Know-how that saves you money, time and nerves in America.

US Visas ESTA & B-1 visa: Visa Waiver and the US visitor visa ESTA or B-1 for business trips: length of stay, permitted activities and when the visa is worth it despite ESTA. Read more → US Visas Guide to the US E-2 investor visa Countries, business, investment, family, application, duration, refusal and the path to a green card, across all our guides. Read more → US Real Estate The ideal structure for foreigners investing in US real estate Individual, LLC, US corporation, foreign company or US blocker. How foreigners should hold US real estate for tax purposes. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Sending employees to the USA Duration, employment contract, visa, tax treaties and social security when posting staff to the USA. Read more → US Visas The US EB-5 visa: the green card for investors Investment amounts, regional centers and direct investment, requirements, process, family, citizenship and costs of the EB-5. Read more → US Visas The ultimate guide to the L-1 visa Intracompany transfers, new offices, L-1A and L-1B, fees, family and the path to a green card. Read more → US Visas Guide to the US E-1 treaty trader visa Who qualifies for the E-1, which trade counts, process, documents, fees and renewal. Read more → US Company Formation Forming a US company: the guide for your real business in America Legal structure, state, obligations, taxes, profit distributions, banks, holding, IRS and visa: the guide for your business in the USA. Read more → US Visas The US EB-1A visa A guide to the green card for people with extraordinary ability: criteria, application, deadlines and refusal. Read more → Moving to the USA Moving to the USA as an entrepreneur Where to live, visa, safety, schools, leisure, credit score and taxes, in 15 articles for your move. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Entering the US market without costly detours: structure, taxes, law, customs Structure, entry route, online retail, location, visa, taxes, law, CFIUS and customs: everything for your entry into the US market. Read more → US Visas The US O-1 visa A guide to the US visa for people with extraordinary ability: requirements, sponsor, costs, extension. Read more → Banking & Credit US bank account and US credit: how to become financially visible in America Account, numbers, address, credit score, first card and business credit: the overview for Europeans, with every in-depth guide. Read more → Freedom & Home Freedom in the USA: what it means in law and in daily life Constitution, free speech, gun laws by immigration status, hunting, county, sheriff and fire department: what freedom in America means for Europeans. Read more → US Taxes for Americans Abroad US tax obligations abroad: what your US passport demands every year If you live in Europe as a US citizen or green card holder, you file a US tax return every year. What it includes, what gets reported and when. Read more → US Taxes for Businesses US taxes for businesses: federal, state and home country Which returns, filings and deadlines a US LLC or corporation with European owners has, in one overview with a calendar. Read more → US Taxes for Individuals US tax obligations as a European: when the IRS expects a return Resident or nonresident, Form 1040 or 1040-NR, ITIN, deadlines, estimated payments, tax treaties and missed years: the overview for Europeans. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA Settling in the USA: your first 90 days as a checklist What to get done before you fly, in your first week, by day 30 and by day 90, with deadlines for Texas, Florida, California and New York. Read more → US Visas EB-1C green card: for managers moving to America with their company Requirements, roles, the route via the L-1A, process, timing, costs and reasons for refusal of the green card for managers, in eight guides. Read more → US Visas EB-2 NIW: the green card where your ability is the sponsor A green card without a job offer or investment: requirements, the Dhanasar test, fees, wait times and the EB-2 NIW process. Read more → US Visas Green cards for entrepreneurs: five ways to stay and which one fits EB-1A, EB-1C, EB-2 NIW, PERM and EB-5 compared: requirements, wait times, fees and the path from the E-2 or L-1 to a green card. Read more → US Visas Extending or renewing a US visa: two agencies and one deadline Visa or status, consulate or USCIS, forms, fees, interview, deadlines and what's at stake if you miss one. Read more → US Visas Which US visa is right for you? Nine routes for entrepreneurs compared L-1, E-2, E-1, EB-5, EB-1C, EB-1A, NIW, O-1 and B-1 in one table, with duration, family, green card and fees. Read more → US Visas Why Europeans get turned away at the US border and how to get it right Why Europeans get refused entry at the US border, three rules for entering and what to do if you're pulled aside. Read more → US Taxes for Individuals Which countries don't take part in CRS? The list and the USA Which countries don't participate in CRS, why the USA goes its own way and what that means for your account. Read more → Moving to the USA $250,000 a year and still not feeling rich Why even top earners in the USA are stretched, and how newcomers can plan where to live, schools and taxes more wisely. Read more → Moving to the USA Retiring to the USA: routes, places to live and taxes Why there's no retirement visa, and which routes, places, insurance and tax rules matter for retiring in the USA. Read more → Life in America What drives me crazy about you, dear Americans Tipping, misleading prices, giant portions and everything being awesome: 15 things about America that drive me nuts, with a wink. Read more → Banking & Credit US brokers: what really decides the return on your US portfolio Capital gains, dividends, W-8BEN and US estate tax. What really decides the return on your US brokerage account. Read more → US Visas The US green card lottery (“Diversity Visa Lottery”) How the Diversity Visa Lottery works: costs, timeline, eligibility, entry and selection. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA Where in America is life best? The twelve strongest large US metro areas by the 2026 Milken Index, with population, job market and home prices. Read more → US Real Estate US estate tax for non-US citizens Who is subject to US estate and gift tax, what counts as US property, exemptions, QDOT and treaties. Read more → US Business Tax Understanding the IRS W-8 forms Which of the five W-8 forms you need, who gets it and how long it stays valid. Read more → Moving to the USA What is a 401k? The US retirement plan and its advantages How the 401(k) works, the 2026 contribution limits and what it does for you as an employee or self-employed in the USA. Read more → US Visas US visa options for freelancers, the self-employed & influencers O-1, H-1B, E-3, B-1, E-2 and more: which US visas work for freelancers, the self-employed and influencers. Read more → US Business Tax America taxes differently. Mostly in your favor. Income tax, social security, capital gains, estate tax, corporate tax and sales tax: the US tax system at a glance. Read more → US Visas Becoming a US citizen Requirements, process and fees for naturalization, the benefits of a US passport and what to consider first. Read more → US Company Formation Delaware for Dummies 2026: the US tax haven, finally explained What Delaware really exempts from tax, what it makes public and why big corporations still come. Read more → Banking & Credit US banking for your company Mercury for day-to-day business, euro account details with IBAN and, if you like, a bank introduction in Austin. Read more → US Personal Tax US crypto regulation 2026: laws, agencies and states How the SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, IRS and the states regulate and tax cryptocurrency. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Dropshipping in the EU: tax and VAT on every order Chain transactions, import VAT, customs, OSS and IOSS for dropshipping in the EU. Read more → US Company Formation Why big US corporations love Delaware as their state of incorporation How the second-smallest state became home to the big corporations, and who it pays off for. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce The 10 most popular US states for foreign investors The top ten states by BEA first-year expenditures for 2024 and 2025, plus the ranking for greenfield builds. Read more → US Personal Tax America takes your data. It gives little back. FATCA, the Model 1 and 2 agreements and why the US gives almost nothing back in automatic information exchange. Read more → Life in the USA Safety & crime: can I feel safe in the USA? Gun violence, crime, racism and the media: how safe you can really feel in the USA. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the USA Stock, source countries, industries, CFIUS and reporting duties, based on U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data. Read more → US Business Tax How the IRS thinks and works How the IRS audits, what it looks for and how to deal with it as a business owner, from first-hand experience in the USA. Read more → US Company Formation How to set up a nonprofit in the USA What a 501(c)(3) gets you, the three types and how formation works in nine steps. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Why the USA is ideal for dropshippers Sales tax, nexus, resale certificates and the choice between your existing company and your own US company. Read more → Life in the USA The Lone Star State: cash and cowboys Conservative society, liberal economy, Wurstfest and Western backdrops: what life in the Lone Star State is all about. Read more → US Business Tax State-by-state guide to US sales tax nexus laws The nexus thresholds of every sales tax state in one table, with the latest changes. Read more → US Company Formation Protecting your US LLC's liability shield & avoiding risks When creditors can pierce your LLC's limited liability, and the four rules that keep it intact. Read more → US Business Tax The US cut taxes. You still pay home-country rates. What the 2017 US tax reform means for international entrepreneurs and what still applies in 2026. