About
Capital: Washington, DC
Population: 341,784,857
Language: English
GDP per capita: 95,212 USD
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Visa Free Countries: 167 countries including Canada, UK (w/ ETA), European Union, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Australia (w/ ETA), New Zealand (w/ ETA), UAE
U.S. E-2 Investor Visa Program Overview
The E-2 Investor Visa is a non-immigrant visa available to nationals of treaty countries, enabling entrepreneurs and investors to establish or invest in a business in the United States while residing and working there. Successful applicants may operate their E-2 business and bring eligible dependants to the US.
Additional benefits include employment authorisation for the principal applicant’s spouse and the possibility of extending E-2 status indefinitely, provided the business continues to meet the program requirements.
Key Advantages
• Live and Work in the United States: The principal applicant can reside in the US and actively manage and develop their E-2 business.
• Spouse Employment Authorisation: The spouse of the principal applicant is eligible for employment authorisation in the United States.
• Family Inclusion: The applicant's spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 may accompany them.
• Renewable Visa: E-2 status may be extended indefinitely, provided the business continues to satisfy the program requirements.
• Flexible Investment Structure: There is no prescribed minimum investment amount; the investment must be substantial in relation to the business.
• Business Ownership and Management: Investors can establish a new business or acquire an existing business in the United States.
Requirements
The Principal Applicant
The principal applicant must meet ALL of the requirements below:
• Be a national of a country that maintains an eligible treaty of commerce or investment with the United States.
• Make a substantial investment using lawfully acquired funds.
• Ensure the investment is irrevocably committed and genuinely at risk.
• Invest in a real and operating business, or an enterprise in the final stages of commencing operations.
• Demonstrate that the business has the capacity to generate more than marginal income, meaning it must have the present or future capacity to make a significant economic contribution beyond providing a living for the investor and their family.
• Demonstrate the ability to develop and direct the enterprise, generally through ownership of at least 50% of the business or other qualifying operational control.
Qualifying Dependents
Eligible family members include:
• Spouse
• Unmarried children under 21 years of age
Additional Benefits:
• The spouse is eligible for employment authorisation in the United States.
• Children may attend schools and universities in the United States.
• Dependant status may be renewed alongside the principal applicant's E-2 status, subject to the applicable requirements.
Investment Requirements
Investment Amount: No Fixed Minimum Prescribed
The E-2 program does not prescribe a fixed minimum investment amount. Instead, the investment must be substantial in relation to the total cost of establishing or acquiring the proposed business and sufficient to demonstrate the investor’s financial commitment and the viability of the enterprise.
The investment must:
• Originate from lawful sources.
• Be committed and subject to commercial risk.
• Be sufficient to establish or acquire and operate the business.
• Be supported by appropriate financial and documentary evidence.
Important Note:
The E-2 is a non-immigrant visa and does not directly lead to permanent residency or citizenship. However, holders may pursue permanent residence through other independent immigration pathways, if eligible.
Process Overview
Eligibility Assessment
Confirm the applicant's nationality, treaty eligibility and proposed business structure.
Business Selection
Identify an existing business to acquire or establish a new US-based enterprise.
Investment and Business Preparation
Commit the investment funds and establish the business's operational foundations.
Documentation and Business Plan
Prepare evidence of the lawful source and commitment of investment funds, business operations, financial projections and the enterprise's capacity to meet the E-2 requirements.
Visa Application and Interview
Submit the application through the relevant US Embassy or Consulate and attend the consular interview.
Visa Approval and Relocation
Upon approval, travel to the United States and commence or continue managing the E-2 business.
Visa Validity: The validity period of an E-2 visa varies according to the applicant's nationality and the applicable US reciprocity schedule.
Duration of Stay: E-2 visa holders are generally admitted for an initial period of up to two years upon entry into the United States.
Extensions: E-2 status may be extended in increments of up to two years, with no fixed limit on the number of extensions, provided the eligibility requirements continue to be met.
