{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/o-1-visa","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/o-1-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":"o-1-visa","term":"O-1 Visa","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"This is a non-immigrant visa for individuals with extraordinary ability. While it allows you to work in the U.S., it does not grant permanent resident status and generally makes you ineligible for an SBA loan as a borrower.","what_it_means":"An O-1 visa does not fulfill the SBA's borrower eligibility criteria for permanent residency or 'Qualified Alien' status with a Declaration of Intent. If you hold an O-1 visa and wish to acquire a business with an SBA loan, you would likely need to partner with an eligible U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or secure permanent resident status yourself.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/o-1-visa","official_sources":[{"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":"permanent-resident-status","term":"Permanent Resident Status","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/permanent-resident-status"},{"slug":"qualified-alien","term":"Qualified Alien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/qualified-alien"},{"slug":"uscis","term":"USCIS","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/uscis"}],"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":"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"},{"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-"}]},"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 — O-1 Visa","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/o-1-visa","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}