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Taxing e-commerce & dropshipping profits in the USA Telling income tax from sales tax, understanding nexus and knowing what applies with a US or a foreign company. Read more → US Business Taxes How your home country taxes your US company Tax treaties, reporting duties, entity classification, substance and active income: how your country of residence sees your US company. Read more → US Business Tax US tax liability: 9 tax traps that can cost you a lot Entity type, substance, days of presence, estate tax, exit tax: nine traps that can cost you a lot of money. Read more → US Company Formation Common US business entities at a glance LLC, C Corporation and Limited Partnership from a corporate law perspective, with a side-by-side comparison. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Product liability in the USA Legal grounds, litigation, juries and punitive damages, and how structure, location, warnings and insurance protect you. Read more → US Visas Visa questions: the dreaded topic ESTA, B-1, E-1, E-2, L-1A, EB-5 and IEP for entrepreneurs at a glance, and why you need a US attorney. Read more → US Business Tax Taking money out of your US company tax-efficiently A loan from your own company or a salary as managing director: how to take money out of your US company. Read more → Moving to the USA Tax consequences in your home country Exit tax, rental income, tax treaties: what your move to the USA triggers at home, tax-wise. Read more → US Personal Tax US Tax Season 2026: your US tax return, handled in English Personal returns, exempt LLCs, corporations and partnerships: who has to file in the USA. Read more → US Company Formation Forming a US company: which state is the best home? State of incorporation or place of business, the Delaware and Nevada myth, and four special cases in choosing a location. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA Financial planning: credit score & credit history Why you pay more without a US credit history and what missing credit means for renting, buying a car and getting a credit card. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Entering the US market: tax considerations Entity types, corporate tax, withholding tax, financing, payroll and sales tax: what your US expansion triggers tax-wise. Read more → US Company Formation The US beneficial ownership register What the Corporate Transparency Act required, who still has to report to FinCEN today and what that means for your US company. Read more → Freedom & Home Why I'm no longer a conservative A personal story: from Reagan enthusiasm and talk radio to political homelessness. Read more → US Company Formation Our recommended states & locations Austin, Miami, New York City, San Francisco and Wilmington: five locations we recommend for your US business. Read more → US Business Tax How business profits are taxed in the USA Which taxes apply to the profits of your LLC, C Corporation or LP, in three guides. Read more → Life in the USA Vacation & leisure: camping, Thanksgiving and no legal right to vacation Why Americans get so little vacation, what that does to their free time and why entrepreneurs there hit the jackpot. Read more → Freedom & Home Small Town USA Why Americans are heading for the countryside and which small towns pay newcomers to move there. Read more → Freedom & Home Homeschooling in the USA Rules, states, famous names and real experiences: everything about homeschooling in the USA. Read more → Practical guides: Settling in the USA Schools & education: The best universities in the world, but... Universities, high schools, school districts and private schools: what parents need to know before moving to the USA. Read more → Practical guides: Settling in the USA Health insurance & healthcare: Expensive, but good How many Americans are insured, what Obamacare changed and what a night in the ER feels like. Read more → Life in America Texas: The startup state Talent, universities, startup cities, venture capital and taxes: why founders and corporations are moving to Texas. Read more → Market entry & e-commerce Pros & cons: Forming a US company Liability, image, taxes, costs and effort of a US company for e-commerce and dropshipping. Read more → Freedom & Home Corporatism is not the free market Why the USA doesn't have a free market, but corporatism. Read more → US company formation Forming a US company: Which state? Which entity type? Corporation or partnership, tax-friendly states and operational criteria: a guide for your formation. Read more → Market entry & e-commerce 10 facts about entering the US market that will convince even the skeptics Costs, formation, red tape, law, staff and advice: the ten facts of the series at a glance. Read more → US visas International Entrepreneur Parole (IEP): The right to stay for founders Who gets International Entrepreneur Parole: ownership, capital from US investors, extension, family and income. Read more → Market entry & e-commerce Marketplace sellers in the USA: when to register for sales tax Economic nexus, marketplace facilitators and the thresholds in each state: when you have to register as a marketplace seller. Read more → Moving to the USA Moving to the USA as an entrepreneur: why, and who it pays off for True believers, expansion into the US market or investors from Silicon Valley: who the move to the USA pays off for. Read more → Moving to the USA How Mount Bonnell Advisors helps you move to the USA Tax consequences, location, realtors, visa, formation, accounts and ongoing support: how the firm guides you through your move. Read more → Market entry & e-commerce Dropshipping checklist for the USA: setting up e-commerce the right way The checklist for e-commerce and dropshipping in the USA, from entity type to financing. Read more → US company formation Formalities & steps for forming your US company How forming your LLC, corporation or LP works with us, from your order to your tax number and bank account. Read more → Moving to the USA US tax planning for entrepreneurs Tax rates, entity type, dividends from Europe and the filing obligations that can get expensive when you move to the USA. Read more → Practical guides: Settling in the USA Getting around: Your pickup truck is waiting Car, train, bus and plane in the USA, plus the driving test, buying a car and what drunk driving will cost you. Read more → US business taxes Payroll in the USA Payroll in the USA: income tax, FICA, unemployment insurance, forms and deadlines for employers. Read more → US company formation Quick check: Which US entity type is best for me? Six typical cases and the US entity type that fits each one best, with the rough tax burden. Read more → US company formation Delaware: The First State Economy, talent, port and taxes: a profile of the First State. Read more → Practical guides: Settling in the USA The ten best small cities in the USA Ten small US metro areas with the strongest economies, from St. George to Auburn, with home prices and the catch. Read more → US business taxes Sales tax in the USA How sales tax works, when nexus arises, what is taxable and when you have to remit. Read more → Life in America Is Austin the best city in the USA? Jobs, tech scene, founders, culture, home prices and traffic: what makes Austin so sought after and what the growth costs. Read more → Practical guides: Settling in the USA Everything about the Social Security Number in the USA What the Social Security Number is, who gets one, how to apply and when the ITIN takes its place. Read more → Banking & credit Applying for a US credit card as a non-resident without an SSN What card issuers require without an SSN, what the ITIN does and how your US credit history begins. Read more → US visas The 5 key points for your US business plan for the E-2 visa Investor, investment, business, jobs and financials: the five chapters every E-2 business plan needs. Read more → Market entry & e-commerce Selling on Amazon USA: account, FBA, customs and sales tax Seller account, FBA or FBM, customs, sales tax and whether your company at home becomes taxable in the USA. Read more → US taxes for Americans abroad Never filed a US tax return? Check Streamlined first Why accidental Americans should have the Streamlined Procedure checked before filing their first US tax return. Read more → US visas Insider tip: E-2 visa from a €30,000 investment Why the E-2 has no fixed investment amount and how the process, validity and renewal work. Read more → Banking & credit Opening a US bank account as a non-resident without an SSN What US banks require from foreigners without an SSN, which address counts and how your credit history begins afterwards. Read more → Practical guides: Settling in the USA Health insurance in the USA: costs and strategies for immigrants What health insurance in the USA costs per month, where the pitfalls are and how immigrants save. Read more → Banking & credit US credit score: why you start from zero in America How the US credit score works, why your European credit rating doesn't count there and how to build from zero. Read more → Practical guides: Settling in the USA US driver's license for non-residents without an SSN Which states issue a driver's license without a Social Security Number and which documents you need. Read more → US taxes for Americans abroad