[ruckfool]

Hi, I looked at the regional centre-dependent EB5 process but pivoted to the EB5 direct investment route. I have now bootstrapped a single food truck, and we are looking forward to launch it next month. Can such kind of business setup qualify me for O1 instead ? At my day job, I am a software manager in FAANG.

[Etheryte]

O1 requires you have considerable outstanding achievements [0], such as widely recognized international rewards, being featured in major publications, scholarly articles, or etc. I don't see how a food truck would help you qualify for any of those. Demanding a high salary, which I assume you do at FAANG, would only tick one box, but to qualify you need to tick at least three.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_visa#Requirements

[proberts]

As applied, although still high, the O-1 requirements are easier than they appear so it's always worth evaluating particularly for the founder of a business. And an O-1 can be for almost any occupation, from a hair colorist to a cancer researcher.

[Etheryte]

Thanks for explaining, I was not aware of that, that's interesting.

[proberts]

It's surprising to many people what backgrounds/jobs can qualify for O-1 classification so it's not inconceivable that your creation of the food truck business could be a platform to get you an O-1. This would require an O-1 analysis of your qualifications and this business.