Does an LLC give you a US visa?

A company, not an immigration status

An LLC is a legal entity registered with a state. It has its own name, its own tax number and its own bank account. Owning one does not require US citizenship or residency, and in the same way it does not change your own status: you remain a resident of your country, and the company operates in the US on its own.

This is good news for most founders. You do not need to move, travel or apply for anything at a consulate to own and run the company. You can be its sole member and manager without ever setting foot in the US, and our guide on the LLC for non-residents walks through the full setup.

What you can do from abroad with an LLC

• Get the company’s EIN by fax with Form SS-4, usually in about 4 business days, without an SSN.
• Open a US bank account for the LLC, using your real home or office address abroad, which banks accept as long as it is a genuine physical address.
• Accept card payments through a US Stripe account and sell on US marketplaces.
• Sign contracts and invoice customers in the US and worldwide under a US company name.
• Stay light on paperwork: under the final FinCEN rule, US companies no longer file a BOI report.

Visas and work in the US are a separate question

Living or working in the United States depends on an immigration status granted by the US authorities, through a process that is independent of company formation. The State Department’s visa pages explain the categories, including the rules for short business visits such as meetings or conferences.

Some visa categories involve investing in a US business or being transferred to one. Each has its own conditions, assessed case by case by the US authorities, and the USCIS pages on working in the United States describe them. An LLC can be part of such a project, but owning one does not qualify you on its own.

Running the company while you live elsewhere

Everything a Wyoming LLC needs each year can be done remotely: the registered agent receives official mail in Wyoming, the annual report is filed online, and Form 5472 with the pro forma 1120 is due April 15 for a calendar-year company. You manage the business from your laptop, wherever you live.

LLCroad forms the company for $489 all inclusive: state fee, registered agent for the first year, EIN, documents, help with the bank account and the first Form 5472. From year two, the annual plan at $300 per year keeps everything up to date. See our pricing page or start your order.