Renouncing US citizenship: the path for accidental Americans How accidental Americans renounce US citizenship: consulate, exit tax, Streamlined and Form 8854. Read more → US real estate "I've got a place in Florida…": taxes for US property owners made simple Rent, Schedule E, depreciation, property tax, FIRPTA and estate tax for owners from Europe. Read more → US visas My day in Fortress America A morning at the US Embassy in London: three stations, one interview and five tips for your appointment. Read more → Freedom & Home US gun laws: how to buy a gun legally as a foreigner Hunting license, proof of residence, Form 4473: the legal path to a gun on an L or E visa. Read more → Banking & Credit US business credit: how your company builds its own credit file D-U-N-S number, Paydex, trade credit and personal guarantees: how your US company builds a credit profile of its own. Read more → Banking & credit Taking your credit score from Europe to the USA: what travels and what doesn't Why your credit record at home doesn't count in the USA, what translated credit profiles and international card relationships can do, and how to start early. Read more → Banking & credit ITIN and credit cards: what the number does for your card and credit What the ITIN does for your bank account, credit card and credit score, what it doesn't, when it expires and how to get one. Read more → Banking & credit Your first US account after the move, and how your credit gets started Account, Social Security Number, first card and the first checks by landlords and car dealers: the order for your first weeks. Read more → Banking & Credit Sending money to a US bank account: how it gets there Routing number, SWIFT code, exchange rate, reporting rules and checks: how to move your money safely into an American account. Read more → Banking & Credit Opening a US bank account: the documents the law and the bank require Passport, home address, ITIN, W-8BEN and phone number: what a US bank asks for when you open an account, and what it reports. Read more → Banking & Credit A US credit card without an SSN: how your American credit file begins Your first US credit card without an SSN: what issuers check, how a secured card works and how your score is built. Read more → Banking & Credit A bank account for your US LLC without living in the US: what the bank requires Formation documents, EIN, beneficial owners and address: what the bank needs to open a business account for your US LLC. Read more → Banking & Credit US LLC credit cards: who is personally liable for the company card Personal guarantee, charge card, D-U-N-S number: how your US LLC gets a business credit card and a credit history of its own. Read more → Banking & Credit Mercury for your US LLC: what the account requires without a US address What Mercury's own rules require from a US LLC with owners outside the US: documents, EIN, owners and addresses. Read more → Banking & Credit Getting a US phone number: which number your bank will accept How a US number is structured, which types exist, why banks and agencies often reject internet numbers and how to keep your number. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA 5 key facts about basic healthcare in the USA Who pays, what it costs, why almost everyone is insured and how to see a doctor in the USA. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA Coinsurance in US health insurance How coinsurance kicks in after the deductible, what 80/20 means and how two insurance plans work together. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA Understanding health insurance coverage in the USA The terms in your US policy with worked examples: deductible, coinsurance, copay, waiting period and pre-existing conditions. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA US health insurance: the differences between HMO, PPO, POS & EPO HMO, PPO, POS and EPO compared: network, referrals and what each plan costs you out of pocket. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA US health insurance at a glance Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Obamacare and private insurers: who is covered how in the USA, immigrants included. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA Emergency health insurance in the USA: the catastrophic plan Who can sign up for a catastrophic plan, what it pays before and after the deductible and when it makes sense. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA What is Obamacare? What the Affordable Care Act covers, which taxes remain, how to enroll and what has changed since 2010. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA The deductible explained: how it works in US health insurance Individual and family deductibles, in and out of network, for prescriptions, and the cap for 2026. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA What is the average US health insurance premium? What health insurance costs in the USA: employer plans, Marketplace plans by tier and age, and how fast premiums are rising. Read more → US Company Formation US compliance: C Corporation obligations by state Formation time, fees, tax returns, bylaws and annual reports for the C Corporation, state by state. Read more → US Company Formation Corporate requirements & compliance for the US LLC Fees, tax returns, operating agreement and annual reports for the US LLC in nine states. Read more → US Company Formation Corporate requirements & compliance for the US LP Fees, tax returns, partnership agreement and annual reports for the US limited partnership, state by state. Read more → US Company Formation The best state for your LLC: usually the one you do business in Six states compared: what formation costs, what you pay every year after that and why where you do business usually makes the choice for you. Read more → US Company Formation California LLC costs: $70 to form, $800 in year one What an LLC in California costs in the first year and every year after, when the $800 is due and when an LLC from another state has to pay too. Read more → US Company Formation A Delaware holding company for entrepreneurs and families: who sits at the top When a Delaware holding company above your US companies makes sense, which entity type it takes, who should own it and what that means for taxes and succession. Read more → US Company Formation Forming a Delaware LLC: from the Certificate of Formation to $400 a year How a Delaware LLC is formed, what goes into the LLC agreement, what it costs each year and why it registers where the business actually happens. Read more → US Company Formation Forming and running a Florida LLC: from the annual report to sales tax What a Florida LLC with real local business needs: formation, Registered Agent, annual report, state taxes, and county and city registration. Read more → US Company Formation Foreign qualification: when your LLC does business in a second state When your LLC must register in another state, what it costs and what you risk without registering. Read more → US Company Formation Forming and managing international holding companies A US holding, an international holding above the US company or an IP holding: what each structure does and where its limits are. Read more → US Company Formation Forming a Delaware Inc: founder shares, vesting and the 83(b) deadline The Delaware corporation for startups and investors: formation, shares, vesting, 83(b) and the franchise tax calculated correctly. Read more → US Company Formation Dissolving a US LLC: wind it up first, then close it How a US LLC ends cleanly: resolution, winding up, dissolution with the state, final return with the IRS and reporting back home. Read more → US Company Formation Converting an LLC to a C Corp: three routes and how the IRS sees them Three routes from LLC to corporation, what Delaware requires, how the IRS treats the change and what applies to a company owned from abroad. Read more → US Company Formation New York LLC: six weeks in two newspapers and the 120-day deadline The New York LLC obligations no other state has: publication in two newspapers, the biennial statement and the filing fee with the tax department. Read more → US Company Formation The US LLC operating agreement: the contract everyone reads Management, voting rights, profit distribution, exit and tax clauses: what belongs in your US LLC's operating agreement and what applies without one. Read more → US Company Formation Registered Agent in the USA: who accepts a lawsuit for your company Who can be a Registered Agent, which address the law requires, what the agent does and what happens without one: the rules in six states. Read more → US Company Formation How your US corporation is taxed Federal and state corporate income tax, sales tax, payroll taxes and four worked examples for your US corporation. Read more → US Company Formation Forming a Texas LLC: from your name with the Secretary of State to May 15 Name, Certificate of Formation, Registered Agent, company agreement, franchise tax and sales tax: the path to your Texas LLC with the state's forms and fees. Read more → US Company Formation What you can use a US corporation for Subsidiary, capital, visa, real estate, holding, IP and privacy: what entrepreneurs use the US corporation for. Read more → US Company Formation Taking profits out of your US corporation Dividends to individuals and parent companies, withholding tax, invoices, loans, salary and stock options. Read more → US Company Formation The US C Corporation as a legal form: formation, governance, liability Formation, governing bodies, capital, liability, state registration and taxation of the US C Corporation at a glance. Read more → US Company Formation Getting credit in the USA: a line of credit for your company Credit score, DUNS number, account activity and