How to live legally in the United States

Written by the Miami Soluções team

Informational content about immigration. Your case is evaluated by a licensed attorney — not by Miami Soluções. Learn how this works.

There is no single, universal path to living legally in the United States — there are several visa and residency categories, each with its own requirements, tied to different situations: work, business activity, family relationship, or study. This page is an honest overview of those options, to help you understand where to start.

Professionals meeting in a relaxed setting overlooking an American city, representing life planning in the United States

The main legal paths to living in the US

Broadly speaking, most legal paths fall into one of these categories:

Business

Opening a company doesn't grant a visa by itself, but it connects to categories like the L-1 in specific situations.

Work and professional merit

Categories like the EB-2 NIW, tied to professional qualification.

Family

Marriage or a qualifying family relationship with a US citizen or resident.

Study

The F-1 visa for long-term programs at accredited institutions.

Is opening a company enough to live in the US?

No. This is the most common misunderstanding we see among Brazilians. Owning a registered US company does not, by itself, grant a visa, Green Card or work authorization. The confusion usually comes from categories like the L-1, which do connect a company and immigration — but with specific requirements that go well beyond simply opening an LLC.

Understand the real relationship between a company and immigration →

What to consider before moving

Beyond the immigration question, a move to the US involves financial planning (cost of living, exchange rate, an initial reserve), housing, health (health insurance, since there's no universal public system like Brazil's SUS), and, for those with children, choosing a school. It's worth starting this planning alongside your assessment of the immigration path, not after it.

How Miami Soluções can help at each stage

Depending on your situation, we can help with opening a company, ongoing accounting, initial immigration guidance and connection with partner attorneys, and practical support for those planning to study in the US. The first step is always understanding your specific situation.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a fast, guaranteed way to live legally in the US?
No. Every legal path to living in the United States depends on qualifying for a specific visa or residency category, with its own requirements assessed case by case. Any promise of a guaranteed outcome or a "shortcut" should be viewed with skepticism.
Is having a company in the US enough to live there?
No. Owning an American company does not, by itself, grant the right to live in the United States. There are visa categories connected to business activity, like the L-1, but they have specific requirements beyond simply having a registered company.
Where should I start if I don't yet know which path to follow?
The first step is honestly understanding which categories might apply to your situation — work, business, family or study. Miami Soluções can help with that first conversation and, when needed, refer you to a licensed attorney for an individualized assessment.
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