16 Aug Franchises & Investor Visas: Paving the Way for the American Dream
The American Dream is far from a foreign concept. For all of recorded history, people from around the globe have packed their bags and set sail for America’s shores, whether near or far, in the hope of finding or creating a better life for themselves and their families. Though centuries have passed and the landscape has changed drastically, the American Dream is still alive and well in the hearts of many men, woman and children seeking a better life in the land of opportunity.
Many of our clients come to us with the desire to immigrate to the U.S. and start their own business, but are often unsure of which direction to take or how to turn their dream into a reality. For those seeking to invest in a U.S. business, our first question is: have you considered a franchise?
When most people think of a franchise, they envision fast food restaurants, but there are a plethora of franchises available throughout a variety of industries, such as: beauty, education, health and fitness, entertainment, and more. Even the automobile industry has franchises available for purchase. Franchises offer a unique investment opportunity for foreign nationals that allows them to acquire a ready-made, turnkey business, but operate it as their own. Best of all, most franchise opportunities meet the requirements for immigrant investor visas such as EB-5, E-2, and to a limited extent, L-1 (https://ecouncilinc.com/immigration-options-foreign-investors-side-side-comparison-e-2-eb-5/).
Immigration firms, such as ours, may recommend franchises to incoming foreign national investors because they simplify the process of setting up and starting a business in the U.S. Essentially, a franchise is a wildly successful business concept that has been transformed into a brand which, for a fee, shares its concept with outside individuals. Franchisors (the brand) allows franchisees (the small business owner) to make a hands-on investment in tried-and-true business model. They offer support and guidance that an independent business owner would not receive anywhere else. In addition to the training and resources that franchisors provide, franchisors have proven systems and marketing tools already in place to help facilitate the success of their franchisees.[1]
As noted above, an additional benefit of a franchise is their unique suitability for immigrant investor visas. When reviewing business visa applications, USCIS tends to ask whether the investment was substantial enough to benefit the U.S. economy and whether the business is likely to succeed? By investing in a franchise, foreign nationals can not only meet the minimum requirements for business investor visas, such as investment amount and job creation, but they also have the weight of an already-proven successful business behind them.
While franchise opportunities can help simplify the application process for immigrant investors, it is still important to use the right team of professionals when working with the U.S. government. e-Council Inc.’s team of experts are equipped with the knowledge and expertise to help get a franchisor ready to seek foreign investors, as well as work with investors seeking the right franchise to invest in.
To find out about professional, credible and comprehensive concierge business immigration services, as well as a variety of ancillary services, all of which are designed to specifically address USCIS’s concerns, contact e-Council Inc. at info@ecouncilinc.com.
e-Council Inc.com’s website, newsletter and other forms of communication contain general information about legal matters. The information is not legal advice, and should not be treated as such. You must not rely on the information on this website as an alternative to legal advice from your attorney or other professional legal services provider. If you have any specific questions about any legal matter you should consult your attorney or other professional legal services provider.
[1] https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242848