transferring within a multinational company, and the E-2 and EB-5 investor visas for those who build with capital.

Choosing the Right Business Visa

The right category depends on your nationality, ownership structure, and goals. For example, treaty visas require qualifying nationality, the L-1A requires a year of employment abroad with a related company, and EB-5 leads to a conditional two-year green card, with unconditional permanent residence after USCIS approves a timely Form I-829 petition to remove conditions. We map the options side by side, then execute the strongest one with a backup in reserve.

Corporate Support Behind Every Petition

Strong petitions rest on strong companies. We prepare the corporate records, business plans, and financial documentation officers expect, and we align the immigration filing with the deal documents when you acquire or launch a United States entity. Our general counsel services team keeps the company compliant after approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which visa is fastest for business owners?

E-1 and E-2 applications at a consulate are often the quickest route for treaty nationals, while L-1A petitions can use premium processing for a USCIS decision within weeks. Consular scheduling drives the real timeline.

Can my spouse work in the United States?

Yes. Spouses of E-1, E-2, and L-1 visa holders receive work authorization incident to their status, which makes these categories especially attractive for relocating families.

Does an E-2 visa lead to a green card?

Not directly. However, many investors scale their business into EB-5, or restructure operations to qualify for EB-1C as multinational executives. We plan the permanent path when we file the first visa.

How much do I need to invest for an E-2 visa?

The regulations require a “substantial” investment but set no fixed dollar minimum. Substantiality is judged proportionally — the amount invested weighed against the total cost of purchasing or creating the business — and the funds must be committed and at risk, not sitting in a bank account. The enterprise must also be more than marginal, meaning it has the present or future capacity to generate more than a minimal living for the investor. What qualifies is fact-specific; we assess the investment and its documentation before filing.

Can an L-1A visa lead to a green card?

Often, yes. Executives and managers transferred on an L-1A may qualify for permanent residence in the EB-1C multinational manager category, which does not require labor certification. The employee generally must have worked abroad for the qualifying company for at least one year within the preceding three and be coming to a managerial or executive role in the U.S. entity. Timing varies with visa-bulletin availability for the applicant’s country of chargeability, so we typically plan the permanent-residence step alongside the initial transfer.

Talk to a Business Immigration Lawyer

Timing drives these cases, from consular calendars to premium processing windows. Speak with a business immigration lawyer who thinks like corporate counsel. You can review official categories at USCIS, then call 305.417.9866 or use our contact page for a confidential consultation.