🇺🇸 United States · Startup Visa
Entrepreneur and startup visa programs, investment thresholds, and application criteria.
The United States has no dedicated startup visa. Founders use existing categories: International Entrepreneur Parole (a discretionary authorised stay, not a visa, under the International Entrepreneur Rule), the E-2 treaty investor visa (for nationals of treaty countries), the EB-5 immigrant investor green card, or the O-1 extraordinary-ability visa. USCIS sets out the options for entrepreneurs.
- There is no dedicated US startup visa — founders use existing immigration categories.
- International Entrepreneur Parole grants a discretionary authorised stay (parole), not a visa or a direct green-card path.
- The E-2 (treaty investor) and EB-5 (investor green card) are the main investment routes; O-1 suits exceptional founders.
- Routes differ sharply in cost, timeline and permanence — verify current rules with USCIS.
Official authorities
- USCIS — Options for entrepreneurs
Official overview of entrepreneur immigration routes.
- USCIS — International Entrepreneur Rule
Official guide to entrepreneur parole.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- The White House — Official residence and office of the US President — executive orders, policy briefings, press releases
- U.S. Department of State — US passport and visa services, travel warnings, embassy information worldwide
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Federal tax filing, refund status, ITIN/EIN applications, and Free File program
- USCIS — Green card, H-1B and work visas, naturalization, immigration benefits, and case status