E-2 Visa

The E-2 visa is mainly made for investors from treaty countries who want to develop and lead a business in the U.S. It allows you to live and work in the U.S. for aperiod of up to 2 years, with unlimited renewals as long as your business continues to flourish. This visa is available to those whose countries have a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with the U.S.

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MAIN PERKS

Unlimited Renewals

The E-2 visa is granted for 2 years but could be renewed, if you continue to meet the investment and operational criteria. As your business grows, you could potentially transition to the EB-5 investor visa, which offers a pathway to permanent residency (Green Card) through a larger investment

No Minimum Investment Requirement

There is no strict minimum investment required for the E-2 visa. However, your investment should be considered substantial, meaning it should be sufficient to ensure the successful operation of the business. This flexibility allows for a wide range of investment amounts depending on the business model

No Degree or Language Requirements

Unlike many other visas, there are no special requirements like specific education or language fluency. This makes it easy to get for a diverse group of investors, regardless of academic background

Family Members Included

Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 could accompany you on E-2 visas. Moreover, your spouse could apply for work authorization, giving you the flexibility to work in the U.S. while your family enjoys life in the U.S.

Flexible Business Management

As an E-2 visa holder, you have full control over managing and directing your business. You can hire staff, scale operations, and make decisions that impact the success of your company in the U.S.

Pathway to U.S. Market Expansion

The E-2 visa gives a perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs to either start or purchase a business in the U.S. It’s a good chance for you to reach one of the world’s largest markets. It's also a great option for international startups and expanding companies to establish a U.S. presence

CRITERIA IN DETAIL

Treaty Country Requirement

You should be a national of a country that has a treaty of commerce and navigation with the U.S. to qualify for an E-2 visa

Substantial Investment

Your investment should be enough to ensure the business’s success and be at risk, meaning it should be a real commercial investment with the intention of generating profit

Real and Operating Business

The business should be a legitimate, active, and operational commercial enterprise that provides goods or services for profit. Passive investments like undeveloped land do not qualify

Non-Marginal Enterprise

The business should bring you enough income to provide a living for you and your family. It should have the potential to contribute to the U.S. economy or have the capacity for future growth

Active Role in Management

You should actively direct and develop your business. Either you should own at least 50% of the company or hold a key managerial role that gives you operational control

Intent to Depart

As E-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa, you should show an intent to leave the U.S. once your business stops. However, it does allow for visa renewals as long as the business remains operational

Talent Visa Comparison

	O-1А	EB-1А	ЕВ-2 NIW
Status in the U.S.	Work visa	Green Card	Green Card
Criteria difficulty	High	Very high	Moderate
Timeline for relocation	4-9 m	9-15 m	20-30 m
Petitioner/ Employer	Required	Not required	Not required
Dependent Work Permits	No	Yes	Yes
Cost for relocation	$10k - $15k	$15k-$20k	$15k-$20k