substance: how your US company gets a credit line. Read more → US Company Formation How your US LLC is taxed Partnership or corporation, income tax, the § 199A deduction, sales tax, social security contributions and three worked examples. Read more → US Company Formation What you can use a US Limited Liability Company (LLC) for Market entry, global business, visas, real estate and privacy: thirteen ways to use a US LLC. Read more → US Company Formation What a US LLC costs per year: six states compared Formation fee, annual report, franchise tax and federal obligations: what a US LLC costs every year in Delaware, Florida, Texas, Wyoming, California and New York. Read more → US Company Formation Taking profits out of your US LLC Distributions, withholding tax and the ways to minimize profits in your US LLC. Read more → US Company Formation A US LLC with a permanent establishment: what the tax rules require When a US LLC has a permanent establishment, what effectively connected income is, which returns follow and what the tax treaty says: the LLC with real business in the USA. Read more → US Company Formation The US LLC as a legal form: what an LLC is and how it works Formation, governance, operating agreement, liability, state registration and taxation of the US LLC at a glance. Read more → US Company Formation How your US Limited Partnership (LP) is taxed Income tax, the § 199A deduction, gross receipts tax, sales tax, social security contributions and three worked examples for your US LP. Read more → US Company Formation What you can use a US Limited Partnership (LP) for Market entry, global business, visas, real estate and privacy: thirteen ways to use a US Limited Partnership. Read more → US Company Formation Taking profits out of your US LP Distributions, withholding tax and six ways to minimize profits in your US Limited Partnership. Read more → US Company Formation General partner and signing authority for your US Limited Partnership (LP) General partner LLC, account mandate, signing authority and naming: how the management of your US LP is set up. Read more → US Company Formation The US Limited Partnership (LP) as a legal form at a glance Formation, governance, capital, liability, partnership agreement, state registration and taxation of the US Limited Partnership. Read more → US Company Formation US PayPal account The US PayPal business account for your US company: what it does and what you need to get one. Read more → US Company Formation Which US legal form is best for me in 2026? C Corporation, LLC and Limited Partnership compared, with a decision guide and the tax burden in two scenarios. Read more → US Company Formation Forming a Wyoming LLC: step by step from filing to EIN Forming a Wyoming LLC in the right order: name, Registered Agent, articles, operating agreement, EIN, foreign qualification and the annual report. Read more → US Real Estate Buying US property through an LLC: liability, taxes, heirs Privately, through an LLC, through a US corporation or through a corporation under a foreign holding: liability, charging order, privacy, income tax, FIRPTA and US estate compared. Read more → US Real Estate Buying and renting out a house in Florida: what comes before the first guest Homestead for nonresidents, the vacation rental license, 6 percent sales tax on rentals of up to six months, tourist development tax by county, HOA and condominium rental rules, insurance and your taxes with the IRS. Read more → US Real Estate Taxes on US real estate: rent, property tax and sale County property tax, 30 percent on gross rent or net taxation under § 871(d), depreciation over 27.5 years and FIRPTA when you sell. Read more → US Real Estate Financing US real estate as a foreigner: loans and paperwork Agency loan, foreign national loan, portfolio and DSCR loans, seller financing or a loan at home: which financing is open to foreigners, which documents and tax ID they need and what costs come on top of interest. Read more → US Real Estate Buying property in the USA: from offer to closing Offer, earnest money, option period, inspection, escrow, title insurance, closing and deed recording: the US buying process for buyers from Europe. Read more → US Real Estate US estate tax on real estate: what your estate owes the IRS When a US home triggers estate tax on death, what tax treaties can change and what to do after a death. Read more → Freedom & Home Homeschooling: 30 US celebrities who were taught at home From Taylor Swift to Serena Williams: 30 stars who learned at home. Read more → Freedom & Home Concealed carry explained: where your Texas License to Carry is valid The Texas License to Carry, reciprocity with other states, Florida and Arizona compared and the federal rules for immigrants. Read more → Freedom & Home Counties in the USA: what your county decides for local life What a county is, who gets elected there, how cities, school districts and special districts work and where you can have your say as a newcomer. Read more → Freedom & Home Volunteer fire departments in the USA: where neighbors fight the fires How volunteer fire departments are organized in America, who pays for them, what an emergency services district is and how you can join as a newcomer. Read more → Freedom & Home Hunting license in the USA: hunter education, licenses and your own rifle Hunter education, hunting licenses for residents and nonresidents, the hunting license exception for visa holders and bringing your own rifle with Form 6NIA. Read more → Freedom & Home Hunting in Texas: licenses, feral hogs and hunting leases on private land Licenses for residents and nonresidents, hunter education, feral hogs, white-tailed deer, exotics, hunting leases and the federal rule for visa holders. Read more → Freedom & Home Small-town life in the USA: church, the fair and football What a small town in America is, why church, Friday night football, the county fair, 4-H and volunteering carry everyday life and how you settle in as a newcomer. Read more → Freedom & Home Patriotism in the USA: the flag, the Pledge, the anthem and holidays The Flag Code and 50 stars, the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, the eleven federal holidays, Texas holidays and the naturalization oath. Read more → Freedom & Home Elected, not appointed: sheriffs, judges and school boards in Texas Sheriff, constable, justice of the peace, county judge, Texas Supreme Court justices and school board: who gets elected, for how long and who can vote. Read more → Freedom & Home Buying a gun in the USA with a green card: Form 4473 and NICS Buying as a green card holder: state of residence, minimum age, Form 4473 with your alien number, NICS and the rules in Texas, Florida, California and New York compared. Read more → Freedom & Home Guns in the USA on a visa: which exception you need For visa holders and ESTA visitors: the federal ban, the hunting license exception, the waiver, Texas, Florida and New York, and what a violation means for your status. Read more → Freedom & Home Guns in the USA by the numbers: about 120 per 100 residents Official figures on guns in the USA: total stock and guns per capita, NICS checks in 2024, CDC deaths in 2024, BJS trends and active licenses in Texas. Read more → Freedom & Home Gun ownership in the USA as a foreigner: what federal law says The federal rule for non-citizens: 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(5), the ATF definitions, Form 4473 with your Alien Number, NICS and the consequences of a violation, status by status. Read more → Freedom & Home Carrying a handgun in Texas: the License to Carry step by step The Texas License to Carry for newcomers: requirements under § 411,172, proof by status, the course, fees, validity and carrying without a license under § 46.02 Penal Code. Read more → Freedom & Home Homeschooling in the USA: 12 states at a glance Homeschooling rules in Texas, California, Florida, New York and eight more states. Read more → Freedom & Home Homeschooling in the USA: from the fringe to the mainstream Five phases, many studies: how homeschooling went mainstream in America. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Red tape is manageable when you enter the US market Fact 4 in our US market entry series: what the numbers and federal deregulation rules say about bureaucracy. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce CFIUS review: when Washington has a say in your US investment What CFIUS reviews, when a filing is mandatory, which deadlines and fees apply, and why most new companies are not affected at all. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Entering the US market costs less than you think Fact 1 in our US market entry series: six routes into the market and what getting started really costs. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Forming a US company is quick and simple Fact 2 in our US market entry series: the steps to formation and what comes next. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce The US legal system: strong legal certainty for mid-sized businesses too Fact 6 in our US market entry series: liability, the UCC, insurance and product standards for mid-sized businesses. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce You are well protected against employee lawsuits, too The five most common employee lawsuits in the USA and how contracts, documentation and insurance protect you. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Business risks in the USA are easy to avoid Regulation, data protection and cyber threats, fact-checked, and why none of them is a reason to skip the US market. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Tax and legal advice in the USA doesn't have to be expensive Attorney, accountant, bank and specialists for your US expansion, and how to find the right ones. