Doing Business In the United States
- Agriculture & Commodities Industry Practice
- Commercial Manufacturing & Production Industry Group
- Energy Practice Group
- Fashion Industry
- Information Technology
- Logistics & Warehousing Practice
- Retail Practice
- Startup & Emerging Business
- Mobile Application & Social Media
- India Practice Group
- Investors and Entrepreneurs
- Consulting & Service Oriented Businesses
- Visa Franchise Practice
- Mining
- Financial
- Medical Professionals
- Moving from Australia to US
- Emigrate to & from Canada
- Moving from Germany to US
- Grenada Citizenship by investment
- Moving from India to US
- Italian Citizenship & Residency
- Portuguese Residency By Investment
- Moving from Singapore to US
- Moving from Taiwan to US
- Turkish Citizenship
- Moving from United Kingdom to US
- Immigration to the United Kingdom
- Moving from Vietnam to US
The Filipino enterprise or corporation has a unique advantage in doing business in the US primarily because of the substantial similarities of the government structure as well as laws of the Philippines and the US. Most laws of the Philippines are patterned after the US laws. Several examples are contract laws, securities regulation, and intellectual property laws. In a sense, legal compliance is relatively easier given the significant similarities.
With this advantage, the Filipino investor can tap the vast domestic market of the US and expect a transparent legal system as well as access to federal-level programs and services related to business investment. The US Embassy in Manila offers a wealth of resources in learning more about investing in the US as follows:
- SelectUSA website for programs, incentives and industry snapshots
- A dedicated US Embassy Commercial Team that can address interests and needs
- Cluster mapping tool to learn about regional business strengths as well as case studies and toolkits in formulating business strategies.
These resources can be accessed through US Embassy in Manila
INVESTMENT VISAS FOR FILIPINOSE-1 Visa for Filipino Traders
The E-1 nonimmigrant classification allows a national of a treaty country (a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation) to be admitted to the United States solely to engage in international trade on his or her own behalf. Certain employees of such a person or of a qualifying organization may also be eligible for this classification.
In order to qualify for E-1 classification, the treaty trader must:
- Be a national of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation
- Carry on substantial trade
- Carry on principal trade between the United States and the treaty country which qualified the treaty trader for E-1 classification.
Trade is the existing international exchange of items of trade for consideration between the United States and the treaty country. Items of trade include but are not limited to:
- Goods
- Services
- International banking
- Insurance
- Transportation
- Tourism
- Technology and its transfer
- Some news-gathering activities.
E-2 Investor Visa for Filipinos seeking to set-up businesses in the U.S.
The E2 Investor Visa is the more common visa solution for those seeking to set-up a business in the USA. It is a nonimmigrant classification that allows a national of a treaty country (a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation) to be admitted to the United States when investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business. Since the Philippines is a treaty country, the E2 Investor Visa is a viable option for the Filipino entrepreneur, corporation as well as for certain employees of the Filipino national or of a qualifying organization.
A treaty investor qualifies for E2 classification if he meets the following criteria:
- Be a national of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation
- Have invested, or be actively in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital in a bona fide enterprise in the United States
- Be seeking to enter the United States solely to develop and direct the investment enterprise. This is established by showing at least 50% ownership of the enterprise or possession of operational control through a managerial position or other corporate device.
An investment is the treaty investor’s placing of capital, including funds and/or other assets, at risk in the commercial sense with the objective of generating a profit. The capital must be subject to partial or total loss if the investment fails.
A substantial amount of capital is:
- Substantial in relationship to the total cost of either purchasing an established enterprise or establishing a new one
- Sufficient to ensure the treaty investor’s financial commitment to the successful operation of the enterprise
- Of a magnitude to support the likelihood that the treaty investor will successfully develop and direct the enterprise. The lower the cost of the enterprise, the higher, proportionately, the investment must be to be considered substantial.
A bona fide enterprise refers to a real, active and operating commercial or entrepreneurial undertaking which produces services or goods for profit. It must meet applicable legal requirements for doing business within its jurisdiction.
EB-5 Permanent Residency for Filipinos making a qualifying investment in the U.S.
INVEST IN THE USA AND GET A GREEN CARD FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILYUnder the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, entrepreneurs (and their spouses and unmarried children under 21) are eligible to apply for a green card (permanent residence) if they:
- Make the necessary investment in a commercial enterprise in the United States; and
- Plan to create or preserve 10 permanent full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers.
Commercial enterprise means any for-profit activity formed for the ongoing conduct of lawful business including, but not limited to:
- A sole proprietorship
- Partnership (whether limited or general)
- Holding company
- Joint venture
- Corporation
- Business trust or other entity, which may be publicly or privately owned
This definition includes a commercial enterprise consisting of a holding company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, provided that each such subsidiary is engaged in a for-profit activity formed for the ongoing conduct of a lawful business.
Another aspect of the EB-5 Visa is the Regional Center Program, which sets aside EB-5 visas for participants who invest in commercial enterprises associated with regional centers approved by USCIS based on proposals for promoting economic growth.
