E1 Visas – Retirement Options

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E1 Visa to Green Card Retirement

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This video discusses various ways to go from an E1 to green card. If you’d like a free consultation to discuss this topic further please call 310 496 4292 today.

E1 Visas – Green Card and Retirement Options

Welcome to the Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram. We are delighted that you have joined us for Part 6 in our video presentation series on the E1 trading visa. In this presentation we’ll discuss green card and retirement options. Ok – lets get started.

Why Do I Need a Green Card? For the vast majority of our clients the E1 visa is only a stepping – stone towards obtaining a green card. A green card will enable you to live permanently in the US whether you work or not. Therefore, many of our clients are keen to explore their green card and retirement options.

Does the E1 Visa Lead to a Green Card? – At this time the E1 visa does not automatically enable to you to qualify for a green card although there is always talk in Congress about changing the law so that after being in E1 status for five years investors would be able to qualify for a green card. At present there has been no passage of legislation that allows for transition to green card status, but we remain vigilant and hopeful that this will change in the near future.

Are There In-direct Pathways to Green Card Status? – Yes, there are several in-direct pathways to obtaining a green card and these options are the focus of this presentation today.

Immediate Family Member Green Card Sponsorship – You may have an immediate family member, brother, sister, parent or child over 21 that is already a US Citizen who could sponsor you for your green card. Depending on the category of the immediate family member, the green card application process could be as short as 12 months if your US Citizen child is sponsoring you. Alternatively, if a sibling is sponsoring you, then the wait could be more like 8-13 years or so.

Another factor to the waiting times will also depend on your nationality. People from Mexico and the Philippines often have the longest wait times due to the volume of applications coming in from these regions. Many of our clients have family members who can sponsor them, so they are happy to relocate on the E1 visa until their green card petitions can be processed.

If you do not have US Citizen family members who could sponsor you, then other options may be viable for you.  For example, if an E1 visa holder is married, then the spouse will always be eligible for a work permit while the E1 visa holder runs the E1 business. The goal here would be for the spouse to pursue green card sponsorship through employment, and then once the green card is approved, both can retire at will. It’s very important that you plan your retirement in the US (even from your first E1 visa), unless you want to retire back home.

Green Card by Marriage – If you are single then perhaps marriage to a US citizen could be a possibility for you.  If you marry an American citizen then your American spouse can sponsor you for a green card. Since June 26th 2013, US Immigration law now recognizes same-sex marriages.

Education Pathway to Green Card Status – while running your E1 visa business, you may be able to find an employer that might be willing to sponsor you for a green card. Green card sponsorship by an employer can take years. However, if you have a good relationship with a possible employer then you could continue to work in your E1 business until the green card application is completed. Remember, if you are married your spouse will have a work permit and can also green card employer sponsorship.

If you have a BA degree or an equivalent professional qualification, you could switch from your current E1 visa to a H1-B graduate visa. In this case, you could work for that employer under your H1-B visa until your green card application could be completed. It’s important to bear in mind that some opportunities never arise until you’re actually living in the US.

Aliens of Extraordinary Ability Green Card – If you are at the very top of your field or on your way to being able to make that claim the EB1 green card could well be an option for you even if you arrived on an E1 visa. Sometimes, getting to live in the US is the key to spring boarding your career to the next level where you might qualify for an EB1 green card. Please review our presentations on the EB1 green card and find out just how close you might be, whether now or in the future.

EB5 $500K Green Card – For the most affluent investors they can invest into a what are called Federally Designated Regional Centers – ostensibly they are private multimillion dollar building development projects that have been licensed by the Federal Government to solicit foreign investments in units of $500K (plus around $65K in fees) these investors will become eligible for a green card, including all family members under 21, for having made such an investment into these projects. For further details please check out our presentation series on the EB5 green card option.

Growing Your Business Into an EB5 Green Card Opportunity – If you can over time grow a business that creates ten new jobs and demonstrates that you have invested a total of one million dollars in process then you may be able to qualify for an EB5 green card. Again, please check out our presentation on the EB5 green card.

As you can see there are many options available in order to obtain a green card. With the E1 visa, you can take as long as you need. Also bear in mind that there could be changes in Immigration law that could open up even more possibilities for you.

In the next presentation we’ll discuss E1 visa renewals. Thank you for joining us and we hope you enjoyed this presentation.

Immigration Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram

US Immigration Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram
Chris M. Ingram LL.M., ESQ – Immigration Attorney
Admitted in New York.
Practice Specializing in US Immigration Law
401 Wilshire Boulevard, 12th Floor,
[Cross Streets 4th and Wilshire]
Santa Monica,
California 90401
Tel: 310 496 4292

Specializing in the E2 Visa, EB1 Green Card, L-1A Visa and O1 Visa and K1 Visa Marriage-Based Immigration. Attorney Chris M. Ingram is dedicated to providing the very best in US Immigration legal representation. Enjoy our website.

Important Notice: Please note that all videos created by the Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram are intended as general information only and not specific legal advice pertaining your case. If you would like specific legal advice on any immigration matter please do not hesitate to contact this law office accordingly. All pictorial images used in these videos and the website in general are licensed stocked images and not portraits, or otherwise, of anyone from the Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram, nor of its clients unless otherwise indicated by name. All images are used solely for illustrative purposes only. Copyright 2010-2015 All Rights Reserved.