Moving Your Business to Katy, Texas: An Immigration Attorney’s Guide to Investor Visas

If you want to move your business to Katy, Texas and build a life here, U.S. immigration law offers more than one investor pathway. An immigration attorney in Katy, Texas can help you compare the E-2 and EB-5 visas and match them to your budget and long-term plans. These programs reward real investment in a working business, and Katy’s growing economy can be part of that story. This post explains how each visa works, what substantial investment means, and which sectors tend to fit.

Key Takeaways About Investor Visas in Katy, Texas

• Two visas, two very different goals. The E-2 lets you run a business temporarily and renew over time. The EB-5 is a path to a green card.
• Investment amounts differ sharply. The E-2 has no fixed minimum, while the EB-5 requires $800,000 or $1,050,000 depending on location.
• A real business is required. Both visas ask for an active enterprise that does more than support your household. Passive investments do not qualify.
• Timing can change your options. EB-5 rules include a grandfathering deadline and a scheduled investment increase, so filing dates carry weight.
• Small errors carry a high cost. Weak source-of-funds records or business plans lead to many denials. Our role is to help business owners build a clear, well-documented case.

Key Statistics About E-2 and EB-5 Visas

These official points help set expectations before you invest.

• No fixed E-2 minimum. U.S. law sets no dollar minimum for the E-2. Officers use a proportionality test, so the amount depends on the cost of your business. See USCIS on E-2 investors.
• EB-5 requires $800,000 or $1,050,000. The lower amount applies in a targeted employment area, and the investment must create or preserve 10 full-time jobs. See USCIS on EB-5.
• Mexico is an E-2 treaty country. Nationals of treaty countries, including Mexico, may apply. The State Department keeps the current list on its treaty investor page.
• EB-5 has key dates. The Regional Center Program is authorized through September 30, 2027, and current rules protect petitions filed by September 30, 2026. Amounts are set to adjust for inflation starting in 2027.

What Is the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa?

The E-2 visa lets a national of a treaty country invest in a U.S. business and come here to run it. It is a temporary visa, but it can be renewed again and again as long as the business keeps qualifying. Many business owners use it to buy and operate a store, restaurant, or service company.

The E-2 does not lead directly to a green card. Even so, it can be a practical first step while you build your business and consider longer-term options.

Who Qualifies for an E-2 Visa?

To qualify, you generally must be a citizen of a treaty country, own at least half of the business or control it, and come to the U.S. to develop and direct it. The business must be real and active, not a passive holding.

Because eligibility depends on citizenship rather than where you live, an attorney can review your nationality and current status to see whether this path is open to you.

How Much Must You Invest for an E-2?

There is no fixed dollar amount for the E-2. Instead, officers apply a proportionality test, which asks whether your investment is substantial compared to the total cost of the business.

For a smaller business, you may need to invest most of the cost. For a larger one, a smaller share can still count. In practice, many service and retail businesses fall within reach of this test.

What Is the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa?

The EB-5 visa is a direct path to a green card for investors who put capital into a U.S. business that creates jobs. Unlike the E-2, it leads to permanent residency, first on a conditional basis and later without conditions.

Congress created the EB-5 program to encourage investment and job creation. It asks for more money and more documentation than the E-2, but it offers permanence.

How Much Does EB-5 Require?

The EB-5 requires investing $800,000 if your project is in a targeted employment area, such as a rural or high-unemployment area, or $1,050,000 elsewhere. Your capital must be at risk, and the investment must create or preserve at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers.

You can review the full process on the USCIS EB-5 process page.

What Counts as a New Commercial Enterprise?

For EB-5, you generally must invest in a new commercial enterprise. That can include a business you buy and restructure, or an existing one you expand in a significant way.

A troubled business may also qualify if you preserve its jobs. The rules are detailed, so a lawyer can help you confirm whether a Katy business fits.

How Does the «Katy Business Hub» Strategy Work?

The Katy area’s steady growth can help investors meet the substantial investment and job creation these visas require. As the community grows west of Houston, retail and service businesses often have room to expand and hire, which supports both the E-2 and EB-5 tests.

The table below shows how the two visas compare side by side.

