U.S. Immigration Options: Choose the Right Route Before You File
For professionals, founders and investors who want a U.S. green card or work visa and do not want to guess. Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the filing.
since 1991
- There is no single best U.S. visa. The right one depends on your work, your citizenship and your money.
- EB-2 NIW and EB-1A are green cards you file for yourself, with no employer. EB-1A has the higher bar.
- E-2 is only for citizens of treaty countries. Canada and Pakistan are on the list.
- A wrong first route costs months, and USCIS fees are generally not refunded.
- AIA is not a law firm. Independent U.S. attorneys give legal advice and file for you.
Why does the wrong U.S. route cost so much?
A wrong first route costs you months and filing fees, and some mistakes mean starting over. USCIS fees are generally not refunded if a petition is denied. The most common causes are filing without enough proof, choosing a visa your citizenship does not allow, and following advice that was never matched to your case (USCIS).
Here is how it usually goes wrong. You read five blogs and get five different answers. You pick a route because a friend used it, then find out too late that it does not fit you. For example, E-2 is open only to treaty countries, and EB-1A needs at least 3 of 10 criteria.
Underneath the paperwork, the feelings are real. You feel overwhelmed, because every site says something different. You feel afraid of paying for the wrong filing. And you feel dread about a denial that could set you back months.
None of this means you did something wrong. It means nobody gave you a map. Next, you will see who is behind your plan, and then the finder gives you the map.
Who is behind your U.S. plan, and why trust them?
Amir Ismail & Associates has guided 25,000+ clients since 1991, from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We help you choose your U.S. route, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the legal work. We know both the Canada and U.S. sides, so we can tell you when the other country is the better move.
Empathy: We know how heavy this decision feels. You are weighing your career, your savings and your family’s future at the same time.
Authority: Amir Ismail has worked in immigration since 1991. Over 35+ years, our team has guided 25,000+ clients from Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. That includes many people choosing between Canada and the United States.
Philosophy: We believe you should choose your route before you spend money, not after. We believe a good advisor tells you when a route is a poor fit. And we believe you should know exactly who files your case and what they are allowed to do.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We help you pick your U.S. route, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the legal work and the filing.
Honest route check
We tell you when a route does not fit, before you spend money.
A plan for your profile
We look at your record, citizenship and capital, not a template.
Clear on who does what
AIA organizes your plan. Independent U.S. attorneys give legal advice and file.
A two-country view
We know the Canada and U.S. sides, so you can compare both.
Built for your passport
We check your citizenship first, so you never plan around a visa you cannot use.
Since 1991
35+ years in immigration, 25,000+ clients guided, and the 2026 Canadian Choice Award.
Find your U.S. visa in three questions
Answer three questions about who you are, where you hold citizenship, and what matters most to you. The finder then shows the U.S. route that fits best and links to that visa’s page. Your citizenship matters because the E-2 treaty investor visa is open only to nationals of treaty countries (U.S. Department of State).
You do not need a login. It takes a few minutes. You will see your result right away, and you can leave your details if you want a follow-up.
Question 1: I am a…
- Professional with a Master’s, a PhD, or a bachelor’s degree plus years of experience
- Entrepreneur ready to start or buy a U.S. business
- Entrepreneur who wants to buy a franchise
- Business owner expanding a company I already run abroad
- Investor with significant capital who wants a green card
- Researcher, executive or creator with awards or recognition
Question 2: My citizenship is… Canada, Pakistan, UAE or another Gulf country, UK or Europe, India, China, Other
Question 3: My priority is… A green card, moving to the U.S. within months, or keeping a business in both Canada and the U.S.
Which U.S. visa is right for me?
The right visa depends on your work, your capital, and how soon you want to move. If you have a strong record and no employer, look at EB-2 NIW or EB-1A. If you plan to invest or move a company to the U.S., look at E-2 or L-1.
Not sure which box fits you? Pick the closest one. The finder shows a second-best route too, so you never hit a dead end.
Green card now, or a work visa first?
Choose a green card route if you want permanent residence and can wait for it. Choose a work or investor visa if you want to move sooner. Green card routes are EB-2 NIW, EB-1A and EB-5, and visa routes are E-2, L-1 and O-1.
This is the first real fork, and it is where many people lose months. A green card gives you permanent status but takes longer to win. A visa gets you in sooner but is temporary. Neither is better, they just fit different people.
- Start: what do you want?
- Next:
- Permanent residence first?
- Yes:
- Advanced degree or major achievements?
- Yes:
- EB-2 NIW or EB-1A
- No, but significant capital:
- EB-5
- Neither:
- Use the finder above for next steps
- Yes:
- Advanced degree or major achievements?
- No, I want to move sooner:
- Which describes you?
