Key US Investor Visa Options for Portuguese citizens
E-2 Investor Visa
This visa allows Portuguese citizens to start new businesses, invest in existing companies, or acquire US franchises. To qualify, you must invest a substantial amount of capital in a legitimate US enterprise and actively manage its operations. To obtain an E-2 visa, you can either apply at a US Consulate or Embassy in your home country before traveling to the United States. Alternatively, if you are already in the United States on a different visa, you can apply for a change of status to E-2 within the country.
EB-5 Investor Green Card
This option provides a pathway to permanent residency (green card) for Portuguese citizens and their family members through an investment in a US business that creates jobs for American workers. To be eligible, you must invest a minimum of $800,000 in a U.S. business located in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) or $1,050,000 in a business outside a TEA. This investment must result in the creation of at least ten full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers. You can fulfill the investment requirement by directly investing in a US business or by investing in a USCIS-designated Regional Center project.
L-1 Visa
This visa facilitates the transfer of Portuguese executives, managers, and specialized knowledge employees from their company’s foreign offices to its U.S. operations, enabling them to work temporarily in the United States.
E-1 Trader Visa
This visa is for individuals who intend to engage in substantial international trade in goods or services between the US and Portugalia.
Work visas for Portuguese citizens
To legally work in the United States, most Portuguese citizens require a visa. This typically involves a process where the U.S. employer must first file a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for approval before the worker can apply for the visa. However, for certain work visa categories, Portuguese citizens may be eligible to apply directly at the U.S. border or a major international airport upon departure.
Temporary Work Visas for Portuguese citizens
H-1B
For professionals in specialized fields, holding at least a Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent
E-2
For investors and their employees
E-1
For treaty traders and their employees
L-1
For intra-company transfers of Portuguese executives, managers, and specialized knowledge employees
O-1
For Portuguese with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics
H-2B
For temporary non-agricultural workers
H-2A
For temporary agricultural workers
Beyond temporary work visas, there are four categories of permanent work visas, depending on the employee’s education and the type of job offer. These categories are known as “preferences”, because the number of visas are issued according to the value of the selected field and the position that the employee will occupy. The permanent work visas provide a pathway to permanent residency (green card) for Portuguese citizens and their family members through their US employer.
Permanent Work Visas (Green Cards) for Portuguese citizens
EB-1 (first preference)
For individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational executives and managers
EB-2 (second preference)
For professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, requiring either a PERM Labor Certification or a National Interest Waiver.
EB-3 (third preference)
For professionals with a U.S. bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent, skilled workers, and unskilled workers.
Successfully obtaining a U.S. work visa requires careful planning and meticulous attention to detail. Our team of experienced immigration attorneys can guide you through the entire process, from initial assessment to visa application and beyond. We offer tailored solutions for a wide range of employment-based immigration needs, ensuring you have the best possible chance of achieving your U.S. career goals.
For other family members, a limited number of visas are offered. Since the number of applicants is greater than the number of visas, after submitting the petition, the beneficiary must wait a period of time until the visa becomes available.
Permanent residents
Permanent residents can petition for permanent residency (green card) for the following family members: Spouse or child of a permanent resident
US Visas for Portuguese artists, professional athletes and models
Traveling to the United States for work as a Portuguese artist, athlete, or model requires careful planning and the right visa. Common options include:
P Visas
For internationally recognized performers and athletes.
O-1 Visa
For individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in the arts, sciences, education, business, or sports, or those who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry.
H-1B Visa
For specialty occupations, which may apply to fashion models of distinguished merit and ability.
Green Cards and US Citizenship for Portuguese citizens
A green card holder (i.e. a lawful permanent resident of the US) is an immigrant who is authorized to live and work permanently in the US. As proof of that status, US Citizenship and Immigration Services gives that immigrant a lawful permanent resident card called a green card.
After meeting specific residency requirements, Green Card holders can apply for U.S. citizenship.
Malescu Law has highly experienced immigration attorneys specializing in Green Card applications and the path to U.S. citizenship. We provide comprehensive legal guidance and support to Portuguese citizens throughout the entire immigration process.