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
Business emergencies are, by definition, unexpected. A restaurant's walk-in cooler fails on a Friday night. A trucking company's truck blows an engine on a load that was supposed to pay for payroll next week. A retail store gets a supplier opportunity for $50,000 in premium inventory that must be committed by Monday. An IT consulting firm wins a contract that starts in 10 days and requires immediate staff deployment. These are emergencies that require capital faster than any bank can process. Bankable's 48-hour decision timeline was built for exactly these moments.
| 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
48-hour funding decision from completed application. Most emergency capital situations are resolved within 3 to 5 business days from initial contact.
Equipment failures requiring immediate replacement, supplier payment deadlines with penalties, time-sensitive contract opportunities, unexpected payroll shortfalls, and any business-critical situation requiring capital faster than traditional lenders can provide.
Bankable's minimum funding threshold is approximately $25,000. Emergency capital tranches of $25,000 to $500,000 are the most common for H-1B emergency situations.
Bankable requires 3 to 6 months of bank statements for initial review. Emergency situations are prioritized in our processing queue for the fastest possible turnaround.
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.