The United States offers a world-leading economy, strong legal protections, and access to global markets, making it extremely attractive for ambitious entrepreneurs. In fact, immigrant entrepreneurs made up 21.7% of all U.S. business owners in 2019 (despite being just 13.6% of the population). Yet foreign founders often struggle with visa restrictions that limit their ability to raise capital or expand operations. Obtaining a U.S. Green Card—such as through the EB-5 investor program—helps eliminate these hurdles, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on growing their ventures without immigration obstacles.
1- Easier Access to Business Funding
Banks and investors are generally more willing to finance startups led by permanent residents. Lenders view Green Card holders as having deeper roots in the community and thus as more creditworthy. With a Green Card, an entrepreneur can establish a U.S. credit history and secure business loans or lines of credit on favorable terms. Many Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs are open to lawful permanent residents, treating them the same as U.S. citizens. In fact, to qualify for certain SBA loans, at least 51% of the business must be owned by U.S. citizens or Green Card holders. This means permanent residents can fully leverage SBA-guaranteed loans, government-backed financing, and even mortgage financing for business property, giving their company a strong financial foundation.
2-No Work Restrictions – Freedom to Build and Scale
Unlike temporary visa holders, Green Card entrepreneurs do not need a sponsor employer or special permission to run a business. A lawful permanent resident has the freedom to start any venture in any industry without worrying about maintaining a specific job or visa status. For example, an H-1B visa holder is tied to a sponsoring employer and job role, but a Green Card holder can launch a startup, do consulting, or manage multiple businesses at once. There are also no limitations on where they can work or how many hours they can dedicate – they can even work for themselves full-time. This unrestricted work authorization lets Green Card holders pivot their business strategy or scale their operations freely, focusing entirely on growth rather than visa compliance.
3- Stability and Long-Term Business Planning
A Green Card grants permanent residency, which enables entrepreneurs to plan for the long term without the fear of suddenly having to leave the country. Temporary visas often need frequent renewals or are subject to lottery selection (as with H-1B), creating uncertainty for business owners. By contrast, a Green Card’s indefinite validity means founders can confidently develop multi-year product roadmaps, sign long-term contracts, and reinvest profits into expansion. Investors and partners also take comfort in this stability – there is no concern that the entrepreneur might have to shut down or transfer ownership due to a visa issue. In short, permanent residency provides a predictable status that gives both the entrepreneur and stakeholders peace of mind, avoiding the uncertainties of visa lotteries or expiration deadlines.
