	American Citizen Services U.S. Visa Information Immigrant Visa Section Travel to the U.S. Study in the U.S. Doing Business with the U.S. GEI/SNAP Recruitment Services Foreign Agricultural Service America.gov Press and Culture U.S. Embassy Programs American Reference Center Publications Fulbright Commission Frequently Asked Questions
	Contact Us

IMMIGRANT INVESTOR VISAS

I-526

Investors may qualify for employment creation immigrant visas if they seek to enter the United States for the purpose of establishing a new commercial enterprise. The investment must provide at least 10 full-time positions for U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents of the United States, or other immigrants with employment authorization. The minimum capital required in most cases is one million dollars; the requirement is less in certain economically depressed areas.

FIRST: Persons wishing to establish eligibility for employment creation immigrant visas are required to file a petition, form I-526, with office of the Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) having jurisdiction over the area where the new commercial enterprise principally will do business.

Note: The decision on whether a person is qualified for registration in the investor visa category is made by the USCIS. Questions about eligibility for such status or filing a petition should be addressed to the appropriate USCIS office. The Embassy cannot answer questions concerning eligibility to register for immigration in this category.

Vermont Service Center: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Virgin Islands and West Virginia

Mailing & Overnight Delivery Address:
U.S. INS Vermont Service Center
75 Lower Weldon Street
St. Albans, VT 05479-0001

Nebraska Service Center: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming

Mailing & Overnight Delivery Address:
U.S. INS Nebraska Service Center
850 S. Street
Lincoln, NE 68508

Texas Service Center: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas

U.S. INS Texas Service Center
P.O. Box 852135
Mesquite, TX 75185-2135

Overnight Deliver Address:
U.S. INS Texas Service Center
4141 North St. Augustine
Dallas, TX 75227

California Service Center: Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii and Nevada

Mailing Address:
U.S. INS California Service Center
P.O. Box 30080
Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-0080

Overnight Delivery Address:
U.S. INS California Service Center
2400 Avila Road
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

SECOND: The approved petition is forwarded to the Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC) which notifies the beneficiary (visa applicant) of the steps he or she is required to take to process the immigrant visa application.

THIRD: An intending immigrant requires an immigrant visa to travel to the United States to establish permanent residence. This Embassy processes immigrant visa applications citizens and residents of Austria, and Iranian "homeless" cases. Applicants physically present in the United States when the petition is approved should contact the local USCIS office for further information.

Upon receipt of the immigrant visa file from the National Visa Center, the Immigrant Visa Unit at this Embassy will conduct any additional processing required and schedule the appointments for the medical examination and the formal visa interview. Processing the case to conclusion can take several months.

Privacy Notice and Disclaimer

e-mail: embassy@usembassy.at