You can follow this link to check the list of the approved regional centers - http://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-fifth-preference-eb-5/immigrant-investor-regional-centers
LIVE YOUR AMERICAN DREAM
L-1A Work Visas for Filipino
business owners, executives and managers
L1-B Work Visas for Filipino specialty workers
The Filipino managers, executives and professionals are well-positioned to take advantage of the opportunities in the US given the substantial equivalency of the college/university degrees obtained in the Philippines to that of US degrees. The Philippine education system was after all fundamentally based on the American education system.
The strong English language skills of the Filipino managers, executives and professionals is another advantage that allows access to countless of opportunities in the US.
With the breadth of experience and depth of knowledge of Davies & Associates lawyers, coupled with the strong credentials of prospective Filipino applicants/beneficiaries, the likelihood of success is high. While there can never be any guarantees, none of the visa applications prepared and filed by Davies & Associates have ever been denied.
The available pathways for Filipino Managers & Executives are as follows:
L-1A: Intracompany Transferee, Executive or Manager | Non-Immigrant | The L-1A nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer an executive or manager from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This classification also enables a foreign company which does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send an executive or manager to the United States with the purpose of establishing one. |
L-1B: Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge | Non-Immigrant | The L-1B nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer a professional employee with specialized knowledge relating to the organization’s interests from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This classification also enables a foreign company which does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send a specialized knowledge employee to the United States to help establish one. |
Every year, there are visas available for specialty occupations. A specialty occupation requires theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge along with at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. Specialty occupations, include but are not limited to, architecture, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, medicine and health, education, business specialties, accounting, law, theology, and the arts. Again, considering the substantial equivalency of the college/university degrees obtained in the Philippines to that of US degrees, Filipinos are a step ahead in qualifying for visas for specialty occupations.
Specialist Visas for Medical Professionals
Filipino medical professionals are also at an advantage for obtaining professional licensure and immigration solutions for the US. In fact, Philippine-trained physicians and dentists comprise one of the largest group in the United States (as noted in the respective studies of the American Medical Association and the American Dental Association).
Today, the healthcare sector is one of the most critical areas of professional practice in the United States of America due to shortage of qualified professionals. You can soon be one of the Philippine-trained physicians or dentists who can address the shortage in the US. While it is one of the most regulated and complicated sectors to navigate, our Foreign Medical Professional (FMP) practice at Davies & Associates can provide highly specialized immigration and licensure solutions for you.
Our FMP Practice Team is composed of established immigration lawyers and specialist consultants that work together to ease the burdensome barriers of entry for qualified professionals seeking to enter the United States.
You can take the first step by following this link: Visas for Doctors
The available pathways for Filipino professionals are as follows:
Visa Category | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
H-1B: Specialty Occupations | Non-Immigrant | This visa category applies to people who wish to perform services in a specialty occupation, services of exceptional merit and ability relating to a Department of Defense (DOD) cooperative research and development project, or services as a fashion model of distinguished merit or ability. |
O-1: Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement | Non-Immigrant | The O-1 nonimmigrant visa is for the individual who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements. |
EB-1: Priority Workers | Immigrant | Persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics; outstanding professors and researchers; and certain multinational executives and managers and their qualified derivative family members. |
EB-2: Members of the Professions | Immigrant | Professionals holding advanced degrees and persons of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts and business and their derivative family members. |
EB-3: Professionals, Skilled and Unskilled Workers | Immigrant | Professionals holding baccalaureate degrees, skilled workers with at least two years of experience, and other workers whose skills are in short supply in the United States and their qualified derivative family members. Nurses and teachers fall under this subcategory. |
Contact Davies & Associates Offices in Philippines
Check all of our locations around the world.
Company location
Manila Office
Unit 107 AIC Burgundy Empire Tower, ADB Ave. cor Garnet and Sapphire Streets Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1605, Metro Manila, Philippines
Map and Driving Directions
Cebu Office
4th Floor, Tulips Center AS Fortuna St., Mandaue City Cebu, Philippines 6014
Map and Driving Directions
I had a great experience with Davies & Associates. They are very thorough in the approach and their have experts in this field who know the domain very well.I would certainly be leaning onto them for any future needs as well.
Thanks to them for handling my E2 visa very professionally. I had a study visa from F1 and changed it to E2. I encountered many problems during the application process. Verdie and Etta were very patient in helping me and it took a long time. I highly recommend this place.
Outstanding Immigration Attorney: Highly Recommended! Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) I had the pleasure of working with Verdie Atienza and his team at Davies & Associates , a top-notch immigration attorney in the United States. Their professionalism, expertise, and dedication throughout the process were exceptional. With in-depth knowledge of immigration law, they provided accurate advice and addressed all my concerns, instilling confidence. Verdie Atienza and his team meticulously reviewed my documentation and maintained excellent communication, keeping me updated regularly. What sets Davies & Associates apart is their unparalleled attention to detail. Communication with Verdie Atienza and his team in USA and Sukanya Raman in India was always prompt and efficient. They promptly returned my calls and emails, providing regular updates on the progress of my case. This level of responsiveness and transparency significantly reduced my stress levels, as I knew I could rely on their support and guidance throughout the entire process. Their personalized approach, ethical conduct, and genuine care for my success made them an outstanding attorney. I highly recommend Davies & Associates for all your immigration needs.