- Own a company abroad:
- L-1
- Investor from a treaty country:
- E-2
- Proven talent or recognition:
- O-1
- None of these:
- Use the finder above for next steps
- Own a company abroad:
- Which describes you?
- Yes:
- Permanent residence first?
- Next:
Green card first: EB-2 NIW, EB-1A, EB-5
Best if:
- You have an advanced degree or a strong record of achievement
- You want to live and work in the U.S. without an employer tying you down
- You are willing to wait through USCIS review and, for some countries, the Visa Bulletin line
- You have significant capital and want permanent residence for your spouse and unmarried children under 21 (EB-5)
Visa first: E-2, L-1, O-1
Best if:
- You want to move sooner than a green card allows
- You will start or buy a U.S. business or franchise (E-2), or move a company you already own (L-1)
- You have proven talent in your field (O-1)
- You accept a temporary status with renewals and plan the green card step later
Some visas fit a later green card better than others. L-1 is built for it. E-2 is temporary, so you should plan the green card step early. Each route has its own page: EB-2 NIW, EB-1A, EB-5, E-2, L-1 and O-1.
What does AIA do for you?
We help you choose the right U.S. route, organize your documents, and arrange an independent U.S. attorney for you who files. Each service below has a clear benefit and a clear reason it matters. We do not file with USCIS or give U.S. legal advice.
| What we do | What you get | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Route review call | A clear first pick for your situation | You stop guessing and start with a plan |
| Citizenship and eligibility check | You skip routes you cannot use | You do not waste money on the wrong filing |
| Franchise introductions | Vetted introductions to franchise partners we know | You compare options with the facts in front of you |
| Canada-or-U.S. comparison | Both countries side by side | You choose with your eyes open |
| Document organization | Your evidence sorted before the attorney starts | The filing starts on solid ground |
| Independent U.S. attorney hand-off | A licensed attorney advises you and files | You can trust the legal side |
Think of us as the person who reads the map with you. The attorney drives the car.
U.S. green card options
Four employment-based green card routes matter most here: EB-2 NIW, EB-1A, EB-5 and EB-1B. Three can start without a U.S. employer sponsor: NIW and EB-1A are self-petitions on Form I-140, and EB-5 is an investment petition on Form I-526 or I-526E. EB-1B needs a U.S. employer to file for you (USCIS).
Here is who each one fits:
- EB-2 NIW: you hold an advanced degree or exceptional ability, and your U.S. work benefits the nation. No job offer or labor certification.
- EB-1A: you have sustained acclaim in your field. You show it with at least 3 of 10 criteria, or one major award.
- EB-5: you invest $1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, and the business creates at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs (USCIS).
- EB-1B: you are an outstanding professor or researcher with at least 3 years of experience, and a qualifying employer files for you.
Can I get a U.S. green card without a job offer?
Yes, EB-2 NIW and EB-1A let you file for yourself with no employer and no labor certification. For NIW, you show your work has substantial merit and national importance, that you are well positioned to advance it, and that waiving the job offer benefits the U.S. For EB-1A, you show sustained acclaim through at least three of ten criteria or one major award (USCIS).
Winning is not automatic. USCIS decides case by case, and the strength of your evidence decides the result.
What is the difference between EB-1A and EB-2 NIW?
EB-1A needs a higher level of proven achievement, while EB-2 NIW needs an advanced degree or exceptional ability and a project that serves the national interest. Both can be filed on Form I-140 without a job offer. Some people file NIW first when their record is still building.
- Bar for achievement: EB-1A is higher. NIW is lower but still needs strong proof.
- What USCIS looks at: EB-1A looks at you and your acclaim. NIW looks at your work and its value to the U.S.
- Evidence: EB-1A uses a list of criteria. NIW uses the three-part Dhanasar test.
U.S. work and investor visas
O-1, L-1 and E-2 are temporary U.S. visas that can start sooner than a green card. Each fits a different person: O-1 for proven talent, L-1 for owners moving a company, and E-2 for investors from treaty countries. O-1 and L-1 need a U.S. petitioner to file Form I-129, and for O-1 that can be a company you own or a U.S. agent (USCIS).
Here is who each one fits:
- O-1: you have extraordinary ability or achievement in your field. No investment needed.
- L-1: you work for a company abroad and transfer to a related U.S. office. L-1A is for managers and executives. L-1B is for specialized knowledge. You need at least one continuous year with the foreign company in the last three.
- E-2: you hold citizenship in a treaty country and invest in a real, active U.S. business that is more than marginal (U.S. Department of State, USCIS). Buying a franchise is one common way, see the E-2 franchise visa.
What is the fastest way to move to the U.S. for work?
There is no single fastest route. The quickest one is the one you already qualify for. Owners of a foreign company often use L-1, treaty-country investors use E-2, and people with proven talent use O-1.
