[ The Americas ]

United States

A green card through investment, or a business visa within months: three American routes explained.

Route: Residency & migration
Minimum investment: USD 800,000 (EB-5 targeted area); E-2 often from USD 100,000
Time to residency: EB-5 conditional green card typically 2–4 years, faster for rural projects; E-2 and L-1A visas within months
Presence required: Green-card holders keep the US as their main home; E-2 and L-1A are tied to the business
Citizenship: Eligible after 5 years as a green-card holder (EB-5, or L-1A via EB-1C)
Dual citizenship: Allowed
Dependants: Spouse and children under 21
Reach status: Advisory & filing

Figures indicative as of September 2026. Amounts, fees and processing times change with each government’s rules. A consultant confirms the current terms for your family before anything is signed.

The United States remains the first choice for many Arab families who want a world-class education, a stable legal system and the largest economy on earth. There is no single “golden visa”; instead, three routes serve different budgets and goals, and the difference between them matters.

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor programme leads directly to a green card for the whole family. The E-2 Treaty Investor visa and the L-1A transfer are quicker and cheaper but are visas, not permanent residence; the L-1A can grow into a green card later, while the E-2 cannot on its own.

Assess my case Residency & migration

Why families choose it

01
Green card for the family
EB-5 covers the investor, spouse and children under 21 in one petition.
02
Priority for rural projects
Rural Targeted Employment Area projects are processed ahead of the queue.
03
Work while you wait
Concurrent filing lets applicants already in the US live and work during processing.
04
Citizenship after five years
Green-card holders can naturalise after five years of permanent residence.
05
Faster options for business owners
E-2 and L-1A visas can be approved within months for those who run a real business.

Investment routes

fromUSD 800,000

EB-5 in a Targeted Employment Area

Investment in a rural or high-unemployment project that creates ten full-time jobs; a green-card route.

fromUSD 1,050,000

EB-5 standard

The same programme outside a targeted area, with the same job-creation test; a green-card route.

fromUSD 100,000

E-2 Treaty Investor

A substantial investment, often USD 100,000–200,000, in a real US business you direct; a renewable non-immigrant visa with no green card by itself.

L-1A intra-company transfer

Executives or managers of a company abroad open or run a US branch or subsidiary; a visa of up to seven years with a route to the EB-1C green card.

Figures indicative as of September 2026. Amounts, fees and processing times change with each government’s rules. A consultant confirms the current terms for your family before anything is signed.

How it works

Who can be included

EB-5 includes the spouse and unmarried children under 21 in the green-card petition; E-2 and L-1A spouses receive work authorisation and children under 21 may study.

A consultant confirms which route your nationality, budget and business background allow.
For EB-5 we shortlist regional-centre projects whose job-creation and exit terms we have reviewed; for E-2 or L-1A we structure the US business.
The source of funds is documented, the investment made and the petition filed with USCIS.
For EB-5, the conditional green card is issued for two years, with concurrent filing if you are already in the US.
For E-2 or L-1A, the visa is issued at the US consulate and renewed while the business operates.
EB-5 conditions are removed once the jobs are proven, and citizenship becomes possible after five years as a green-card holder.

Questions people ask

Talk to a consultant: Assess my case

Which route gives a green card?

EB-5 does directly. L-1A is a visa but can lead to the EB-1C green card for executives. E-2 is a renewable visa only and does not lead to a green card on its own.

I am Saudi, Emirati or Iraqi; can I apply for E-2?

Not on those passports, since they are not treaty countries. Many clients first obtain Grenadian or Turkish citizenship, both treaty nationalities, and then apply for E-2.

Is the EB-5 investment refundable?

It is an investment, not a deposit, and no return is guaranteed. Most regional-centre projects aim to return capital after five to seven years, and we only present projects whose structure and job counts we have reviewed.

Can I stay in the US while the EB-5 case is pending?

If you are already in the US on a valid status, concurrent filing lets you apply for work and travel permits while the petition is processed.