U.S. Visas for Entrepreneurs: Types and Basics

The short answer

Owning a U.S. company does not give anyone a right to live or work in the United States. Each visa has its own conditions.
Business visitors may negotiate contracts, consult with business associates and attend conferences, but the B-1 category is not for those who intend to obtain and engage in employment.
The Visa Waiver Program lets citizens of 42 countries travel to the United States for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa, according to CBP.
E-2 is for investors from treaty countries, L-1A for managers and executives transferred within a company group, O-1 for individuals with extraordinary ability, and EB-5 for immigrant investors.
USCIS states the EB-5 standard minimum investment as $1.8 million, or $900,000 in a targeted employment area.

Table of contents

The main options
Visiting: ESTA and B-1
E-2 treaty investor
L-1A intracompany transferee
O-1 extraordinary ability
EB-5 immigrant investor
Applying: inside or outside the United States
Costs and processing times
If an application is refused
What the company can and cannot do
What MyUSAService offers
Frequently asked questions

“Which visa do I need?” is a question founders often ask right after forming a U.S. company. The honest answer starts with what the company does not do: it does not give anyone a right to live or work in the United States. What it can do is support a case for certain visas.

This guide maps the main categories for entrepreneurs and points to the official source for each. It is general information, not immigration advice: eligibility depends on your nationality, history and plans, and an immigration attorney should review your case.

The main options

Category	For whom	Key point	Duration
Visa-free visit (ESTA)	Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries	Business or tourism visits, no work	Up to 90 days
B-1 business visitor	Business travelers needing a visa	Meetings and negotiations, no employment	Temporary
E-2 treaty investor	Nationals of treaty countries	Substantial investment in a real business, and directing it	Renewable, temporary
L-1A	Managers and executives of a foreign company group	Qualifying relationship between the foreign and U.S. companies	Temporary
O-1	Individuals with extraordinary ability	Sustained national or international acclaim	Temporary
EB-5	Immigrant investors	Minimum investment and jobs	Permanent residence

Visiting: ESTA and B-1

The Visa Waiver Program lets citizens of 42 countries travel to the United States for business or tourism for stays of up to 90 days without a visa, according to CBP. Travelers apply for authorization online through ESTA.

For those who need a visa, the State Department’s B-1 fact sheet lists what business visitors may do: engage in commercial transactions that do not involve gainful employment in the United States, negotiate contracts, consult with business associates, litigate, attend conventions and conferences, and undertake independent research. The B-1 is not appropriate for someone who intends to obtain and engage in employment in the United States. Admission with ESTA approval allows the same activities as a B-1 admission.

A visit is the right tool for meetings, trade shows and negotiations. It is not a way to run your U.S. company day to day.

E-2 treaty investor

According to USCIS, the E-2 allows a national of a treaty country to be admitted when investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business. The investor must intend to enter solely to develop and direct the enterprise, shown by at least 50% ownership or operational control. See our guides to investment and job rules and to ownership and visas.

L-1A intracompany transferee

The L-1A is for executives and managers transferred within the same corporate group. USCIS states that the employer must have a qualifying relationship with a foreign company and be doing business in the United States and in at least one other country. The employee must generally have worked for the qualifying organization abroad for one continuous year within the three years before admission.

O-1 extraordinary ability

USCIS describes the O-1 as a nonimmigrant category for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics, demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim, or a record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry. The person comes temporarily to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability. The bar is high and the evidence is personal, not corporate.

EB-5 immigrant investor

EB-5 leads to permanent residence. USCIS describes it as requiring an investment in a U.S. commercial enterprise and a plan to create or preserve 10 permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers. USCIS states the standard minimum investment as $1.8 million, and $900,000 for a targeted employment area, with future adjustments tied to inflation every five years. Check the USCIS page for current amounts before planning.

Applying: inside or outside the United States

USCIS explains, for the E-2 as an example, that a person in the United States in a lawful nonimmigrant status may ask for a change of status on Form I-129, while a request may not be made on Form I-129 by someone physically outside the United States, who applies for the visa through the U.S. embassy or consulate. The procedure differs by category, so ask your attorney which route applies to you.

Costs and processing times

Fees and processing times change, and differ by category and office. Do not rely on a figure you read in an article, including this one. Check the current fees on the USCIS and State Department sites, and the processing times USCIS publishes, or ask your attorney for a written estimate.

If an application is refused

Read the refusal carefully: it usually explains the reason. Do not reapply with the same file. Ask an immigration attorney whether a new application, an appeal or a different category makes sense. Delays and repeated refusals can affect later applications. [Probabile]

What the company can and cannot do

It can show that you have a real business: registration, bank account, contracts, payroll and taxes. See how to form an LLC.
It must stay compliant: see the annual compliance guide and payroll compliance, if you hire.
It cannot replace the conditions of the visa. Each category assesses the person and the business.

Read our roadmap for entering the U.S. market for the business side.

What MyUSAService offers

MyUSAService forms and maintains U.S. companies for owners abroad. We do not provide immigration legal services: work with an immigration attorney for the visa, and with us for the company. The Startup package costs $2,200, with the first-year state fees included for Florida and Wyoming. Prices as of September 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Does a U.S. LLC give me a visa?

No. A company can be part of the evidence for some visas, but no category grants a visa because you own a company.

Can I run my U.S. company on a visitor visa?

Business visitors can negotiate contracts, consult with business associates and attend conferences. The B-1 is not for those who intend to obtain and engage in employment.

Which visa is for investors?

The E-2, a temporary status for nationals of treaty countries, and the EB-5, which leads to permanent residence.

Do I need a visa for a business trip?

Not if you are a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country and use ESTA, for stays of up to 90 days. Otherwise you may need a visa such as the B-1.

How much does a U.S. business visa cost?

It depends on the category and changes over time. Check the current fees on the official sites, or ask your attorney.

Wondering which U.S. visa fits your plans?

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Sources

First published September 2, 2025. This article is general information, not tax advice for your situation. MyUSAService packages and prices | Book a free call