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Registering a trademark in the USA: your name is only yours once you use it How to file your trademark with the USPTO, directly or through the Madrid System, why you need a US attorney and what proof of use requires. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce US branch or subsidiary: liability and tax Branch or subsidiary: what makes the difference in liability, federal tax, branch profits tax, withholding tax and state registration. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce US product liability in practice: CPSC, certificates and recalls The practical side of US product liability: who counts as a manufacturer, which certificates you need, when you must notify the CPSC and how a recall works. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Finding skilled staff: hiring in the USA Job boards, job ads, applications, headhunters and direct outreach: how recruiting works in the USA. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce The USA offers excellent protection for intellectual property Patents, trademarks, copyright and trade secrets in the USA, and how to protect each one. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Shopify for US customers: sales tax, customs and who sells in America What your own online store needs for US customers: sales tax by state, customs without a de minimis exemption, payments, delivery times, returns and whether you need a US company. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Choosing a US location and incentives: what Texas, Florida and Ohio require How state incentives work, which programs Texas, Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Ohio offer and what they require. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce Selling in the USA: sales agent, distributor or subsidiary Direct sales, sales agent, distributor, your own company or online retail: what each model triggers legally and for tax. Read more → Market Entry & E-Commerce US tariffs on European goods: 10 % for EU goods, 12.5 % for Switzerland Which US tariffs apply to goods from the EU and Switzerland, who pays them, how tariff codes, customs value and origin work, and what a bond and a broker do. Read more → US Tax for Individuals Substantial Presence Test: when you file 1040 or 1040-NR The green card test, the substantial presence test, days that don't count, a closer connection to your home country and the treaty rule: how to determine your status and which form follows. Read more → US Tax for Individuals Everything you need to know about Streamlined Filing Who qualifies, which forms you need for three years of tax returns and six years of FBARs, and what happens to the penalties. Read more → US Tax for Americans Abroad Brokerage accounts for US citizens in Europe: banks, ETF savings plans and PFICs Where US citizens in Europe can open a brokerage account, why European funds count as PFICs and what to know about US funds and individual stocks. Read more → US Tax for Americans Abroad US exit tax: when leaving triggers a deemed sale Who counts as a covered expatriate, how the exit tax taxes the deemed sale, which exceptions apply and why Form 8854 decides everything. Read more → US Tax for Americans Abroad FATCA in Europe: what your bank reports about you to Washington What European banks report about US customers under FATCA, what the W-9 is for and what applies if your account is closed. Read more → US Tax for Americans Abroad FBAR reporting: why Washington wants to know about your account in Europe If you are a US citizen or green card holder with accounts in Europe, you report them to the US Treasury every year. Threshold, accounts, exchange rate and deadline. Read more → US Tax for Americans Abroad Filing late FBARs: which path back fits your case Missing FBAR filings? Which path back fits your case, what penalties the law provides and how many years you need to catch up on. Read more → US Tax for Americans Abroad FEIE or Foreign Tax Credit: which method protects your salary Foreign Earned Income Exclusion or Foreign Tax Credit? What each method does for your salary in Europe, what it costs and when you can switch. Read more → US Tax for Americans Abroad Owning a European company as a US citizen: CFC, Form 5471 and GILTI What owning a European company means for US citizens: CFC, Form 5471, Subpart F, GILTI and the rules from 2026. Read more → US Tax for Americans Abroad Giving up your green card and taxes: I-407, exit tax and the final year If you move back to Europe with a green card, you stay taxable in the USA until your status ends. I-407, the final year, long-term residents and the exit tax. Read more → US Tax for Americans Abroad Your ETF is a PFIC to the IRS: what Form 8621 requires Why European ETFs and funds count as PFICs for US citizens, what the three tax regimes mean and when Form 8621 is due. Read more → US Tax for Americans Abroad US gifts and taxes: when you need Form 3520 or Form 709 Who pays which tax on gifts and inheritances between Europe and the USA, when Form 3520 and Form 709 are due and what the treaty covers. Read more → US Tax for Americans Abroad State tax after you move abroad: when your state keeps taxing you When a US state keeps taxing you as a resident after your move to Europe, and how to document domicile and residency cleanly. Read more → US Tax for Americans Abroad The Streamlined Procedure explained: three tax years, six FBARs Who can use the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures, which years and forms are involved, what goes into Form 14653 and what happens after you file. Read more → US Tax for Americans Abroad US tax deadlines abroad: your calendar Every date for Americans in Europe: Form 1040, the three extensions, FBAR, estimated payments and the deadlines at home. Read more → US Tax for Companies BE-13 filing with the BEA: due 45 days after formation When your US company files the BE-13 within 45 days, which form applies and which BEA reports follow later. Read more → US Tax for Companies Delaware franchise tax: $400 for the LLC, every year on June 1 The Delaware LLC's annual tax, the corporation's annual report and franchise tax, the two calculation methods, deadlines and penalties. Read more → US Tax for Companies Getting an EIN without an SSN: fax, phone, mail and Form SS-4 How to get an EIN for your LLC or corporation without an SSN: SS-4 line by line, fax, phone, mail and processing times. Read more → US Tax for Individuals US estimated tax: who has to prepay with Form 1040-ES Who has to make estimated payments in the US, at what thresholds, on which dates, how to pay and what falling behind costs, for residents and nonresidents. Read more → US Tax for Companies Form 1065 and K-1: the LLC with members from Europe Form 1065, Schedule K-1, K-2 and K-3, the March deadline and Section 1446 withholding for foreign members. Read more → US Tax for Companies Form 1120 for your corporation: every year, even without a profit Who files Form 1120, by when, what goes in it and what filing late costs, for the Inc. and the LLC taxed as a corporation. Read more → US Tax for Companies Missed Form 5472? The $25,000 penalty and how to get it waived The penalty for a missing Form 5472, how it arises, the routes to relief and what the request needs. Read more → US Tax for Companies Filling out Form 5472: your single-member LLC's report, part by part The report for the foreign-owned single-member LLC, explained field by field, with cover sheet, deadlines and filing. Read more → US Tax for Companies US business tax glossary: from EIN to franchise tax Every US business tax term explained in a sentence or two, with a link to the page that covers it in depth. Read more → US Tax for Companies Got a letter from the IRS? What it means and which deadline is running The most common IRS letters to businesses and individuals, what they mean, which deadline applies and how to respond. Read more → US Tax for Individuals Expired ITIN: when to renew it with Form W-7 When an ITIN expires, how to check its status, when renewal is needed, how to fill out Form W-7 for it and what applies to your spouse and children. Read more → US Tax for Individuals Applying for an ITIN with Form W-7: the documents the IRS wants Who needs an ITIN, what Form W-7 asks, which documents the IRS accepts, which exceptions apply without a tax return and how Acceptance Agents and Certifying Acceptance Agents help. Read more → US Tax for Companies Your US LLC's annual obligations: the calendar for the whole year Which returns, reports and filings your US company owes every year, to whom and by when, on one page. Read more → US Tax for Companies Sales tax nexus by state: the thresholds for all 50 states and DC The revenue or number of sales at which each state requires you to collect sales tax, in one table with a source for every state. Read more → US Tax for Companies US withholding tax: 30, 15, 5 or zero percent on your income Which US withholding tax applies to which income, which rates the tax treaties allow and how to get back what was over-withheld. Read more → US Tax for Companies US sales tax: when a state makes you its tax collector When a state requires you, as a seller from Europe, to collect sales tax, what the marketplace handles for you and what it doesn't, and how registration and filings work. Read more → US Tax for Individuals Your US tax return in the year you move: two statuses in one year Dual status, the residency start and end dates when you arrive or leave, the ten days that don't count, the first-year choice, joint filing and the sailing permit. Read more → US Tax for Individuals Catching up on US tax returns: the right route when years are missing Late 1040 or 1040-NR, the 16-month