What is required for a E-2 Visa?

For millions of people, obtaining the documentation required to live in the United States is a dream come true. The best option to be able to come and live in the USA, remains the investor visa, also known as the E-2 visa.

It is a special visa for foreign investors whose country has an agreement with the United States,

In this article, we will review in detail the requirements to obtain this famous sesame.

What is a E2 visa?

The E-2 Visa is a non-immigrant visa given to individuals from Treaty countries who have invested or are in the process of investing a sufficient amount in a business in the USA.

The notion of sufficient amount: this point seems vague. In fact, you need an amount consistent with the project you want to carry out. Having 80,000 euros to set up a high-end restaurant in the heart of San Francisco has little chance of succeeding.

An investment of less than 100,000 USD is possible but the project will be carefully examined by the immigration officer who wants to ensure that your project will allow you and your family to live but also to support American employees.

Even though you have initiated your application and may be fully into it, it is clearly advisable to see if the E-2 Visa is really for you, and if you have met all the requirements. We will assist you in validating these elements with a law firm that has been specializing in immigration for more than 30 years.

To make things easier, we have prioritized the requirements, in the same order that immigration services will approach your application.

We’ll talk about facts that can disqualify you, things you can’t control, and things you can control.

Note that this list of E-2 requirements is rather oriented towards the entrepreneurial side of your visa rather than the legal side, and it also depends on your project, the business you want to start: this cannot be taken as legal advice. This list was built on the experience of clients who successfully received the E-2 visa.

3 requirements to receive the E-2 visa

  • 1

    Check if your country has an E-2 treaty with the USA

  • 2

    Validate the amount of your investment

  • 3

    The company you invest in must create jobs for Americans

  • 4

    Demonstrate the investment is credible

  • 5

    Have a well prepared business plan

Check if your country has an E-2 treaty with the USA

If your country is compatible, you will find advice below to help you.
Here is the link to validate the compatibility: France, Switzerland, Canada, Belgium, Spain… all these countries have concluded an agreement with the USA. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/treaty.html

Validate the amount of your investment

A 100,000 USD investment is always seen as reasonable) either in an American company that you are going to buy or in a new company that you plan to create. You must also prove the origin of the funds and demonstrate that these funds come from personal bank accounts, or mortgage secured by personal assets. You must have invested, or be actively in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital in a bona fide enterprise in the United States; and you must be seeking to enter the United States solely to develop and direct the investment enterprise. This is established by showing at least 50% ownership of the enterprise or possession of operational control through a managerial position or other corporate device. Your investment must be sufficient and irreversibly committed. The idea is that your business is ready to start operations and you are not making a fictitious or passive investment in order to receive the visa. The immigration services can no longer be content with predictions in the business plan, they want the business plan and proofs of the investments. If you have already invested large amounts, it means that you will probably do what is necessary to succeed and promote employment on American soil.

The company you invest in must create jobs for Americans

The idea is to demonstrate that your company will be able to create and or employ Americans. The business must generate sufficient income for you and your family and employees. You must demonstrate that you will generate profits in accordance with accepted standards in your industry. The business must generate sufficient income for you and your family and employees. You must demonstrate that you will generate profits in accordance with accepted standards in your industry. All this must be included in your business plan.

Demonstrate that the investment is credible

For example, the purchase of a business is credible. Paying rent for a year is believable. Accounting for escrow several months salary for employees is credible.

A well prepared business plan

Your Business Plan for E-2 should be a well-prepared document in conjunction with the immigration attorney. A business plan written by a professional will increase your chances of success by 30% to 50%.