Status · 身分路徑
Different goal.
Different path.
Use this page to understand the shape of common nonimmigrant pathways—not to decide a case from a checklist.
Educational overview only. Immigration rules, fees, adjudication practice and your facts can change the answer. Verify with USCIS / the U.S. Department of State and qualified counsel before acting.
Side by side
| Path | Best fit | Who anchors it? | Investment? | Lottery? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-2 | Invest / operate a U.S. business | Your qualifying treaty enterprise | Substantial, committed and at risk | No |
| H-1B | Specialty-occupation employment | U.S. employer | Not applicable | Often, for cap-subject cases |
| L-1 | Transfer within a qualifying company group | Related U.S. entity | Business structure matters | No |
| F-1 | Full-time academic study | School / Form I-20 | Education + living funding | No |
Goal chooser
What are you actually trying to do?
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E-2
Invest / operate a U.S. business
Taiwan-specific note
Why E-2 belongs here.
Taiwan is listed by the U.S. Department of State for both E-1 treaty-trader and E-2 treaty-investor classification. That makes E-2 especially relevant to Taiwanese founders evaluating a real operating business in the United States.
There is no universal “minimum investment” dollar amount stated as a single fixed threshold in the category; proportionality, commitment, risk and the actual enterprise all matter.
Official sources
U.S. Department of State · Treaty Countries ↗USCIS · Working in the United States ↗DHS · Study in the States ↗
Content reviewed September 2026. Prefer the official source when this page and an agency page disagree.