limit for nonresidents, Streamlined Foreign Offshore and Domestic Offshore, catching up on FBARs and information returns, and what follows at home. Read more → US Tax for Individuals US tax return deadlines: April 15, June 15 and extensions April 15, June 15, October 15, December 15: which deadline applies to you, what Form 4868 extends and what it doesn't, what each month of delay costs and how the deadlines at home fit in. Read more → US Tax for Companies US LLC bookkeeping: which records the IRS wants to see and for how long Which records your US LLC must keep, what Form 5472 additionally requires, how to convert foreign currencies and how long to keep your records. Read more → US Tax for Companies US LLC tax return: which form your LLC files with the IRS Which federal and state return your LLC files, depending on whether it is treated as a single-member LLC, a partnership or a corporation. Read more → US Tax for Companies US tax ID numbers: EIN, ITIN or SSN, which one you need EIN, ITIN, SSN and TIN: what each number is, who issues it, who needs it and which one goes on which US form. Read more → US Tax for Individuals Setting up a trust in the USA: the alternative to a family foundation Types of trusts, taxation, grantor and non-grantor trusts and the most popular states for nonresidents. Read more → US Tax for Individuals Tax treaties on your US tax return: when you need Form 8833 How the treaty gets onto your US return, when Form 8833 is required and what the tie-breaker triggers. Read more → US Tax for Companies Filling out the W-8BEN-E for European companies and LLCs: every line explained The W-8BEN-E line by line: which parts a European company fills out, which treaty article applies and why the US LLC usually needs a different form. Read more → US Tax for Companies W-8BEN guide for freelancers and individuals The W-8BEN line by line: who fills it out, what freelancers enter in Part II, which treaty article applies and how long the form is valid. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA Doctors and dentists in the USA: who pays and how to cut your costs In-network and out-of-network, primary care, urgent care and the ER, what a doctor's visit costs, prescriptions, the dentist and your protection against surprise bills. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA Buying a car in the USA as a European: title, registration, insurance Dealer or private sale, title and registration, taxes, mandatory insurance and financing, with the rules in Texas, Florida, California and New York. Read more → Practical guides: arriving in the USA Converting your driver's license in the USA: what your license from home is worth How long you can drive on your license from home, which states swap it without a test, and which documents to bring. Read more → Practical Guides: Settling in the USA Phone, internet and power in the USA: signing up without a credit history Prepaid, eSIM or contract, internet by address, electricity in Texas and the deposit without a credit history, plus voltage, hertz and plugs. Read more → Practical guides: arriving in the USA Moving to the USA with a cat: what America and your state require What the federal government, your state and your airline require for your cat, and what to prepare for the trip back to Europe. Read more → Practical guides: arriving in the USA US health insurance by age: from children to Medicare How age drives your premium, what children cost, who gets subsidies and when Medicare kicks in, with figures for 2026. Read more → Practical guides: arriving in the USA Living in the USA as a European: prices, tipping and the number 21 Sales tax, tipping, public holidays, emergency numbers, measurements and the age limit of 21: what's different in everyday American life. Read more → Practical guides: arriving in the USA Moving to the USA with a dog: CDC form, microchip and six months of age The CDC rules for dogs, rabies requirements by state and the way back to Europe. Read more → Practical guides: arriving in the USA Proof of address in the USA: which documents prove where you live Proof of address, ID, Notary Public, apostille, and why as a foreigner you must never end up on the voter roll. Read more → Practical guides: arriving in the USA Enrolling your kids in a US school: your address decides School district, proof of residence, documents, vaccinations and deadlines: how to enroll your child in Texas, Florida, California and New York. Read more → Practical guides: arriving in the USA School in the USA or back home: four school paths for your child Public school, charter, private school, international or home-country school: how America organizes schooling and what it means if you move back. Read more → Practical guides: arriving in the USA Clearing household goods through US customs: what's duty-free after one year Duty-free household goods, CBP Form 3299, banned foods, medication, cash, firearms and your own car: what US customs requires when you move. Read more → Practical guides: arriving in the USA Moving to the USA by container: what drives the price and who's liable Your own container, shared load or air freight: how to vet a mover, what drives the price, who's liable and when the move isn't worth it. Read more → Practical guides: arriving in the USA Renting in the USA without a credit score: what landlords want Screening, documents, deposit and your rights on your first US lease, state by state. Read more → Moving to the USA Moving to the USA with children: visas, school and child benefits Your children's status up to age 21, school, custody, child benefits from home after the move, and the Child Tax Credit. Read more → Moving to the USA Moving to the USA with wealth: what both sides tax Exit taxes at home, FBAR, Form 8938 and PFIC in the USA, and what to plan before you move. Read more → Moving to the USA Moving to the USA: the pros and cons, honestly weighed Taxes, vacation, cost of living, health, residency, citizenship, retirement and family: what America gives and what it asks of you. Read more → Moving to the USA Which state suits you? 13 states compared Income tax, property tax, price levels, climate and expat community in 13 states, with sources and dates. Read more → Moving to the USA What does moving to the USA cost? Fees down to the dollar Consular and USCIS fees with dates, starting capital by visa, the move itself, running costs and the bill back home. Read more → US visas Applying for the E-1: first your company introduces itself to the consulate, then you Consulate or change of status, company registration, DS-160 and DS-156E, your document file and the interview. Read more → US visas E-1 for services: when consulting and software count as trade Goods, services and technology as E-1 trade, with tests, examples and evidence. Read more → US visas From E-1 to green card: three routes and the trip that can cost you the application EB-1C, EB-2 NIW, PERM, EB-1A and EB-5 for E-1 holders, with fees, adjustment of status and the travel trap. Read more → US visas E-1 costs: what Washington charges and what Swiss nationals pay on top Every government fee for the E-1 at the consulate and at USCIS, with worked examples for families. Read more → US visas E-1 for employees: who your company can bring to America Who qualifies as an E-1 employee, what the employer must meet, executives, specialists, family and how it compares with the L-1. Read more → US visas Renewing your E-1 visa: as long as your trade flows, you can stay Visa, status, extension through USCIS or at the consulate, and what applies to spouses and children. Read more → US visas E-1 visa requirements: lots of trade, more than half of it with the USA Treaty country, trade, substantial volume and the 50 percent rule, with a worked example and an evidence checklist. Read more → US visas E-2 visa refused: what the consul was missing and how to come back stronger 214(b), 221(g) or 212(a): what's behind the refusal, which options are open and what a second application looks like. Read more → US visas E-2 processing time: from the first dollar to the visa in your passport Formation, investment, file, consulate or USCIS: how long each stage takes and which deadlines are fixed. Read more → US visas How to move from the E-2 visa to a green card Five routes from the E-2 visa to a green card: EB-5, employer sponsorship, EB-1A, National Interest Waiver and marriage. Read more → US visas The E-2 investor visa Who the E-2 suits, how much your business really needs, the three ways to apply and how long the visa lasts. Read more → US visas E-2 visa or EB-5 green card: which is better? The seven differences between the E-2 visa and the EB-5 green card: status, nationality, investment, jobs, source of funds, duration and work. Read more → US visas Start, buy or franchise: which business carries your E-2 New company, acquisition or franchise: what counts as investment, how an escrow account helps and which documents a franchisor must provide. Read more → US visas L-1 visa vs. E-2 visa: the key differences L-1 and E-2 compared: position or investment, nationality, work, spouses, duration, green card and new companies. Read more → US visas The E-2 interview: the consul's questions and the answers in your file When an interview is required, which forms you need, how the appointment works and which questions sit behind the nine checkpoints. Read more → US visas The US E-2 investor visa: requirements for the US company Control, a real operating business and no marginality: what your US company must meet for the E-2. Read more → US visas L-1 visa vs. E-2 visa: which one is right for you? Four questions for choosing between the L-1 and the E-2: nationality, company abroad, investment and long-term goal. Read more → US visas The US E-2 investor visa: