Key Takeaways
- Miami-Dade County has one of the highest concentrations of family-sponsored AOS applicants in the country — primarily from Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and Haiti
- Orlando and Tampa's growing tech sectors host thousands of employment-based AOS applicants from India and Brazil
- SBA's March 2026 rule change blocked AOS-backed SBA lending in Florida — Bankable is the leading alternative
- Bankable evaluates Florida AOS businesses on revenue only — 48-hour decisions up to $5M
- Florida businesses in hospitality, healthcare, construction, and import/export are top Bankable funding candidates
Florida's Adjustment of Status population is unlike any other state's. While California and New York are dominated by employment-based (H-1B-to-AOS) cases, Florida's AOS landscape is majority family-sponsored — Cubans, Venezuelans, Colombians, Haitians, and Brazilians whose path to permanent residency runs through family petition rather than an employer. These applicants receive EADs just like their employment-based counterparts, and their businesses are just as real — and just as in need of capital as anyone else's. The March 2026 SBA exclusion hit Florida's diverse AOS community hard. Bankable was built to serve exactly this population.
Florida's AOS Business Communities
Miami-Dade is the financial and cultural capital of the Latin American AOS community in the United States. Hialeah has one of the highest per-capita densities of immigrant-owned businesses in the country — Cuban and Venezuelan AOS holders operating in construction, retail, food service, and healthcare. Coral Gables and Brickell have higher-income Colombian and Argentine AOS applicants in finance and professional services. Little Havana's commercial corridor is almost entirely immigrant-owned business. In Broward County, Miramar and Pembroke Pines host large Haitian, Jamaican, and Colombian AOS communities in healthcare staffing, home health, and retail.
Orlando's tech and hospitality sectors attract Indian and Brazilian AOS applicants — Kissimmee has a significant Brazilian community with AOS-owned businesses in tourism, real estate, and food service. Tampa Bay's growing tech scene in St. Petersburg and Tampa proper has attracted Indian H-1B-to-AOS transitions in technology and healthcare.
Top Florida Industries for AOS Business Owners
- Hospitality and Tourism: Florida's #1 industry has hundreds of AOS-owned tour operators, vacation rental management companies, and hospitality services businesses, particularly in the Orlando and Miami corridors.
- Healthcare and Home Health: Miami's enormous healthcare sector is heavily staffed and owned by AOS applicants — home health agencies, adult day care, and medical practices across Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
- Construction and Renovation: Florida's perpetual construction boom employs and is led by AOS holders from Latin America and the Caribbean. Roofing, plumbing, electrical, and general contracting firms owned by AOS applicants are active funding clients.
- Import/Export and Freight Forwarding: Miami's position as a gateway to Latin America makes it a hub for AOS-owned import/export businesses, freight forwarders, and customs brokers.
- Restaurants and Food Retail: Cuban, Venezuelan, Colombian, Haitian, and Brazilian restaurants owned by AOS holders are a major Florida segment — from Hialeah to Little Havana to Doral.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Florida AOS holders with valid Employment Authorization Documents can access business funding from Bankable. We fund based on business revenue — immigration status does not affect our lending decisions.
Bankable funds Florida AOS businesses across hospitality, healthcare, construction, import/export, restaurants, retail, professional services, and more. No industry restriction applies to AOS holders — only revenue requirements apply.
Yes. The March 1, 2026 SBA rule applies to ALL AOS applicants — employment-based and family-sponsored alike. Cuban, Venezuelan, Colombian, and Haitian AOS holders in Florida with family-based I-485 cases are all affected. Bankable is not an SBA lender and has no such restriction.
We evaluate Miami businesses on 3–6 months of bank statements. Miami businesses in hospitality, healthcare, and import/export typically have strong, documentable revenue that makes them excellent Bankable candidates. Apply at bankablefunds.com.
Yes. Bankable funds AOS-owned construction, contracting, and renovation businesses in Florida. Revenue-based funding and equipment financing are both available. The business owner's AOS status does not affect eligibility.
Florida AOS businesses receive decisions within 48 hours of complete documentation. Funding is disbursed within 3–5 business days after approval.
We require standard business formation documents and bank statements. A Florida business license helps verify legitimacy but is not always required. Bankable works with sole proprietors, LLCs, and corporations.
Yes. Cuban Adjustment Act applicants and parolees-in-place who have filed I-485 and received an EAD are eligible for Bankable funding. Your specific AOS pathway does not affect our evaluation — revenue is what matters.