{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/non-immigrant-visa","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/non-immigrant-visa","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"non-immigrant-visa","term":"Non-immigrant visa","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A non-immigrant visa allows foreign nationals to temporarily enter the U.S. for specific purposes, such as tourism, work, or study. For buyers, it's crucial if you or key personnel are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.","what_it_means":"If you are not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (Form I-551 holder), your eligibility for an SBA loan depends on your immigration status. Certain non-immigrant visas, like E-2, might allow you to operate a business, but not all qualify for an SBA loan. Confirm your visa status with the lender and USCIS.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/non-immigrant-visa","official_sources":[{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"},{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"}],"related":[{"slug":"qualified-alien","term":"Qualified Alien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/qualified-alien"},{"slug":"uscis","term":"USCIS","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/uscis"},{"slug":"form-i-551","term":"Form I-551","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/form-i-551"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Are specific visa types acceptable for a non-U.S. citizen owner to be eligible for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/are-specific-visa-types-acceptable-for-a-non-u-s-citizen-owner-to-be-eligible-for-an-sba-7"},{"question":"Can a non-U.S. citizen individual with an E-2 investor visa be an eligible applicant for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-non-u-s-citizen-individual-with-an-e-2-investor-visa-be-an-eligible-applicant-for-a-"},{"question":"Are specific visa types, other than LPR, acceptable for a non-U.S. citizen owner to be eligible for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/are-specific-visa-types-other-than-lpr-acceptable-for-a-non-u-s-citizen-owner-to-be-eligib"},{"question":"What specific visa types, if any, are acceptable for a non-U.S. citizen owner to be eligible for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-specific-visa-types-if-any-are-acceptable-for-a-non-u-s-citizen-owner-to-be-eligible-"},{"question":"Is an individual without permanent resident status, but with a valid U.S. work visa, eligible for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/is-an-individual-without-permanent-resident-status-but-with-a-valid-u-s-work-visa-eligible"},{"question":"Can a business owner with a valid E-2 investor visa meet the citizenship or residency requirements for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-business-owner-with-a-valid-e-2-investor-visa-meet-the-citizenship-or-residency-requ"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Non-immigrant visa","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/non-immigrant-visa","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}