the application process Consulate or change of status with USCIS: how to apply for the E-2 and why only a consulate issues a visa. Read more → US visas The US E-2 investor visa: foreign employees When executives, supervisors and essential specialists get an E-2 as employees, and which rules apply to the employer. Read more → US visas The US E-2 investor visa: spouses and children What the E-2 means for spouses and children under 21: work without a separate permit, school, and what happens on the 21st birthday. Read more → US Visa E-2 Investor Visa: How Much You Need to Invest Why the law sets no minimum amount and how the proportionality test decides what counts as a substantial investment. Read more → US Visa E-2 Investor Visa: List of Treaty Countries Every country with an E-2 treaty, plus the special cases of Taiwan, Bolivia, Ecuador, Israel, New Zealand and Portugal. Read more → US Visa E-2 Investor Visa: Source of Funds Which money counts for the E-2, which loans qualify and why the investment must be irrevocable. Read more → US Visa US Social Security Number: How to Apply for Your SSN on the E-2 How to apply for your Social Security number on the E-2 and which original documents to bring to the office. Read more → US Visa E-2 Investor Visa: Treaty Country Nationality How the consulate determines a company's nationality: owners, the 50 percent rule, stock exchange listings and dual nationals. Read more → US Visa Renewing Your E-2 Visa: Your Passport Shows One Date, Your I-94 Another Visa, I-94 and renewal at the consulate or with USCIS, with every deadline and fee for European applicants. Read more → US Visa EB-1A Green Card: Typical Processing Times What drives EB-1A processing times and what you should expect. Read more → US Visa What If My EB-1A Green Card Is Denied? Appeal, motion to reopen or a new petition: what to do after an EB-1A denial. Read more → US Visa EB-1A Cover Letter: The 18 to 30 Pages That Carry Your Petition What the EB-1A cover letter has to achieve and why it should be written by professionals. Read more → US Visa Common Mistakes in EB-1A Green Card Petitions Too much evidence, weak reference letters, poor arguments: the typical mistakes in an EB-1A petition. Read more → US Visa The EB-1A Green Card Category The ten criteria, the benefits of needing no employer and how USCIS reviews an EB-1A petition. Read more → US Visa EB-1A Green Card: Tips & Hacks 21 tips on reference letters, publications, citations, memberships and awards. Read more → US Visa EB-1A Green Card: Requests for Evidence (RFEs) Why USCIS issues RFEs on EB-1A petitions and how to avoid or answer one. Read more → US Visa EB-1 Green Card Classifications at a Glance EB-1A, EB-1B and EB-1C compared: requirements, job offer and criteria. Read more → US Visa The Einstein Visa: The Green Card for the Top of Your Field Where the nickname comes from, what "extraordinary" means under the law, the most common misconceptions and the USCIS numbers. Read more → US Visa EB-1A Recommendation Letters: What a Non-Expert Officer Believes Which evidence supports the ten criteria, what recommendation letters can do, who should write them and which mistakes USCIS punishes. Read more → US Visa EB-1A Costs: Every Green Card Fee, for You and Your Family Every government fee for the EB-1A from petition to green card, for you and your family, with two worked examples. Read more → US Visa EB-1A Self-Petition: The Green Card You Vouch for Yourself Who may file the petition, what replaces the job offer, Form I-140 as a self-petitioner and the path to the green card. Read more → US Visa How to Make Your EB-1A Green Card Petition a Success 17 strategies for a convincing EB-1A petition: from the cover letter to the benefit for the USA. Read more → US Visa EB-1A for Entrepreneurs: When Customers, Capital and Patents Count The ten criteria through an entrepreneur's lens, what USCIS explicitly recognizes for founders, four sample profiles and a comparison with the EB-1C. Read more → US Visa EB-1C Process: I-140, Then the Green Card in the USA or at the Consulate I-140, documents, priority date and the choice between adjustment of status and consular processing, step by step. Read more → US Visa EB-1C Denied or RFE? The Five Contested Points of the Petition How often USCIS denies the EB-1C, what RFEs focus on, which deadlines apply and what options remain after a denial. Read more → US Visa EB-1C Processing Time: 45 Business Days Express and the Wait After How long the EB-1C takes: premium processing, USCIS data on the I-140, the Visa Bulletin, the second stage and what you may do in the meantime. Read more → US Visa Manager, Executive or Function Manager: What Carries Your EB-1C? Personnel manager, function manager or executive: how USCIS assesses managerial roles and how to document yours. Read more → US Visa EB-1C with a Small US Subsidiary: Can Your Company Carry the Green Card? When a small or young US company can support the EB-1C, who may file and what USCIS wants to see on staffing. Read more → US Visa EB-1C Costs: Every Fee from the First Form to the Green Card Every government fee for the EB-1C, from the I-140 to the consulate, with a worked example for a family with two children. Read more → US Visa From L-1A to EB-1C Green Card: When a Transfer Becomes a Stay How the L-1A leads into the EB-1C, when to file the petition and what applies to work and travel during the process. Read more → US Visa EB-1C Requirements: Six Conditions USCIS Measures You Against The year abroad, the link between the companies, the year of US business, the role, the job offer and the salary, with the evidence for each. Read more → US Visa NIW Denied: 30 Days, Three Paths and What Your Petition Must Carry Why USCIS denies NIW petitions, how to answer an RFE and what options remain after a denial. Read more → US Visa NIW Process: From the I-140 via the Consulate or I-485 to the Green Card From the I-140 with a National Interest Waiver through the National Visa Center and the consulate, or the I-485, to the green card. Read more → US Visa NIW Processing Time: 45 Business Days, Then the Visa Queue Premium processing, USCIS backlogs, priority date and the Visa Bulletin: how long the EB-2 NIW takes and what it depends on. Read more → US Visa The Dhanasar Test: Three Questions Every NIW Must Answer National importance, well positioned and the balancing test: how USCIS applies the three prongs of the NIW. Read more → US Visa NIW Recommendation Letters: Whoever Vouches for You Must Say More Than Praise Which letters convince USCIS in an EB-2 NIW, who should write them and how letters and evidence work together. Read more → US Visa NIW Costs: $1,015 for the First Envelope and Every Fee After Every government fee for the EB-2 NIW from the I-140 to the immigrant visa, with worked examples for individuals and families. Read more → US Visa NIW Proposed Endeavor: Your Plan Is the Petition, Not Your Profession How to describe your endeavor in an EB-2 NIW, what belongs in the business plan and what evidence USCIS wants to see. Read more → US Visa NIW for Entrepreneurs: When Your Endeavor Works Without an Employer When the EB-2 NIW is an option for entrepreneurs and founders, what evidence USCIS names and how your own US company fits into the petition. Read more → US Visa NIW Requirements: Three Routes into the EB-2 and Which One Is Open to You Advanced degree, bachelor's plus five years of experience or exceptional ability: the EB-2 basis for the NIW and its pitfalls. Read more → US Visa EB-5 Process: From the I-526E to the I-829 in Four Stages I-526E or I-526, consulate or adjustment of status, two years of conditional green card and the I-829, with forms, deadlines and fees. Read more → US Visa EB-5 Processing Time: 240 Days as the Target, Then the Queue Statutory processing targets, priority date, Visa Bulletin and reserved visas: how long the EB-5 takes and what it depends on. Read more → US Visa The conditional green card on the EB-5: two years of probation and the I-829 What the conditional green card allows, what counts during the two years, the 90-day window for the I-829 and the evidence for capital and jobs. Read more → US Visa Green card through investment: capital at risk in exchange for ten jobs How the green card through investment works: amounts, Regional Center or your own business, the path to the card and how the Gold Card differs. Read more → US Visa Concurrent filing on the EB-5: from the E-2 in America to the green card I-485 alongside the I-526E, work and travel permits, the ESTA bar and switching from E-2 to EB-5 without a gap in status. Read more → US Visa Source of funds for the EB-5: tracing every dollar back to its origin Tax assessments, the money trail, gifts, loans: what USCIS wants to see about where your EB-5 capital came from. Read more → US Visa EB-5 investment amount: $800,000 or $1,050,000, and what counts $1,050,000 or $800,000, TEA and infrastructure, what counts as capital and what changes in 2027. Read more → US Visa EB-5 costs: what the green card costs on top of the investment Old and new USCIS fees, consulate, project and attorney fees, exchange rates and taxes: what the EB-5 really costs. Read more → US Visa EB-5 in practice: vet the project before you put $800,000 at risk Vetting the project, spotting red flags, using your protections and taking a realistic view of getting your capital back. Read more → US Visa EB-5 Regional Center or direct investment: who carries the risk? Direct investment or Regional Center compared: jobs, forms, control, costs and the deadlines up to 2027. Read more → US Visa EB-5 in TEAs and rural areas: a quarter less capital What counts as a rural area, who determines high unemployment, which visas are set aside and what to check before you wire the money. Read