United States

The non-immigrant route for treaty-country business owners to live in the US while running an active enterprise. Minimum $100,000–$200,000 'substantial' investment in a US business the applicant owns 50%+ and personally develops and directs, renewable in 5-year blocks for as long as the business operates. Spouse gets automatic work authorization; children under 21 follow as dependents. The cheapest entry point into a fully resident US life for HNW business owners from treaty countries — at the structural cost of no direct green card path.

The US employment-based first-preference immigrant visa for individuals with extraordinary ability. Uses the same 10-criteria framework as O-1A but with significantly higher proof requirements — 'sustained national or international acclaim' plus 'a small percentage at the very top of the field.' Self-petition is permitted (no employer sponsor required) — a rare feature in US immigration. Direct path to green card with no intermediate non-immigrant stage required. Dual intent automatic. Spouse and unmarried children under 21 receive derivative green cards. Most countries face no priority date backlog; India and China face multi-year waits. The structural top of US permanent residency without employer or capital.

The United States' investor-to-green-card route. $800,000 minimum into a Targeted Employment Area or $1,050,000 elsewhere, ten full-time US jobs created within two years, conditional permanent residency on approval, unconditional green card at year two, US citizenship eligibility at year five. The cleanest direct-PR investor visa among major Western economies — and the only one that leads to a US passport without an employer sponsor.

The US non-immigrant work visa for specialty occupations requiring a bachelor's degree or higher. Annual cap of 85,000 (65,000 regular + 20,000 US master's cap) — selection through electronic lottery with approximately 25% selection rate. Initial 3 years plus 3-year extension = 6 years maximum, with unlimited 1-year extensions possible once an I-140 immigrant petition is filed. US employer sponsor mandatory — self-petition not permitted. Cap-exempt for universities, non-profit research, and government research institutions (year-round filing). Dual intent allowed. Spouse H-4 receives EAD only if primary I-140 is approved. Most common pathway for global tech professionals from India (50%+ of H-1B holders), China, Korea, UK, EU, Israel, Brazil, and Canada entering US tech industry.

The US non-immigrant work visa for multinational corporate internal transfers. Two categories: L-1A (executives and managers, up to 7 years) and L-1B (specialized knowledge employees, up to 5 years). Requires 1+ year of full-time employment at a foreign parent/subsidiary/affiliate within the past 3 years. US entity must have qualifying relationship with foreign entity. No lottery — fundamental advantage over H-1B. Spouse L-2 receives automatic work authorization (contrast with H-4). Dual intent automatically permitted. L-1A → EB-1C (multinational manager green card) is the standard direct path — no PERM labor certification required. Standard pathway for UK, German, French, Japanese, Indian, Brazilian, Korean multinational executives transferring to US operations of their global employers.

The US non-immigrant work visa for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement. Initial 3 years plus unlimited 1-year extensions. O-1A (sciences, education, business, athletics) requires 3 of 8 USCIS criteria or a major one-time award like a Nobel Prize; O-1B (arts, motion pictures, and TV) requires 3 of 6 criteria plus a 'distinguished' field standing. US employer or agent must sponsor — self-sponsorship not permitted. Dual intent allowed, making the O-1 → EB-1A green card conversion the natural pathway. Best fit: post-exit tech founders, world-class athletes, internationally recognised artists and filmmakers, top-tier researchers, and recognised scientists from anywhere in the world.