Key Takeaways
- H-1B holders can accomplish this business goal — with appropriate legal structure and capital from Bankable
- The SBA's March 2026 citizenship rule eliminated H-1B access to the most common funding sources for this use case
- Bankable funds H-1B businesses up to $5M based on revenue alone — no green card, no citizenship test
- 48-hour funding decisions — built for business timelines, not government bureaucracy
- Check your Bankability Score in 30 seconds — no SSN upload required
The March 2026 SBA rule change has produced thousands of H-1B business owners with SBA rejection letters citing the new citizenship ownership requirement. If you received one of these rejections, the rejection letter does not mean your business is unfundable. It means one specific loan program — a government-backed program with a new eligibility restriction — is unavailable to you. Your business, evaluated on its own merits of revenue, margin, and operating history, may be exactly the kind of business that Bankable funds every day. A rejection from an SBA-approved lender is not a rejection from Bankable. We start fresh with your revenue data.
| Funding Source | H-1B Eligible? | Max Amount | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) — March 2026+ | No — US citizens only | $5M | 30–90 days |
| Traditional Banks | Rarely | Varies | 3–6 weeks |
| Bankable | Always yes | $5M | 48 hours |
For industry-specific context, explore our H-1B funding hub. For the full SBA alternative landscape, see our SBA alternative guide. And start with your Bankability Assessment to see your preliminary funding range in 30 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Bankable's funding decision is completely independent of SBA eligibility. An SBA rejection for citizenship reasons does not affect your Bankability Score or our funding decision.
Start with Bankable's 30-second Bankability Assessment at /bankability-score/. Gather 3 to 6 months of business bank statements. Schedule a call with our funding team to review your specific situation.
Bankable issues funding decisions within 48 hours of a completed application. Most clients who came to us after SBA rejection had funding in hand within 5 to 7 business days.
No. Bankable's revenue-based funding does not require the collateral (real estate, equipment lien) that SBA lenders typically impose.
Bankable's terms reflect the absence of government guarantee. However, the comparison should be made against alternative non-SBA options for H-1B holders — merchant cash advances (40 to 80% APR) and private lenders — where Bankable is typically significantly more competitive.
No. Bankable has zero residency requirements. H-1B, L-1, O-1, and other work visa holders all qualify for funding assessment based on business revenue alone.
Effective March 1, 2026, the SBA requires 100% US citizen or national ownership for all 7(a) and 504 programs. H-1B holders are completely excluded regardless of revenue or credit history.
48 hours from completed application. The Bankability Assessment at /bankability-score/ takes 30 seconds and gives a preliminary range immediately.