more → US Visa H-1B costs: $215 for the lottery, thousands for the petition Every H-1B fee with its amount and source, three worked examples and the legal status of the $100,000 payment. Read more → US Visa Posting staff to the USA: taxes, salary and why day 184 matters The 183-day rule, employer and permanent establishment, US payroll tax and FICA, the certificate of coverage and taxation back home in Europe. Read more → US Visa Which visa for an assignment? B-1, L-1, E-2 and H-1B compared ESTA and B-1, L-1, E-1 and E-2 for employees, and H-1B, with duration, who pays the salary, family and a sequence for HR. Read more → US Visa H-1B visa: lottery in March, work starts on October 1 at the earliest Requirements, the cap and the weighted lottery, timeline, duration and family, and why companies usually choose the L-1 for transferees. Read more → US Visa ESTA for business trips: what you can negotiate in America Meetings, trade fairs, contracts, board meetings: what ESTA covers, what it doesn't, and when a B-1 visa or a work visa is the right route. Read more → US Visa US business trip checklist: what goes in your suitcase Check your ESTA, pack your documents, draft the invitation letter, answer the right way at the border and keep an eye on the 90 days. Read more → US Visa B-1 visa for installation work: when your technician may set up in the USA Installation, commissioning, maintenance and training after the purchase of a machine from Europe: when the B-1 covers it, what the contract must say and where construction work begins. Read more → US Visa Green card through an employer: how PERM, EB-2 and EB-3 work PERM, labor certification, I-140 and the Visa Bulletin: the route to a green card through a US employer, step by step. Read more → US Visa Green card through your own US company: when it can carry you EB-1C, NIW, EB-1A, PERM and EB-5: when your own US company can carry you to a green card and what USCIS expects from it. Read more → US Visa What does a green card cost? Fees and waiting times for entrepreneurs USCIS and consular fees for EB-1, EB-2 NIW, PERM and EB-5, a worked example for a family and how long each stage takes. Read more → US Visa From visa to green card: E-2, L-1, O-1 and E-1 as a bridge From E-2, L-1, O-1 and E-1 to a green card: which route leads from which visa, dual intent, travel while your application is pending and the deadline for children. Read more → US Visa 221(g) and administrative processing: a no that is still open What a 221(g) refusal means, the one-year deadline, submitting further documents, checking your status and how it differs from 214(b). Read more → US Visa US Embassy Bern: the visa for the Swiss, including Zurich residents Who may apply in Bern, why Zurich and Geneva don't issue visas, fees, the interview and passport return. Read more → US Visa Filling out the DS-160: the form the consular officer reads before meeting you What the DS-160 asks, how to enter your name, photo and social media correctly, the barcode and appointment, and who needs the DS-156E. Read more → US Visa US visa appointments: waiting times, emergency appointments and moving up the queue Booking, waiting times, emergency appointments and switching to an earlier slot. Read more → US Visa The visa interview: process, documents and the questions behind the questions Who must attend an interview, documents by visa class, how the day runs, the questions and the three possible outcomes. Read more → US Visa US visa refused: what the section says and which route is open What 221(g), 214(b) and 212(a) mean, why there is no appeal, how to reapply and what it means for ESTA. Read more → US Visa L-1 denied or RFE received: what USCIS objects to and what you do Why L-1 petitions fail, what an RFE asks for and which deadlines apply after a denial by USCIS or at the consulate. Read more → US Visa Applying for the L-1: petition, consulate and interview, step by step Petition I-129, fees, consulate, interview and entry: the L-1 application in the right order. Read more → US Visa L-1 processing time: where your schedule loses weeks Statutory deadlines, premium processing, RFEs, the consulate and extensions: how long the L-1 takes and how to plan backwards. Read more → US Visa Blanket L: approved once, then straight to the consulate Who may file a blanket L petition, who can be transferred under it, how the I-129S works and what it costs. Read more → US Visa From the L-1 to a green card before your five or seven years run out Dual intent, EB-1C, PERM, adjustment of status and the maximum stay: how the route from the L-1 to a green card works. Read more → US Visa L-1 validity: how long your clock runs in America Petition, visa and I-94, extensions, maximum stay and what happens after seven years. Read more → US Visa L-1A visa: USCIS cares about your working day, not your title Who counts as a manager or executive, what the agency examines and how the L-1A becomes a green card. Read more → US Visa L-1 costs: what America charges you for the transfer Every government fee for the L-1 and L-2, who pays them and what a transfer with family costs. Read more → US Visa L-1B visa: to the USA with your company's specialized knowledge What counts as specialized knowledge, what USCIS wants to see and how long the L-1B lasts. Read more → US Visa L-2 visa: your family comes along, your spouse can start working right away Who can come, how your spouse works, what applies to children and what the L-2 costs. Read more → US Visa L-1 requirements: one year, your company, your role in America The relationship between the companies, business activity, the one year abroad and the role in the USA, with all the evidence. Read more → US Visa L-1 for your US branch: the first year decides What counts as a new office, what evidence the petition needs and what USCIS wants to see after twelve months. Read more → US Visa The advisory opinion for the O-1: your field's verdict before USCIS Who writes the opinion for your O-1 petition, what goes into it, which deadlines apply and what happens if the answer is no. Read more → US Visa O-1 through an agent, an employer or your own company: who signs US employer, agent, foreign employer or your own company: who may file the O-1 petition and what each must prove. Read more → US Visa Maintaining your O-1 status Extensions, changing employers, travel and family: what your O-1 status requires of you. Read more → US Visa Applying for the O-1: from evidence binder to consulate appointment Timing, documents, fees, processing times and premium processing: the path of the O-1 petition all the way to the visa at the consulate. Read more → US Visa The O-1 visa for startup founders heading to the USA What evidence startup founders have for the O-1 and how to build toward it deliberately. Read more → US Visa The O-1 visa at a glance O-1A and O-1B, requirements, process, processing time and advantages over the H-1B. Read more → US Visa Sponsoring the O-1 visa through your own company How your own US company files the O-1 petition and why you need a managing director to do it. Read more → US Visa The O-1 visa interview Who has to attend the O-1 interview, which documents to bring and which questions may come up. Read more → US Visa FAQ on the US O-1 visa The most common questions about the O-1: categories, evidence, application, duration, dual intent and family. Read more → US Visa O-1 visa: costs & fees Fees for the I-129, the Asylum Program Fee, the visa fee, premium processing and extensions. Read more → US Visa O-1 visa or EB-1 green card? O-1 and EB-1 compared: stay, sponsor, family, criteria and the switch to a green card. Read more → US Visa How to get your O-1 visa extension right When and how to extend the O-1, what it costs and what applies to travel and denials. Read more → US Visa US O-1 visa: when your extension is denied What a denied O-1 extension means and which paths remain open to you. Read more → US Visa How an influencer secured her O-1 visa for the USA A case study: how an influencer and entrepreneur won the O-1B against every objection from USCIS. Read more → US Visa The advantages of the O-1 visa Costs, sponsor, duration, family and green card: where the O-1 beats other visas. Read more → US Visa Change of status: from visitor visa to work visa without flying home Change of status or consulate, why ESTA isn't enough, from B-1/B-2 to E-2 or L-1, forms, fees and processing time. Read more → US Visa Renew your visa or extend your status: consulate or USCIS? Consulate or USCIS, visa or I-94, forms, fees, travel and which path fits which situation. Read more → US Visa Renewing a US visa without an interview: who can renew by mail The interview waiver, the twelve-month rule, who can renew by mail and how to prepare for the interview. Read more → US Visa Extending a US visa: 45 days, 240 days and the day everything tips I-94, filing deadlines, late applications, grace periods, the 240-day rule, travel during an extension and a deadline calendar. Read more → US Visa E-1 or E-2: is your trade already running, or are you about to invest? Trade or investment: the differences between the E-1 and E-2 in one table, with evidence, employees and fees. Read more → US Visa EB-1A, NIW or O-1: three paths where your talent counts The three qualification-based paths, criterion by criterion, with fees, processing times and family. Read more → US Visa L-1 or H-1B for employees: transfers without the March lottery Intracompany transfer without a lottery or skilled worker with registration: L-1 and H-1B in one table, with fees, family and green card. Read more → US Visa US visa types at a glance: work, investment and business travel Visiting, working, investing, green card: every US visa type for entrepreneurs, with fees, duration and how to apply. Read more →