These routes skip the green card line. Timing still depends on your filing path and on how busy USCIS or the consulate is. Anyone who promises you an exact date is guessing.
Which U.S. visas let my spouse work?
Spouses of E-2 and L-1 holders can work in the U.S. without a separate permit, because USCIS treats them as work-authorized incident to status (USCIS). Children can study but cannot work. O-1 spouses and children hold O-3 status, which does not carry the same work rights.
If you later get a green card, your spouse gets full work rights too. That is one reason many families plan the green card step early.
Compare the options side by side
This table compares six routes on status, who files, money, country limits and spouse work rights. Three lead to a green card and three are temporary visas. It sticks to rules that rarely change, with no fees or processing times (USCIS, U.S. Department of State).
| EB-2 NIW | EB-1A | EB-5 | E-2 | L-1 | O-1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Green card | Green card | Green card | Temporary, renewable | Temporary | Temporary |
| Who files | You, on Form I-140 | You, on Form I-140 | You, on Form I-526 or I-526E | You apply, usually at a U.S. consulate | A related U.S. company, on Form I-129 | A U.S. employer or agent, on Form I-129 (can be your own company) |
| Money needed | None | None | $1,050,000, or $800,000 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project, plus 10 full-time jobs | A substantial investment in a real, active business, with no fixed minimum | None, but you need a related U.S. office | None |
| Country limits | None, but a Visa Bulletin line may apply for some countries | None, but a Visa Bulletin line may apply for some countries | None, but a Visa Bulletin line may apply for some countries | Treaty countries only | None | None |
| Spouse can work | Yes, with the green card | Yes, with the green card | Yes, with the green card | Yes | Yes | No (O-3 status) |
| Best for | Advanced degree and a project that helps the U.S. | Top of your field, with proven acclaim | Investors who want permanent residence | Treaty-country investors running a business | Owners and managers moving a company | Proven talent, with a U.S. employer or agent filing |
Read across, not down. One column should match your situation better than the rest. If two match, you may have a stepping-stone plan, such as a visa first and a green card later.
EB-1B is not in the table because an employer must file for you. It has its own short page: EB-1B. For a full comparison of two routes, see E-2 vs C11, EB-1A vs EB-2 NIW and L-1 vs H-1B.
Not sure which pair to read? See all U.S. visa comparisons.
U.S. immigration for Canadians
Canadians can use TN, L-1, E-2, O-1 and the green card routes, and Canada is on the State Department’s E-2 treaty list. Canadian citizens do not need a consulate visa for TN or L-1, so those filings can happen at the U.S. border instead. TN is a USMCA route open to Canadian and Mexican citizens (U.S. Department of State, USCIS).
Which one fits a Canadian depends on what you do and what you own:
- You own a company in Canada: look at L-1, which moves you to a related U.S. office. See L-1 for Canadians.
- You want to invest in a U.S. business: look at E-2. See E-2 for Canadian investors.
- A U.S. employer will hire you in a listed profession: look at TN. It covers specific professions and needs a prearranged job with a U.S. employer.
- You have an advanced degree and a strong record: look at EB-2 NIW, a green card you file for yourself. See EB-2 NIW for Canadians.
- You have proven talent in your field: look at O-1.
Everything above is on one page for Canadians: U.S. immigration for Canadians.
Can Canadians get a U.S. visa without an employer?
Yes, E-2 (you invest in a business), O-1 (your own company or an agent can be the petitioner) and EB-2 NIW (a green card you file yourself) do not need an outside U.S. employer. TN needs a U.S. employer, and L-1 needs a related U.S. company, so they fit employees and company owners. The right pick depends on whether you invest, own a company, or have a strong professional record.
Many Canadians start with TN or L-1 and plan a green card later. The Canadians page shows how.
Canada or the U.S.? Compare both routes
If you are choosing between two countries, compare the E-2 with Canada’s C11 entrepreneur work permit, and EB-2 NIW with Express Entry. Each pair serves the same person: a founder or a skilled professional deciding where to build a future. The big differences are who can apply, how you are chosen, and whether the route leads to permanent residence (IRCC, USCIS).
Founders and investors: E-2 or C11
| U.S. E-2 | Canada C11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can use it | Citizens of treaty countries | Foreign nationals who will run their own business and bring significant benefit to Canada |
| Status | Temporary, renewable | Temporary, no fixed length |
| Key test | A real, active business that is more than marginal | Work that brings significant economic, social or cultural benefit |
| Path to permanent residence | None directly. You need a separate green card route | None directly. Time on C11 does not count toward the Canadian Experience Class. Provincial business streams are the PR route |
Both routes need you to show a plan to leave when your status ends. Both need business funds and support funds for your family. If you want permanent residence at the end, plan for it on day one in either country.
