US residence and citizenship, explained honestly
America has permanent green cards and temporary visas, and only the green card leads to a passport. This guide compares investment, business, talent, work and family routes with official figures and a source for every fact, and shows the road to US citizenship.
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US Residence in 2026: EB-5, the E-2 Investor Visa, O-1 and EB-1 Talent Routes, H-1B, Family and Citizenship. The Complete Guide
Every realistic way to move to the United States in 2026: the EB-5 green card from $800,000, the E-2 treaty investor visa, O-1, EB-1A and EB-2 NIW for talent, H-1B and L-1 through an employer, family sponsorship and US citizenship after 5 years.
EB-5 Investor Green Card in 2026: $800,000 or $1,050,000, 10 Jobs, New Fees and the Queue for China and India
How the EB-5 green card works in 2026: $800,000 in a targeted employment area or $1,050,000 elsewhere, 10 jobs per investor, reserved visas for rural projects, the I-526E and I-829 petitions, fees rising on 30 November 2026 and the Visa Bulletin queue.
E-2 Treaty Investor Visa in 2026: Which Passports Qualify, How Much to Invest and Why It Is Not a Green Card
How the US E-2 treaty investor visa works in 2026: treaty nationality, a substantial investment with no fixed minimum, at least 50% ownership, visas up to 5 years renewable without limit, the 3-year rule for citizenship by investment and the 2026 proposal on extensions.
O-1, EB-1A and EB-2 NIW in 2026: US Visas and Green Cards for Talent Without an Investment
How talent routes to the US work in 2026: the O-1A visa with 3 of 8 criteria, the EB-1A green card with 3 of 10 criteria and no job offer, EB-2 NIW under the Dhanasar test, current queues, fees and approval trends.
H-1B, L-1 and Employer-Sponsored Green Cards in 2026: the Lottery, the $100,000 Fee Dispute and EB-2 and EB-3 Queues
How to move to the US through work in 2026: the H-1B cap of 85,000 and the new wage-weighted lottery, the court fight over the $100,000 fee, the L-1A transfer for owners and managers of a foreign company, PERM and EB-2 and EB-3 queues.
US Family Green Card and Citizenship in 2026: Immediate Relatives, Preference Queues and Naturalisation After 5 Years
How family sponsorship and US citizenship work in 2026: immediate relatives without a quota, F1 to F4 preference queues, the 2-year conditional card for new marriages, fees, naturalisation after 5 or 3 years, the 2025 civics test and worldwide taxation.
The main routes at a glance
| Status | Entry point | Leads to citizenship | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-5 | green card | $800,000 or $1,050,000, 10 jobs | yes |
| E-2 | visa up to 5 years | own business, treaty passport | no |
| O-1 and EB-1A | visa or green card | extraordinary ability | via EB-1A |
| H-1B and L-1 | work visa | US employer or own company | via employer green card |
| Family | green card | US citizen or resident relative | yes |
Compiled from USCIS, the Visa Bulletin and the BRIDGES United States page, checked 4 November 2026. See the complete guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a US golden visa?
The closest is EB-5: $800,000 in a targeted employment area or $1,050,000 elsewhere, with 10 jobs per investor, for a green card for the whole family.
Which route is fastest?
E-2 for investors with a treaty passport and O-1 for people with a strong record. BRIDGES usually gets both in 2-4 months, but they are temporary.
Can Russians get E-2?
Not on a Russian passport. L-1A through your own company, O-1 and EB-5 do not depend on nationality.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. On most routes the spouse and unmarried children under 21 are included.
When can I get citizenship?
After 5 years with a green card, or 3 years if married to a US citizen, with English and civics tests.