U.S. Visa Comparison: Pick the Right Pair Before You Choose a Route
For founders, professionals and business owners who are stuck between two U.S. routes, or between the U.S. and Canada, and want a plain answer before they spend money. Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the filing.
since 1991
- We compare three pairs: E-2 vs C11 for founders choosing a country, EB-1A vs EB-2 NIW for people who file for themselves, and L-1 vs H-1B for owners and managers.
- The E-2 is only for citizens of treaty countries, and the C11 is for foreign nationals. Both are temporary.
- EB-1A and EB-2 NIW are both green cards you file for yourself, but they test different things.
- L-1 needs a related company abroad. H-1B goes through a registration and a yearly cap.
- Read the one pair that matches your situation. If two match, a visa first and a green card later may be your plan.
Why do people compare the wrong visas?
Most people compare the wrong visas because they compare by name, not by their own situation. A founder reads about the EB-1A when the real choice is the E-2 or Canada, and an owner reads about the H-1B when the L-1 fits a related company abroad. USCIS fees are generally not refunded if a petition is denied, so a wrong comparison can cost real money (USCIS).
Here is how it usually goes wrong. You search a visa you heard about from a friend. You read a table built for someone else. Or you compare two routes that cannot both apply to you, such as a treaty-country visa when your passport is not on the list.
Underneath, the feelings are real. You feel overwhelmed by choices, behind on your plan, and worried about picking wrong.
None of that means you lack options. It means you need the comparison that fits your case. The sections below point you to it.
Who is behind these comparisons, and why trust them?
Amir Ismail & Associates has guided 25,000+ clients since 1991, from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We know both the Canada and the U.S. sides, so we can tell you when the other country is the better move. Independent U.S. attorneys handle the legal work and the filing.
Empathy: We know how heavy it feels to choose a country, a visa and a plan all at once.
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.
Which U.S. visa comparison fits you?
The comparison that fits you depends on who you are in this move. A founder choosing a country needs E-2 vs C11, a professional who files alone needs EB-1A vs EB-2 NIW, and an owner or manager moving a team needs L-1 vs H-1B (USCIS, U.S. Department of State).
| E-2 vs C11 | EB-1A vs EB-2 NIW | L-1 vs H-1B | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Founders and investors choosing between the U.S. and Canada | Professionals who want a green card they file for themselves | Owners, managers and specialists, or professionals with an employer |
| What it decides | Which country to build your business in | Which self-filed green card fits your record | Which work visa fits your role and your company |
| Who files | You apply (E-2) or you apply to Canada (C11) | You, on Form I-140 | A U.S. employer, on Form I-129 |
| Read this page | E-2 vs C11 | EB-1A vs EB-2 NIW | L-1 vs H-1B |
Read across, not down. One column should match you better than the other two.
Which comparison should I read first?
Read the one that matches your goal today. If you want to choose a country, start with E-2 vs C11. If you want a green card on your own, start with EB-1A vs EB-2 NIW, and if you want to move a team or take a job, start with L-1 vs H-1B (USCIS).
Can I compare more than two routes at once?
Yes, the U.S. hub has a six-route table with EB-2 NIW, EB-1A, EB-5, E-2, L-1 and O-1 side by side. It covers status, who files, money needed, country limits and spouse work rights. It sticks to rules that rarely change, with no fees or processing times (USCIS, U.S. Department of State).
What does AIA do for you?
We help you pick the comparison that fits, check your own fit against it, and arrange an independent U.S. attorney for you. 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 comparing and start planning |
| Citizenship and eligibility check | Routes you cannot use are removed first | You do not read pages that do not apply to you |
| Canada-or-U.S. view | Both countries side by side | You choose with your eyes open |
| 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.
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 check your fit and organize your evidence, and the attorney handles the legal work and the filing.
Step 1: Answer the short form
Tell us your goal, your citizenship and what matters most to you.
Step 2: Get your route review
We call you to go over the comparison that fits and the route that looks strongest.
Step 3: Meet an independent U.S. attorney
They confirm your eligibility, advise you on the law and file your petition or application.
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.
Will a comparison tell me which visa I get?
No, a comparison shows which route fits you best, not which one USCIS or a consulate will approve. Each route has its own rules, and your evidence and your plan decide the result (USCIS, U.S. Department of State). The route review gives you an honest view of where you stand.
Who files my case?
It depends on the route. You file the EB-1A and the EB-2 NIW yourself on Form I-140, and a U.S. employer files the L-1 on Form I-129 (USCIS). An independent U.S. attorney advises you and files, and AIA does not file with USCIS.
What does it cost, and who do I pay?
You pay different parties for different things: the government and your attorney. Government fees are set by USCIS and each attorney sets their own fees.
We do not quote fees on this page.
A wrong filing costs more than a good plan, because government fees are generally not refunded. Choosing the right comparison first is the cheaper path.
What happens if you wait, and what does success look like?
If you wait, you keep comparing pages that may not fit you, and your plan stays on hold. If you read the right comparison first, you know your best route and what each one asks of you. The short form takes a few minutes.
If you stay stuck: another month of reading the wrong table. A friend’s visa that does not fit your passport. Money spent on a filing that cannot work.
If you act now: you know which comparison fits, which route looks strongest, and who files. You feel relieved and clear, because the next step is plain. 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.