Getting my E2 Visa was a very in-depth process that took just over a year from when I committed to it, but 8 months from when I found a business I wanted to purchase. The only reason I'm giving 4 and not 5 stars is because the timeframe was a lot longer than expected from the initial information. Aside from the timing, Verdie and his team led me through the Visa process, providing all the guidance I needed to be successful, including advising me on the RIGHT type of Visa to suit my goals. Within the process I purchased a business and the greater Davies team included lawyer Rinat who helped me put the deal together. One of the biggest parts was my Business Plan which created from my info by Ana Ortiz, who did an incredible job. The process is certainly tedious and Verdie & Christina were always there to answer my questions, provide suggestions and advice and ensure I had all the documents I needed to support my application. I appreciated their patience with my questions and their advice and in the end, the application was so thorough the interview process was quick and easy. I highly recommend Davies & Associates and look forward to working with them again when it's time to renew my Visa.
We were in a hurry and Verdie and the team were highly responsive and supportive, even when we threw in some curve balls along the way. We had our visas approved without any issues and felt confident and well prepared for document submissions and the interview. I'd certainly recommend this team for an E2 visa process.
Looking to acquire an US Visa for Filipino?
We are known for our creative solutions that obtain "impossible" visas, we solve the most complex immigration problems for businesses, investors, individuals, and families.
US Visa for Filipino Immigration lawyer near meSeveral lawyers told me I would not be able to get a TN visa. Two weeks after contacting Davies & Associates I was working in New York, visa in hand.
Individual seeking 'Impossible' TN VisaD&A was very detail-oriented and was very thorough in what they did” L1 Visa Client. There was a lot of work on my case and worked on it 24/7 and was very patient answering all my questions.
E2 Visa ClientMy case felt complex but D&A managed the whole process carefully and helped me move seamlessly from one stage to the next.
E2 + CBI ClientD&A was my guiding light through the entire EB5 Process.
EB5 Visa ClientI would definitely be a big advocate for the rest of my life for anyone wanting to explore the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Programme leading to the E2 Visa. The most important thing is a good team behind you.. with Davies & Associates you’re in safe hands… you need someone who can give you all the support at the ground level and, again, you are well take care of by D&A. The people are really warm, very helpful and quite openminded when it comes to business… Not to mention as a passport it’s great from a travel perspective…It’s just 4/5 hours from New York.
Grenada CBI + E2 Visa ClientThe entire process of getting an EB5 visa is handled in a professional way by Mark Davies and his team. EB5 is a wonderful option for anyone considering moving to the United States if you have the means. I was hoping to use the H1B route for my children, but it became unreliable and so I looked to the EB5 Visa instead. It is great for anyone who has the resources. Mark gives you the first meetings himself which gives you great comfort. Both Mark and Sanjay are abundantly available and I even had the pleasure of hosting them at my house.
Parent of 2 EB5 Visa HoldersI'm in a process of extending my L1 visa. I submitted a few questions regarding my case and he contacted me back almost immediately both by e-mail and telephone. Unlike other attorneys I met before, he gave me the impression of knowing from the top of his head what kind of visa I have, and what actions had to be taken to extend it. He is very thorough and clear regarding the process and what to expect in terms of timelines and issues that may arise. He is constantly in contact, so you definitely know he's working on your case.
L1B Visa HolderMark Davies is a joy to work with. His extensive knowledge, speedy response and attentive service took away all my fears of dealing with immigration and visa applications. He is very generous with his time in explaining every step along the way and I have already and will in the future recommend him to anybody who is looking for an immigration lawyer.
E2 Visa for Small Professional Business With International OfficesDavies & Associates assisted us with an immigration emergency involving my brother's fiancée who was outside the United States. They assisted us in an highly professional manner, working with the relevant US embassy, US immigration and the governments of two other countries. As a result of their efforts the individual involved is now working in the United States. While their knowledge of the law is exemplary what really distinguishes this firm and attorney Davies from any other firm we have worked with is their dedication to customer service and their unrivaled level of professionalism.
Complex Fiancée Visa Need Involving Multiple International JurisdictionsSeveral lawyers told me I would not be able to get a TN visa. Two weeks after contacting Davies & Associates I was working in New York, visa in hand. I have recommended this firm to several friends and colleagues, they do an excellent job every time.
Individual Seeking 'Impossible' TN VisaI was qualified as a physician in a foreign country. Being on a J1 visa I was facing having to leave the United States and return to my home country. Davies & Associates secured one of only 30 J1 visa waivers available in my State, allowing me to work for a US hospital and remain in the United States.
Doctor Seeking J1 Visa WaiverI am very satisfied with the services Mark Davies has provided me. He has a very extensive knowledge in immigration laws and has a thorough approach to any case.
U Visa Applicant, A Victim of CrimeLooking to relocate or having trouble with a visa applicaton?
We are known for our creative solutions that obtain "impossible" visas, we solve the most complex immigration problems for business, investors, individuals and families.
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