Learn everything about getting a US startup visa for entrepreneurs. Discover requirements, costs, funding needs, and visa options for Indian and UK founders looking to launch businesses.
There's no single document stamped "startup visa" waiting at any embassy.
The US offers multiple temporary and permanent pathways for foreign entrepreneurs who want to establish and operate businesses, each with its own rules and costs. Think of the US startup visa as several different doors that all lead to the same goal. Building your business in America.
Over half of America's billion-dollar startups have immigrant founders. That's intentional. The US wants innovators who create jobs and contribute to the economy.
Ready to explore which pathway works for your business? Book a consultation with Beyond Border today and we'll find the perfect visa option for your startup.
The International Entrepreneur Rule allows the Department of Homeland Security to grant temporary authorized stay called parole on a case-by-case basis to foreign entrepreneurs who show their stay in the US would provide significant public benefit through their business venture.
Your startup must be formed in the US within the past five years, you must own at least 10 percent initially then maintain above 5 percent ownership, and your company needs to show growth potential through funding.
The US startup visa program funding requirements for IER changed in October 2024. If relying on investment from qualified US investors, the amount increased to $311,071, and if relying on government grants, the amount increased to $124,429.
You can stay for up to 30 months initially. Then renew for another 30 months if your business keeps growing. Your spouse can work. Your kids attend school. It's solid for many founders.
Some call it the "genius visa." That's dramatic. But the O-1 visa targets individuals with extraordinary ability in business, science, or arts.
The O-1 visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability and can be a good fit for highly accomplished entrepreneurs. You need to meet at least three of eight criteria set by immigration authorities.
These include receiving major industry awards, being featured in top business publications, making original contributions to your field, or achieving notable commercial success in the US business startup visa category.
Here's what founders love. No investment requirement. No lottery system like H-1B. You pay yourself whatever salary makes sense for the business. You must show that your achievements relate to a specific field of expertise and can be documented over a sustained period of time.
Processing usually takes 2 to 4 months. Add premium processing for faster decisions.
The O-1 works great as a US startup visa for Indians and founders from any country since there's no nationality restrictions. Your past accomplishments matter more than your passport color.
Want expert guidance on building a strong O-1 visa case? Beyond Border's specialists can evaluate your achievements and prepare compelling documentation.
The E-2 visa allows you to invest money into a US business and run the business, available only to people from countries with an E-2 treaty with the United States.
There's no minimum investment written in law. But immigration experts typically recommend at least $100,000 or more for a strong application. The investment must be substantial relative to total business cost.
You must be from a treaty country. The UK qualifies, making this perfect as a US visa UK startup option. Unfortunately, China, India, Brazil, and Russia are not treaty countries, so this visa option is unavailable if you are from one of those countries. So US startup visas for Indians won't include E-2 access.
The E-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa and does not lead to a green card, however there are ways to convert an E-2 visa to green card later on. You get two to five years initially depending on your country. You can renew indefinitely as long as your business keeps operating.
Your spouse automatically gets work authorization. That's helpful for founding teams with two working spouses building the venture together.
If you have serious capital and want permanent residency, EB-5 might work best.
The minimum investment eligible for EB-5 visa is $800,000 for business projects located in targeted employment areas and $1,050,000 for non-targeted employment projects.
This is steep money. But you get a green card upfront. Not temporary status. Actual permanent residency for you, your spouse, and unmarried children under 21.
The catch beyond money? You must create at least ten full-time jobs for US workers for at least two continuous years, otherwise you might become ineligible for permanent US Green Card.
The total cost for an EB-5 visa application, excluding the investment amount, ranges from $21,130 to $22,225, depending on whether the applicant is filing from within or outside the US. That's just processing fees, not the actual investment.
Many founders choose the regional center route where you invest in an approved project and the center handles job creation requirements. This removes the burden but adds complexity to the process.
The EB-5 works for any nationality, making it another option available as a US startup founder visa for Indian entrepreneurs and others who can't access E-2.
Need help determining if EB-5 fits your investment strategy? Beyond Border can assess your eligibility and guide you through regional center options.
For years, H-1B seemed impossible for startup founders. The lottery system made it hard. The employer requirement created barriers. Everything worked against entrepreneurs starting new ventures.
You need to prove a board of directors or similar entity can supervise or terminate you. This ensures the company controls employment, not just you personally for startup visa in US purposes.
The H-1B still has limitations though. You're stuck in the lottery for the initial petition. And recent policy changes added fees for many applications, though loopholes exist for smaller companies.
Still, if you're already in the US on H-1B working for someone else, transferring to your startup becomes relatively straightforward under new rules.
Got an established business in your home country? L-1 might be a perfect choice.
