United States E2 visa

What Is The United States E-2 Visa Program

The E-2 is a non-immigrant visa is available for only certain nationals and grant rights to live, work and study in the USA. The E-2 typically requires an investment of around USD 250,000 and is renewable indefinitely as long as the applicant maintains the business activities.

The Benefits

Citizenship and Family Inclusion

Dependents included:

  • Spouse (can be employed in the USA).
  • Dependent children below 21 and unmarried.
  • Children can attend Schools, Colleges & Universities in the USA (No minimum education or language requirements).

Travel and Quality of Life

  • Successful applicants can remain in the USA for up to 5 years.
  • E2 status is renewable provided that the applicant maintains the  business activities.

Requirements

  • Fast Processing, generally within 3 months

    Request for more information



    E2 Visa Requirements

    • Must be a citizen of an E-2 Treaty Country with the USA at the time  of application.
    • Have no criminal record.
    • Complete a medical examination.
    • Must provide proof of the source of funds used for investment • Must pass a due diligence check.
    • Must demonstrate residence in the CBI country.

    Investment Options

    Investing in the United States

    • Make a substantial investment (typically USD 250,000 to USD  300,000) in a new business, franchise or acquire an existing business  in the USA.
    • Must create jobs for qualified US workers in the USA.
    • The business must contribute to the growth of the USA economy.
    • Wide range of Franchise/Joint venture business options can qualify.

    E-2 Treaty Countries

    Albania Congo Israel Mongolia Slovenia
    Argentina Costa Rica Italy Montenegro Spain
    Armenia Croatia Jamaica Morocco Sri Lanka
    Australia Czech Republic Japan Netherlands Suriname
    Austria Denmark Jordan Norway Sweden
    Azerbaijan Ecuador Kazakhstan Oman Switzerland
    Bahrain Egypt Korea (South) Pakistan Taiwan
    Bangladesh Estonia Kosovo Panama Thailand
    Belgium Ethiopia Kyrgyzstan Paraguay Togo
    Bolivia Finland Latvia Philippines Trinidad & Tobago
    Bosnia & Herzegovina France Liberia Poland Tunisia
    Bulgaria Georgia Lithuania Romania Türkiye
    Cameroon Germany Luxembourg Senegal Ukraine
    Canada Grenada Macedonia Serbia United Kingdom
    Chile Honduras Mexico Singapore Yugoslavia
    Colombia Ireland Moldova Slovak Republic

    * Grenada, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Turkey Citizenship programs enable investors from non-Treaty countries to become eligible to apply for a USA E-2 Visa

    The Process

    Arrows process

    Due Diligence and Application

    • Prepare all the documents required and pay due diligence and government fees.
    • Application preparation and submission via an authorized agent to the citizenship by investment unit.

    Approval and Investment

    Upon approval-in-principle, the applicant will need to complete the required investment and pay remaining government fees.

    Citizenship and Passport

    The passport will be issued following completion of the qualifying investment and final approval of the citizenship.

    Contact an office nearest to you

    With 30 years of immigration experience, each of Harvey Law Group’s lawyers carefully studies each client’s needs, resources and determines the immigration solution that best aligns with our client’s vision and values.



      Frequently Asked Questions

      The E-2 investor visa is reserved for nationals of treaty countries (those countries that maintain a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States). In addition, the families of the principal investor can obtain derivative E-2 visas. The visa can also be extended to the employees of the actual investor if the employees meet certain requirements.

      See the Department of State’s Treaty Country page at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_3726.html

      Yes, if you were born in a non E-2 treaty country you can apply to the E-2 Visa.

      The benefits of the E-2 investor visa include:

      • The ability to work legally in the U.S. for your own company that is the subject of the investment;
      • The ability to travel freely in and out of the U.S. while on a valid E-2 visa;
      • Access to unlimited extensions as long as you maintain a valid E-2 investment;
      • The ability to bring your dependents (spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21) to live with you in the U.S;
      • Your spouse may seek employment with any employer by applying for an employment authorization document;
      • Your minor children can attend public schools in the US tuition-free;
      • Unlike the H-1B visa, the E-2 visa does not require any specific educational background, just that you have invested in an enterprise and will be managing and controlling the enterprise;
      • Approvals of E-2 visas tend to be fast as compared to other visas and are not subject to annual cap limits or quotas.

      Yes, you will need to be able to document every source from which the funds came. The total amount used to fund the enterprise will need to be documented through bank statements, loan documents, employment records, etc.

      Ownership of assets will help to show that you have the required funds for an E-2 visa. Loans secured using your personal assets are also a legitimate source of funds.

      The standards the US government considers for the E-2 visa include the requirements that:

      • Your investment must be “substantial”;
      • Your investment must be in a real and operating business and not a “paper company” or idle speculation;
      • Your investment may not be “marginal”;
      • You must have control of the funds used to purchase/operate the business and you must bear the risk of the investment.

      The investment must be sufficient to ensure the successful operation of the E-2 visa enterprise. The investment must also be proportional to the total value of the particular enterprise in question and the investment must be an amount normally considered necessary to establish a viable enterprise of the type contemplated. Therefore, the location of the business and the nature of the investment would all be considered in deciding the substantiality of E-2 visa investment.

      The stipulation that the enterprise may not be marginal means that your invested enterprise must have the capacity, present or in the future, to generate more than enough income to provide a minimal living for the E-2 visa investor and his or her family.

      There is no minimum amount set by the regulations. However, an amount in the range of $250,000 typically would suffice, depending on the nature of the business. In some exceptions, lower amount of investment may be accepted.

      You can choose either option, bearing in mind that if you have partners you will need to have ownership of at least 50% of the business.

      This falls under the marginality requirement of operating an enterprise not solely for the purpose of making a living for yourself and your family. By hiring local employees, your enterprise shows that it has an impact on the local economy and is not a “marginal enterprise”.

      Many new E-2 companies may not have employees at the time of application. In that scenario, the Business Plan will have to detail the number of employees needed and time table for employee hiring.

      Yes, the same requirements apply to purchasing a franchise business, whether it be a new operation or an existing enterprise. Franchise business tends to be acceptable for E-2 visa application since franchises typically have their own minimum standard, which tends to exceed the requirement for E-2 business.

      Similar Residency by Investment Programs

      EB2 NIW Engineering EB2-NIW AME Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Green Card eb2 lawyer

      United States EB5 Visa

      The EB5 Visa is a permanent residency option for families, including a spouse and children, and requires an investment of…
      EB2 NIW Engineering EB2-NIW AME Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Green Card eb2 lawyer

      United States EB2-NIW Pilots

      USCIS EB2 NIW Visa for airline pilots, obtain green cards for you and your dependents. Granting the right to live,…
      EB2 NIW Engineering EB2-NIW AME Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Green Card eb2 lawyer

      United States EB-2 Visa

      Relocate to the USA with the EB2 Visa. Unconditionally guaranteed Green Card. A financial commitment of at least USD 250,000…