E-2

E-2 Treaty Investor Visa

Live and run your business in the U.S., built on a real investment.

For entrepreneurs and business owners who want to build in the U.S. without a cap, a lottery, or an extraordinary-ability standard.

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What This Visa Is

For treaty-country nationals who invest in and run a U.S. business

The E-2 lets a citizen of a treaty country come to the U.S. to develop and direct a business they've invested in. It's one of the most practical paths for entrepreneurs and business owners who want to build in the U.S. without a cap, a lottery, or an extraordinary-ability standard.

There's no annual limit, and it can be renewed indefinitely as long as the business stays active and viable.

What it isn't: a passive investment or a direct green card. The E-2 is for people actively running a real U.S. business, and it stays tied to your ownership and involvement.

Eligibility

What qualifies you for an E-2

Six requirements decide an E-2 case. Each one is proven with documents, not asserted.

Treaty country

You need citizenship in a country that holds a commerce and navigation treaty with the U.S. Roughly 80 countries currently qualify, and the list shifts over time, so it's worth confirming yours before you count on it.

A real investment

Your capital has to be committed to buying or building the business, and sized to give it a genuine chance of succeeding. There's no fixed dollar figure: a smaller business simply calls for a larger share of its cost. Money you inherited doesn't count.

An active business

The E-2 is for an operating enterprise that actually produces goods or services. Parking money in real estate, stocks, or other passive holdings won't meet the standard.

Capital genuinely at risk

The funds have to be committed to a bona fide business and exposed to real loss if it doesn't work out. Anything structured to guarantee your money back falls short, and the source of the capital has to be lawful and traceable.

More than a living

The business needs the capacity to earn beyond just supporting you and your family, through growth, hiring, or both. Adjudicators generally look at a five-year horizon to judge that potential.

You run it

You're expected to develop and direct the business, usually through at least half ownership. A smaller stake can work when you can show real operational control, whether through your role, the company's bylaws, or another clear arrangement.

Understanding the E-2

What makes this visa different.

E-2 cases are won or lost on documentation. The petition turns on three things being clearly proven: that the investment is substantial and irrevocably committed, that the funds are lawfully sourced and traceable, and that the business is real and capable of more than marginal income. Source-of-funds tracing is usually the most demanding part, showing exactly where the capital came from and how it moved into the business. A credible business plan, proof the funds are at risk, and evidence of the operating business (lease, licenses, hires, contracts, financials) round out the file.

Two paths, depending on where you are. If you're outside the U.S., the E-2 is applied for at a U.S. consulate in your home country. If you're already in the U.S. in another valid status, you may be able to change to E-2 by filing with USCIS, though that grants status without a visa stamp, so you'd still complete consular processing before re-entering after international travel. Note that the U.S. business itself typically has to be registered and qualified as an E-2 employer before, or together with, an individual's application.

The E-2 gives you direct access to the U.S. market as an owner-operator, not a passive investor. Essential employees who share your treaty nationality can join the enterprise. And for the right case, the E-2 can be a stepping stone toward a green card path later, such as the EB-5 investor route if the investment qualifies, or an EB-1C for executives managing U.S. operations. Those are separate filings with their own standards, but the E-2 can be built with them in view.

1.Period of stay: typically up to two years per entry, with extensions available in two-year increments and no maximum number of extensions, as long as you keep qualifying.
2.Family: spouses and unmarried children under 21 can accompany you, and their nationality does not need to match yours. Spouses can apply for work authorization.
3.Travel: permitted, with a new admission period granted on re-entry while the visa is valid. Family members should track their own status carefully rather than assume it renews automatically.

How We Work

E-2 cases are won on documentation, not narrative

A documentation-first approach to E-2 filings.

We manage the full case end to end: structuring the evidence, coordinating the business plan and source-of-funds package, and pairing you with an independent licensed attorney who handles the legal strategy and filing. Because the case depends on a clean, defensible investment story from the start, we build the file the way a consular officer or adjudicator will read it, before it's submitted.

Step 01

Assess

We tell you where you stand and exactly what's possible, before anything changes.

Step 02

Gather

We know what's needed and walk you through it, step by step.

Step 03

Build

We build your E-2 evidence package with precision.

Step 04

Review & File

Attorney-reviewed and filed within two weeks.

Step 05

Guide

We stay with you through approval, RFEs, and everything in between.

Prepared and filed within two weeks, with precision at every step.

*Timeline begins upon receipt of all attorney-requested documents and supporting evidence.

Investment

E-2 case management pricing

Starting at $8,000 USD

flat fee

See full pricing & engagement options

What’s included

Attorney-led strategy and final sign-off
End-to-end case management
Petition drafting and evidence structuring

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions, answered.

Is there a minimum investment amount?

No fixed minimum. What matters is that the investment is substantial relative to the cost of the business, and irrevocably committed. A lower-cost business requires a proportionally higher investment.

Does the E-2 lead to a green card?

Not directly. It's a nonimmigrant visa, renewable indefinitely, but it doesn't convert to permanent residence on its own. Some E-2 holders later pursue a separate green card path such as EB-5 or EB-1C.

Can I just buy real estate or stocks?

No. Passive investments don't qualify. The E-2 requires an active, operating business producing goods or services.

Can I work for another company on an E-2?

No. E-2 status is tied to the business you invested in and are directing.

What if my country doesn't have a treaty?

The E-2 requires treaty-country citizenship. If your country doesn't qualify, we'd look at whether you hold citizenship in a qualifying country, or whether a different category fits.