See the full comparison: E-2 vs C11. The Canada side is on the C11 entrepreneur work permit page.
Skilled professionals: EB-2 NIW or Express Entry
| U.S. EB-2 NIW | Canada Express Entry | |
|---|---|---|
| How you are chosen | USCIS reviews your evidence. There is no points score | IRCC scores your profile out of 1,200 (CRS) and invites the top-ranked candidates in each round |
| Do you need an invitation? | No. You file yourself | Yes. You can apply only after IRCC invites you, and you then have 60 days |
| What decides it | The three-part Dhanasar test of your work | Your points, plus category rounds that favour some occupations |
| Result | Permanent residence | Permanent residence |
Some strong professionals do not get invited to Express Entry, even with a Master’s or PhD. Age, language scores and an occupation that is not in demand can all hold the score down. EB-2 NIW looks at your work instead of a score, which is why it can fit people the points system leaves out. See EB-2 NIW and how Express Entry works.
How our process works
You take three steps: answer the short form, get your route review, and meet an independent U.S. attorney. AIA helps you pick the route and organize your documents, and the attorney handles the legal work and the USCIS filing. AIA is not a law firm and does not represent you before USCIS.
Step 1: Answer the short form
Tell us what you do, where you hold citizenship, and what matters most to you.
Step 2: Get your route review
If your answers fit a U.S. route, we call you to go over it and your next steps. For EB-2 NIW, this step is a paid Strategy Consultation with Amir.
Step 3: Meet an independent U.S. attorney
They confirm your eligibility, advise you on the law, and file with USCIS once they are engaged under your signed agreement.
You decide at each step. Nothing moves forward without your yes.
Do I need a lawyer for a U.S. visa?
No law requires you to hire a lawyer, and you can file for yourself. If someone represents you before USCIS, they must be a licensed U.S. attorney or an accredited representative. Immigration consultants may help fill in forms but may not represent you (USCIS).
Afraid of scams? That is a smart instinct. Ask any attorney for their license and check it with their state bar before you pay.
Find my U.S. route
Answer a few questions. A member of our team will contact you. No obligation.
AIA is not a law firm. U.S. legal services are provided by independent, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys we arrange for you under a signed agreement.
Questions about cost, time and results
Most people ask three things before they start: what it costs, how long it takes, and whether they will qualify. The answers below are honest and short. If yours is missing, the short form lets you ask.
What does a U.S. visa cost, and who do I pay?
You pay different parties for different things: the government, your attorney. Government fees are set by USCIS and the State Department, and each attorney sets their own fees. For EB-2 NIW, AIA’s first step is a paid Strategy Consultation with Amir.
We do not quote fees on this page.
Compare that with the cost of a wrong filing, because USCIS fees are generally not refunded. Spending an hour on the right route is cheaper than refiling.
How long does the process take?
It depends on the route, your country and how busy USCIS or the consulate is. Temporary visas often move faster than green cards, and some green card routes add a Visa Bulletin wait for certain countries. We do not quote dates before we review your case, because a guess helps nobody.
The part you control is the start. The short form takes a few minutes, and the route review follows.
Will I qualify?
No one can promise you will qualify. The finder and the route review tell you honestly where you stand, including when a route does not fit. If a route is a poor match, we say so before you spend money.
That is also why some people leave with a different route than the one they came for. A better-fitting route beats a hopeful filing.
What is the difference between a temporary visa and a green card?
A green card lets you live and work in the U.S. permanently. A temporary visa lets you live and work in the U.S. for a set period and needs renewals. Some temporary visas allow a later green card application and some do not, so plan the next step early (USCIS).
Can my family come with me?
Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can usually join you under each route, either as dependents on a visa or as part of your green card case (USCIS). Spouses of E-2 and L-1 holders can work, and children can study. Children who turn 21 may lose eligibility, so timing matters.
Is the first check really free?
Yes, the short form and your route result are free. EB-2 NIW moves to a paid Strategy Consultation, the same way our Canada work does, and the booking page shows what it includes.
What happens if you wait, and what does success look like?
If you wait, you keep guessing, and a wrong filing gets more likely. If you choose the right route first, you move forward with a clear plan and the right attorney. The short form takes a few minutes.
If you stay stuck: another year of reading conflicting advice. Savings sit idle while you wonder. A filing that does not fit costs you months and fees you will not get back.
If you choose now: you know your route, you know who files your case, and you know what to prepare. You feel relieved and confident, because the next step is clear. That is what we help you reach.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
U.S. legal scope. AIA is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in the United States. U.S. legal services are provided by independent, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys, chosen case by case for fit and cost, whom we arrange for you under a signed agreement. Any attorney-client relationship is between you and that attorney. AIA’s Canadian immigration services are separate. This page is general information, not legal advice.
