First post - hoping to learn more about ETA as an International

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February 10, 2025

by a searcher from University of Lagos in Lagos, Nigeria

Incoming MBA student. I find the ETA model interesting and one I'd want to pursue sometime post-MBA. Hope to learn more about ETA in the U.S. as an international. On visa issues - is there a solution/walkaround to make it work?

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Reply by a searcher
from Universidad Internacional del Ecuador in Cuenca, Ecuador
^Olumide Ashade unfortunately your options are limited as a foreigner, and more so if your citizenship is from a country that doesn't have investor-friendly treaties with the US. I recently had a deal fall through at the last minute because I was competing with a US buyer that had access to the SBA and this was viewed by the seller's counsel as a higher certainty to close, which makes sense if you put yourself in the seller's shoes. That being said, there is a way. I would suggest that, before you start searching, you focus your time building relationships with investors and either raise a traditional fund or plan to get involved as a sponsor. Best of luck, and feel free to DM me if you have any other questions.
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Reply by a searcher
from Universität Mannheim in Munich, Germany
Since no-one has answered your question I will chime in. My experience is limited (I am searching in Germany at the moment) but I have seriously considered looking for an ETA opportunity in the USA.

From what I have gathered it is fairly difficult as an international if you are not already in the USA, ideally on a green card. As an MBA graduate you will have a short window of time to sort your visa if you want to stay and it will most likely be a temporary visa. Unless you qualify for an O-1 visa, which is temporary anyway or an EB-1 / EB-2 visa (which are green card visas but much harder to get) you will be looking at an H-1B or OPT.

Other typical visa paths for international searchers seem to be the E-2 and E-5 visas. Since Nigeria is not a treaty country the E-2 visa is not viable for you and even then the path is not easy since the idea of the E-2 is that you start/buy/invest in a business in the USA with capital at risk. Looking in searchfunder the chances of getting a E-2 for a search fund seem not ideal.

The E-5 visa requires that you invest around 1 Million USD, if you have such capital then it seems possible.

The SBA program is available to US citizens and green card holders so as an MBA student / recent graduate you won’t have access to it. Of course you can find non-SBA lenders.

In your case I would look into a traditional search fund during your MBA and work with them on sorting your visa situation but your visa options are limited.
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