A B-1 visa can be obtained for a prospective investor. If you are planning to start your own company, but have not yet fully funded or started the enterprise, you can petition the government for a visa to start your own business. The B-1 visa allows you to enter the U.S. for up to six months at a time. The interesting part about the B-1 prospective investor visa is that the Consulate will annotate the visa stamp as someone who is a prospective investor. This is helpful since it will avoid issues at the border as well as later on when the individual applies for a proper investor’s visa (E-2). It is important that the investor show he/she has sufficient financial resources to live in the U.S. and undertake the start-up costs of the venture.
July 2011