Your visa status should not stop you from building a thriving business in America. Merchant Fund Express provides fast, accessible business funding to work visa holders nationwide -- no SSN required, approvals in 24 hours.
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H1B, L1, E2, TN, O1, EB-5
Every year, thousands of talented entrepreneurs enter the United States on work visas with the ambition to build businesses, create jobs, and contribute to the American economy. Yet the traditional banking system treats them like high-risk borrowers -- or worse, refuses to consider their applications entirely.
The numbers paint a stark picture: immigrant entrepreneurs start businesses at nearly twice the rate of native-born Americans, and immigrant-founded companies generate trillions in revenue annually. Despite this track record, work visa holders face systemic barriers when seeking business capital. Traditional banks and SBA lenders rely on underwriting models built for U.S. citizens with established credit histories, permanent residency, and decades-long banking relationships. If you arrived in the country three years ago on an H1B visa and built a profitable consulting practice, most banks see a thin credit file and a temporary visa -- not a successful business owner.
Merchant Fund Express exists to solve this problem. We built our lending programs specifically for the entrepreneurial immigrant community, using revenue-based underwriting that evaluates what matters most: your business performance, not your passport.
The H1B specialty occupation visa is held by over 600,000 professionals in the United States, many of whom are skilled technologists, engineers, physicians, and consultants. The most common misconception about H1B visa holders is that they cannot own or operate a business. In fact, H1B holders can legally own a business -- they simply cannot work for it as an employee unless that company also sponsors their H1B.
This means many H1B holders operate passive businesses, real estate investments, or companies where they serve as owners while others handle day-to-day operations. Others are transitioning from employment to entrepreneurship during green card processing. Whatever your situation, Merchant Fund Express provides working capital, revenue advances, and equipment financing for H1B visa holders. We evaluate your business bank statements and revenue -- not your visa expiration date.
Common H1B Business Types We Fund: IT consulting firms, staffing agencies, e-commerce stores, SaaS products, rental properties, and franchise operations.
L1 intracompany transferee visa holders are among the strongest candidates for business funding. The L1A (managers and executives) and L1B (specialized knowledge workers) visas are specifically designed for professionals who are managing or establishing U.S. operations for international companies. This means L1 visa holders are already running businesses by definition.
Whether you are opening a new U.S. branch for your parent company, expanding operations to new markets, or need working capital to grow an established U.S. subsidiary, our funding programs are built for exactly this use case. L1 visa holders typically have strong business fundamentals -- established revenue, corporate backing, and clear growth trajectories -- making them ideal candidates for $50,000 to $2 million in business funding.
Specific L1 Challenges We Address: New U.S. branch without domestic revenue history, need for rapid scaling capital before profitability, and equipment purchases for U.S. operations launch.
E2 visa holders have already demonstrated their commitment to the U.S. economy by making a substantial investment in an American business. The E2 Treaty Investor visa requires a significant capital deployment, meaning these entrepreneurs have real skin in the game from day one. Yet banks still reject E2 visa holders because of the non-immigrant visa classification.
At Merchant Fund Express, we recognize that E2 entrepreneurs are some of the most motivated and well-capitalized business owners in the country. Whether you invested $100,000 in a restaurant franchise or $500,000 in a manufacturing operation, we provide the additional working capital you need to grow beyond your initial investment. Our funding complements your E2 investment by providing flexible capital for inventory, marketing, hiring, equipment, and expansion without requiring you to liquidate personal assets.
E2 Funding Advantage: Because E2 holders have already invested significantly, they typically qualify for higher funding amounts and more favorable terms.
TN visa holders from Canada and Mexico occupy a unique position in the U.S. immigration landscape. The TN classification under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement allows professionals in designated occupations to work in the U.S. Many TN holders operate consulting practices, professional service firms, or technical businesses alongside their primary employment.
The challenge TN visa holders face is that their visa is technically an employment-based classification, leading some lenders to question business ownership eligibility. Merchant Fund Express understands the nuances of TN visa business structures. We fund TN visa holders who have established legitimate U.S. business entities, maintain consistent revenue, and operate within the boundaries of their visa terms. Our funding solutions include merchant cash advances, revenue-based financing, and short-term working capital designed to match the TN visa renewal cycle.
TN-Specific Note: Canadian TN holders often have the advantage of dual credit visibility, which can strengthen their application.
The O1 visa for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement is held by some of the most talented professionals in America -- award-winning artists, pioneering scientists, elite athletes, and visionary business leaders. O1 visa holders often run creative agencies, production companies, research ventures, and innovative startups.
Because the O1 visa specifically recognizes extraordinary achievement, these entrepreneurs bring exceptional talent and market positioning to their businesses. Merchant Fund Express funds O1 visa holders who need capital to scale their exceptional ventures. Whether you are a tech innovator launching a startup, a creative professional expanding your production company, or a researcher commercializing your patents, we provide the funding to match your extraordinary ambition.
O1 Funding Range: $10,000 to $1,000,000+ depending on business revenue and growth trajectory.
EB-5 visa holders represent the highest tier of immigrant investment, with minimum investments of $800,000 to $1,050,000 in U.S. businesses that create at least 10 full-time jobs. While the EB-5 program provides a path to permanent residency, it also requires substantial ongoing capital to maintain and grow the qualifying business.
Many EB-5 investors discover that their initial capital investment, while meeting visa requirements, does not leave sufficient working capital for day-to-day operations, unexpected expenses, or growth opportunities. Merchant Fund Express provides supplemental business funding for EB-5 enterprises, ensuring you have the liquidity to meet job creation requirements, manage cash flow cycles, and capitalize on expansion opportunities without jeopardizing your immigration case.
EB-5 Advantage: As investors already on a green card track, EB-5 holders face fewer immigration-related lending barriers and often qualify for our highest funding tiers.
Traditional lending is broken for immigrant entrepreneurs. Merchant Fund Express fixes it with a fundamentally different approach to underwriting. Instead of asking where you were born or when your visa expires, we ask the question that actually matters: is your business generating revenue?
Our revenue-based funding model evaluates your business bank statements to determine how much capital your business can comfortably support. This means a profitable restaurant owned by an E2 visa holder receives the same consideration as one owned by a fifth-generation American. Your business performance is the underwriting criteria -- not your nationality.
Complete our simple application in under 5 minutes. No hard credit pull.
Provide 3 months of business bank statements for review.
Receive your funding offer within 24 hours of submission.
Funds deposited directly into your business account in 24-48 hours.
Merchant Fund Express is a nationwide business funding provider specializing in fast, accessible capital for small and medium-sized businesses. We serve entrepreneurs across all 50 states, including work visa holders, ITIN applicants, and non-citizen business owners who are underserved by traditional banks. Our mission is simple: if your business is generating revenue and you need capital to grow, we will find a way to fund you.
We have provided millions in funding to immigrant-owned businesses across industries including restaurants, retail, technology, healthcare, construction, professional services, and e-commerce. Our team understands the unique challenges that work visa holders face, and our underwriting process is built to evaluate businesses -- not immigration paperwork.
Get approved in 24-48 hours with funding up to $500K+ for your business
See exactly what lenders see. Know your approval odds before you apply.
30-minute call with a funding expert to maximize your approval amount.
Custom spreadsheet to plan your funding use and maximize ROI.
Total Value: $593
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