The L-1 visa allows a foreign company to transfer a manager or executive to an affiliated US company, with the US company needing a qualifying relationship with foreign company such as parent subsidiary relationship, branch office, or affiliate.
You must have worked for the foreign company full-time for at least 1 year continuously within the 3 years prior to applying for L-1 visa as a manager, executive, or specialized knowledge worker.
This works well for US startup founder visa applications when you're expanding existing operations rather than starting from scratch in a new market.
Confused about L-1 requirements and company relationships? Beyond Border can help you structure the proper corporate setup between your foreign and US entities.
One of the biggest questions founders ask is "how much money do I actually need?" for various US entrepreneur visa requirements.
The answer depends entirely on which visa you pursue for your business.
For IER, you need at least $311,071 in qualified investments from US investors or $124,429 from government grants based on October 2024 thresholds that adjust every three years for inflation.
The O-1 requires zero investment at all. Your achievements and reputation matter more than your bank account balance.
E-2 visas have no set minimum investment but most successful applicants invest between $50,000 to $200,000 depending on the business's total cost.
EB-5 demands the highest investment between $800,000 to $1,050,000 depending on project location for the US startup visa immigration pathway.
Beyond visa investment requirements, budget for application fees, attorney costs, and living expenses during transition. Factor in health insurance, housing deposits, business setup costs too.
India sends more entrepreneurs to Silicon Valley than almost any other country worldwide. But Indian founders face unique challenges navigating pathways.
India is not among treaty countries, so Indian passport holders cannot apply for E-2 visa.
This eliminates one of the most popular paths right away. But plenty of alternatives remain for US startup visas for Indians seeking opportunities.
The O-1 visa works great for accomplished Indian founders with documented achievements. Immigration experts have developed unique approaches to help Indian founders demonstrate their work meets O-1 criteria effectively.
The IER, EB-5, L-1, and self-sponsored H-1B all remain available options. Each has pros and cons for Indian entrepreneurs depending on the situation.
Green card wait times pose another challenge for Indians due to country-based caps on certain categories. The EB-1 category typically offers the fastest route, though it requires most impressive credentials overall.
Let's talk actual numbers for how much an entrepreneur visa is in different categories.
IER does not have a fixed application fee but you must provide evidence of qualifying investments or grants which require significant financial backing such as capital investments of $311,071 or government grants of $124,429. Attorney fees typically range $5,000 to $15,000 depending on case complexity.
O-1 visa government fees total around $1,055, or higher with premium processing added. Add attorney fees of $10,000 to $25,000 for most cases.
E-2 costs vary by country with the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act fee at $750 for employers with 1 to 25 full-time employees or $1,500 for employers with 26 plus full-time employees. Don't forget the actual investment of $100,000 or more beyond fees.
These are minimum estimates for how much is an entrepreneur visa processing. Complex cases cost more money. Rushed timelines cost more. Multiple family members cost more fees.
Get an accurate cost breakdown specific to your situation by scheduling consultation with Beyond Border's visa planning team today.
Founders make predictable errors when pursuing startup visas in US pathways.
The first mistake is choosing the wrong visa type for the situation. Maybe you pursue IER when you actually qualify for an O-1 visa. Or waste time on E-2 application when your country doesn't have treaty access. Get expert advice early in the process.
Secondly is weak documentation submitted. Immigration officers see thousands of applications yearly. Yours needs to stand out with clear, compelling evidence of qualifications. Generic business plans don't cut it anymore.
What is a startup visa and how does it work? A startup visa refers to various US immigration pathways like International Entrepreneur Rule, O-1, E-2, or EB-5 that allow foreign entrepreneurs to live and work in America while building businesses, with requirements varying from investment amounts to proven achievements.
Can Indian founders get a US startup visa? Yes, Indian entrepreneurs can access several US startup visa options including O-1 for exceptional ability, IER for funded startups, L-1 for expanding existing businesses, EB-5 for investor immigrants, and self-sponsored H-1B, though India's lack of treaty excludes E-2 access.
How much does an entrepreneur visa cost in the US? US entrepreneur visa costs range from $1,200 for IER applications to over $22,000 for EB-5 processing excluding actual investment requirements which vary from zero for O-1 visas to $800,000 or more for EB-5 immigrant investor programs.
What are the US startup visa program funding requirements? The International Entrepreneur Rule requires at least $311,071 in qualified US investor funding or $124,429 in government grants as of October 2024, while E-2 typically needs $100,000 to $200,000 and EB-5 demands $800,000 to $1,050,000 depending on location.
Do UK founders have special advantages for US startup visas? Yes, UK founders can access E-2 treaty investor visa since the United Kingdom has a qualifying treaty with the United States, allowing substantial investments starting around $100,000 with indefinite renewals as long as business operates successfully.
