• Home
• For Buyers
• For Sellers
• Foreign Investors
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Contact Us

Information For Buyers

US Immigration via Business Investment

Rapid USA Immigration Business Brokers has since 1997, specialized in the sale of businesses in Florida in which a foreign investor secured a US visa as part of the investment process. Immigration via investment is one of the fastest ways to immigrate to the United States. The most relevant visas for such purposes are the E-2 visa and the L-1 Visa, detailed information on which is available through our affiliate company Rapid USA Visas.

If you are a foreign investor considering a US business acquisition/ investment, we strongly recommend you work with an immigration attorney with special expertise in obtaining business acquisition related visas. Rapid USA Immigration Business Brokers has liaised with the law office of David Mourick, US Immigration Attorney, and member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and will provide contact details if requested.

For Investors looking to the E-2 visa as part of the investment process, our experience indicates the most suitable businesses for an E-2 visa have many or all of the following characteristics:

• Verifiable tax returns
• Seller prepared to train and assist buyer in an orderly transfer of ownership
• Well established
• Buyer friendly (e.g. learnable business that does not require special knowledge, or need special licensing requirements)
• Expansion opportunities possible
• Business must be actively engaged in producing goods and services
• Generally, a minimum of $100,000 of the purchase price must be in debt free cash deposited and verified in a U.S. escrow account before the visa application will be processed
• No notes or purchase money mortgages unless more than USD $100,000 invested, there are strict guidelines and requirements relating to any financing, and investors should seek advise from a qualified professional.
• Must have two or more U.S. employees
• A Business plan that shows development and direction
• Business should have a solid net profit (tax return shows positive net income for the past 2 years)
• Owner's benefit should be at least between USD $65,000 to 70,000 after add backs. Add backs include net income, owner's salary, interest, depreciation, one-time non-recurring costs and owner's medical insurance expense. (see Owner benefit worksheet)
• Investors' net worth should be at least USD $200,000

Much the same criteria may be applied to investors/applicants seeking an L-1 visa, however, the significant benefit to the L-1 investor/applicant being that acquiring an existing business may allow the investor/applicant a three year term visa, and after completing the first year of that three year term to apply for lawful permanent residence (GREEN CARD).