	E-2 Treaty Investor	EB-5 Immigrant Investor
Type	Temporary, renewable	Green card path
Who can apply	Nationals of treaty countries, including Mexico	Investors of any nationality
Investment	Substantial and proportional, no fixed minimum	$800,000 in a targeted area or $1,050,000 elsewhere
Jobs	Business must be more than marginal	Must create or preserve 10 full-time jobs
Green card	Not directly	Yes, after conditions are removed
Business	Real and active, can be one you buy	New commercial enterprise, including a restructured or expanded one

Which Katy Sectors Tend to Fit?

Retail and service businesses often fit investor visa plans because they are active, hire local workers, and have clear costs. Common examples include restaurants, franchises, personal care, logistics, and small retail shops.

What matters is that the business is real, operating, and able to grow beyond simply supporting your family. A franchise can help because its costs and business plan are well documented.

E-2 or EB-5: Which Fits Your Goal?

The right choice usually comes down to money and permanence. If you want a lower entry cost and are comfortable with a renewable visa, the E-2 may fit. If a green card is your goal and you can invest more, the EB-5 may be the better path.

Some business owners start with an E-2 and consider EB-5 later. An attorney can help you weigh both against your budget and timeline.

When Should You Talk to an Immigration Attorney?

You may want to speak with an immigration attorney in Katy before you buy a business or move any money. Early guidance can help you structure the purchase, document your funds, and avoid choices that weaken your immigration case.

It also helps to reach out if you are unsure which visa fits, if your source of funds is complex, or if an EB-5 deadline could affect your timing. We can review your plan and explain your options in plain language.

How Can Business Owners Prepare for an Investor Visa?

These are general tips, not legal advice for your situation.

• Many investors find it helpful to keep clear records of where their funds came from, since source of funds is often reviewed closely.
• It can help to save purchase agreements, leases, and receipts that show the money going into the business.
• A detailed business plan with realistic projections and hiring goals often strengthens a case.
• Talking with an attorney before signing a purchase contract can help you avoid terms that hurt your visa options.

Katy Investor Visa Questions Answered by Attorneys

Can I buy an existing restaurant in Katy and get a visa?

In many cases, yes. Buying a real, operating business can support an E-2 visa, and a larger investment that creates jobs may support an EB-5. The business must be active, not passive. We can review the numbers and help you choose the path that fits your plans.

Does the E-2 visa give me a green card?

Not directly. The E-2 is a temporary visa you can renew as long as your business keeps qualifying. Some owners later pursue a green card through EB-5 or another path. An attorney can help you map a longer-term plan from the start.

I am from Mexico. Can I qualify for an investor visa?

Possibly. Mexico is an E-2 treaty country, so Mexican nationals may qualify for the E-2. The EB-5 is open to investors of any nationality. Your current status and funds matter, so it often helps to review your specific situation first.

What is the main difference between the E-2 and EB-5 visas?

The E-2 is a renewable temporary visa with no fixed investment minimum, while the EB-5 is a green card path that requires $800,000 or more and job creation. The E-2 costs less to start, and the EB-5 offers permanence. The right fit depends on your goals.

How many jobs does the EB-5 require?

The EB-5 generally requires creating or preserving at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers. The jobs usually must be tied to your investment and business plan. An attorney can help you show how a Katy business meets this test.

Can my family come with me?

In many cases, yes. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 may receive related status under both visas. E-2 spouses are generally allowed to work, and EB-5 family members can share in the green card process. The details depend on your case.

Is there a deadline I should know about?

For EB-5, filing by September 30, 2026 can protect your case under current rules, and investment amounts are set to adjust in 2027. These dates can affect your cost and timing. It often helps to plan early with an attorney.

Build Your Business and Your Future in Katy

Starting over in a new country takes courage and careful planning, and the right visa can turn a business plan into a place to call home. Many owners do not realize they have more than one path, or that a single misstep with paperwork can slow everything down. Our immigrant-led team understands what it means to build something from the ground up, and we treat every client with honesty and care.

We offer a free evaluation to review your goals and explain which investor visa may fit. Call our Texas office at (832) 305-6560, or reach our Utah office at (385) 275-6505, to talk through your plans. Your information stays private, and there is no pressure, just clear guidance for your next step.