Key Takeaways
- Manufacturing revenue and equipment value drive Bankable approval — not visa status
- Equipment financing, working capital, and purchase order financing available
- F-1 OPT engineers with manufacturing backgrounds have direct industry advantages
- SBA manufacturing loans now require 100% citizen ownership — Bankable is the alternative
- 48-hour funding decisions for manufacturing businesses with $20K+ monthly revenue
The manufacturing sector is experiencing a reshoring wave — and international engineering graduates on F-1 OPT with manufacturing expertise from their home countries are uniquely positioned to launch US-based production operations that serve this demand. Precision machining shops, electronics assembly, specialty food manufacturing, and custom fabrication businesses owned by F-1 OPT engineers are winning contracts from automotive, aerospace, and consumer goods companies.
Manufacturing requires capital for equipment, raw materials, labor, and bridge financing between production runs and customer payment. Bankable structures manufacturing capital around your production revenue and purchase orders — not your immigration status.
Manufacturing Capital Solutions for OPT Founders
- CNC machine and equipment financing: Fund capital equipment with asset-backed financing at lower rates than unsecured working capital
- Raw material pre-purchase: Secure materials ahead of production runs without depleting operating capital
- Purchase order financing: Fund production when you have confirmed customer orders but insufficient capital to execute
- Working capital between deliveries: Bridge the gap between production completion and customer payment (often 30-90 days)
- Facility expansion: Lease deposits and leasehold improvements for expanded production space
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Bankable does not require a green card, permanent residency, or citizenship. We fund the business entity based on its revenue. F-1 OPT and STEM OPT founders qualify on equal terms with any other business owner.
Yes. As of March 2026, SBA loans require 100% US citizen or national ownership. F-1 OPT and STEM OPT founders are fully disqualified. Bankable is a non-SBA lender — our approval is based entirely on your business revenue, not citizenship.
Any US-registered manufacturing business with documented production revenue qualifies. This includes food manufacturing, precision machining, electronics assembly, textile production, chemical manufacturing, 3D printing services, and specialty fabrication.
Yes. Equipment financing uses the machine itself as collateral. Bankable evaluates the equipment's value and your business's revenue history — immigration status is not a factor.
No. Purchase order financing is available to F-1 OPT manufacturing founders with confirmed customer purchase orders. We fund based on the creditworthiness of your customers, not your personal immigration status.
Your business entity — your LLC or corporation — continues operating regardless of your personal immigration status changes. Bankable's funding is with the business, not with you as an individual. If your OPT expires and you transition to H-1B, O-1, or another status, or even if you leave the US temporarily, the business continues and services the funding from its ongoing revenue.
$20,000+ in monthly production revenue with 6+ months of operating history. Manufacturing businesses with confirmed long-term contracts qualify even at lower monthly averages.
We build the payment cycle into the funding structure. For businesses with 60-90 day customer payment terms, we offer working capital lines that bridge the gap between delivery and payment — not requiring you to wait.