After getting the EB-1A green card, can I start a business in the U.S.?

Yes. Once you obtain your green card through the EB-1A, you become a permanent resident and are free to pursue entrepreneurship in the United States: you can open a company, hold ownership stakes, invest, and run your own business. From an immigration standpoint, there is no specific restriction against doing so.

The key difference compared to someone on a work visa is precisely this: a permanent resident does not need employer sponsorship or job-tied work authorization to operate their own business. You can build and run a company under the same general conditions as any other resident.

What still applies are the standard rules that govern any business in the country, which vary by industry and by state:

• Choosing and registering the appropriate business entity for your venture.
• Obtaining the licenses and permits required for your specific activity.
• Meeting all federal and state tax and accounting obligations.

For this reason, it is usually worth working with an accountant and, when needed, a business attorney familiar with the local market. Since tax rules and licensing requirements change over time, the safest approach is to confirm current requirements with the relevant authorities and, for anything touching your immigration status, with USCIS.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.