Key Takeaways
- No — Bankable does not require a green card or permanent residency for VAWA business owners
- A valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is the only immigration document required
- Bankable does not report to USCIS or interact with any immigration agency
- Your VAWA petition status, case number, and petition documentation are never requested
- Bankable evaluates business revenue, not immigration status
The direct answer: No. Bankable does not require a green card.
This is the most common question we receive from VAWA self-petitioners considering their funding options — and it deserves a direct, unambiguous answer. A green card (Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card) is not required, not requested, and not a factor in Bankable's underwriting decision.
What Bankable does require is work authorization — evidence that you are legally permitted to work and operate a business in the United States. Your EAD (Employment Authorization Document) satisfies this requirement completely. There is no additional immigration requirement beyond a valid EAD.
What Bankable Actually Requires
| Requirement | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green card | Not Required | Never requested |
| US citizenship | Not Required | Not a factor |
| Permanent residency | Not Required | Not a factor |
| Valid EAD | Required | Proves work authorization |
| Business EIN | Required | Obtainable by EAD holders via IRS |
| Business bank account | Required | In your business name |
| 4+ months of revenue | Required | Bank statements or platform reports |
| Government ID | Required | Driver's license, state ID, or passport |
| VAWA case number | Not Required | We never ask for this |
| Immigration attorney letter | Not Required | We never ask for this |
Why Bankable Designed It This Way
Bankable was built with a core principle: the business is the borrower, not the visa. A restaurant generating $35,000/month in revenue for three years is not a credit risk because its owner has a VAWA petition pending. The petition is irrelevant to the business's ability to repay a loan. Bankable's underwriting reflects this reality.
We have also designed our intake process to be respectful of VAWA petitioners' privacy. Your petition is a sensitive matter. Your business financing should not require you to disclose details about why you filed a VAWA self-petition. We ask nothing about your personal circumstances — only about your business revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Bankable does not require a green card, US citizenship, or permanent residency. A valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD), business EIN, and 4 months of documented business revenue are the primary requirements.
Bankable issues funding decisions within 48 hours of a complete application. Funds reach your business bank account within 3 to 7 business days of approval.
No. Business financing is a lawful commercial activity. Bankable does not report to USCIS or any immigration agency. Your petition and your business financing are entirely separate matters.
No. Bankable does not request your I-360 self-petition, your VAWA approval notice, your deferred action notice, or any documentation related to your immigration case. Your EAD and business documents are all we need.
An EAD renewal in progress with USCIS is generally acceptable, and USCIS automatically extends EAD validity for 180 days during renewal processing. Contact Bankable to discuss your specific EAD renewal situation — we evaluate on a case-by-case basis.
Bankable's policy of accepting EADs is a core commitment, not a temporary accommodation. We have built our underwriting infrastructure around business revenue evaluation rather than immigration status evaluation. This is not expected to change.
Yes. U visa holders with valid EADs qualify for Bankable's programs on the same terms as VAWA self-petitioners. T visa holders similarly qualify. Work authorization status is the relevant criterion.
No. Bankable is a private commercial lender. Our loan transactions are reported to business credit bureaus — not to immigration agencies. Your Bankable loan does not appear in USCIS records.