After Trump’s administration, simple ways to stay with work rights in the USA have closed. But three main strategies are still available: studying at an American university, opening a branch of your own business, or being recognized as a talent in a narrow field. Your choice depends on age, skills, and available capital.

Education — the Most Universal Path

If you’re young, studying in the USA is the best investment. Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, postgraduate studies, PhD — any level works. After completing your student visa, you gain access to a work visa without the $100,000 barrier fee that other foreigners pay.

During your studies, you cannot work on a full-time contract, but there are loopholes: working in your own company, campus jobs, internships. The key is to build a portfolio and local connections.

For adults, education in English still makes sense. Professional training opens the path to obtaining local licenses and certifications needed on the job market. This is especially important for specialists — electricians, welders, engineers, technical trades.

Getting a scholarship or a discount on tuition is possible if you prepare a portfolio before applying: sports achievements, musical skills, startup experience, or volunteer work. In the USA, such activities turn into real financial discounts.

L-1 Visa for Business Owners

If you already have an operating business older than one year with revenue and employees, you can open its branch, subsidiary, or division in the USA. For this, an L-1 visa is issued (intracompany transfer visa).

This solution is often underestimated, but it’s very effective. L-1 is a dual-intent visa, which means: you can apply for a green card without changing your status. The trajectory for obtaining permanent status through L-1 is clear and well-established.

You can get the visa without proving unique talents, without entering a lottery, without English exams. You only need to show that your business exists, generates income, and is ready to expand in the USA.

Visas for Specialists and Entrepreneurs

O-1 and EB-2 NIW (Bezuniv) — these are visas for people who rank in the top 5% of their narrow niche. The word “talent” sounds intimidating, but it actually means recognized achievements in a specific field.

The narrower you define your specialization, the faster you can prove you’re the best in that niche. This applies to roughly 5–10% of people seriously considering relocation.

The Bezuniv program requires a truly significant project of national scale. Under Biden, almost 95% of applications were approved; under Trump, this dropped to 50%. Now you need a project that brings tangible benefits to the entire economy. Daycare centers, for example, which were approved projects under the previous administration, are now impossible.

What No Longer Exists: Work Visas and Simple Methods

Previously, you could come to the USA and submit documents for a work visa from your country of residence. Now this requires a $100,000 barrier fee, which is only available to the most sought-after specialists — and even then, the employer must agree to these expenses.

Simple methods that allowed you to stay in an indefinite status have been closed. It was an investment in the future, but it came with uncertainty and stress.

Don’t rely on recommendations from a few years ago. Under the new administration, reality has changed, and previously possible scenarios no longer work.

What’s Really Possible in 2026

If you’re willing to invest time in education and building a career, the path is open. If you have a business and are ready to expand it, there is a path. If you’re in the top 5% of your field, anything is possible.

America remains a huge market with access to capital, competition, and career opportunities. It’s not easier, not simpler than before, but you can still get there. You need to choose the right strategy depending on your situation.

Why Everything Is More Complicated Than Before

Trump closed all easy ways. If previously you could enter through the border and stay in an authorized status while submitting documents, that’s now impossible.

The process itself has become more expensive. The $100,000 barrier fee is not a fine — it’s a sum that the employer pays to the government for the right to hire a foreigner on a work visa. This filters out most candidates who don’t fall into the category of rare specialists.