E2 Visa USA
The spouse of an E2 visa holder is eligible to work for any employer in any type of job. E2 investor visas allow business investors/traders from countries that have a bilateral investment and/or trade treaty with the United States to set up and operate a qualifying business in the United States. The business and the individual must both qualify for E2 visa status, with the business acting as the investor's sponsor.
E2 Visa USA requirements:
The E2 investor visa is a long-term, renewable work visa granted to business investors from countries that have signed a bilateral investment treaty with the United States. The duration of the visa is determined by the terms of the treaty between the USA and investor's country of citizenship.
The investor should form a U.S. company, which will operate the business that the investor will purchase or establish, and which will act as the investor’s visa sponsor. We can form the company for you. Please visit our page regarding company formation.
Both the U.S. business and the individual investor, or employee, must qualify for E2 visa status.
In order for the business to qualify:
- A person or persons with citizenship of a country having a qualifying investment treaty with the U.S. must own at least 50% of the shares of the U.S. business; such person or persons may not have permanent resident status or reside in the U.S. under a visa other than the E2 visa.
- The investment must be substantial and must be made with personal funds (or with a loan secured by property that belongs to the investor personally). While the regulations do not state a specific minimum investment, the investment must be sufficient to establish a profitable business with development and expansion potential.
- The business must contribute to the local economy to an extent that is more than marginal, i.e., the investor cannot invest solely for the purpose of earning a living. Beyond paying the investor a living salary, the business must employ U.S. workers and produce a profit.
- The business must have sufficient activity in order to justify why its needs for the E2 visa USA holder to work for it full-time in the U.S.​
In order for the applicant to qualify:
- The applicant must have the same country of citizenship as the owner(s) of at least 50% of the business (or be the owner of at least 50% of the business), and the country of citizenship must have a bilateral trade treaty providing for an E-1 treaty trader visa.
- Applicants, namely managers and specialists, must show that they have work experience and credentials that qualify them to perform the job that the business is offering them.
Law Firm Recommendations:
Anthony Olson, P.A. strongly recommends that prospective E2 visa contact our law firm prior to investing in a U.S. business with the goal of qualifying for the investor visa. We will guide you through the purchase process and evaluate the chosen business in view of satisfying the E2 visa requirements.
It is also important to remember that the U.S. company must continue to qualify the investor for visa renewals, and thus it is not sufficient to acquire a business that may qualify you for a first-time visa, but will not have the development potential that will enable the investor to qualify for subsequent visa renewals.
It is important to know that early mistakes in the immigration process generally have major, often devastating, long-term consequences. Comprehensive legal advice, which clearly addresses and analyses your medium- and/or long-term immigration goals, is an indispensable first step in view of strategizing your immigration goals.
Additional E2 visa USA information:
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The spouse of an E2 visa USA holder is eligible to work for any employer in any type of job.
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The business activity of the investment company can be expanded into new fields of business.
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Presently, there is no limit to the number of times an E2 visa USA can be renewed, as long as the business continues to qualify.
The E2 visa USA is generally applied for at the U.S. consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. E2 visas are issued for the period of time permitted under the treaty with that country. If the applicant is in the USA. in valid status, he/she may also apply for a change to E2 visa USA status with USCIS, but, the status is lost when the applicant travels outside the U.S. and he/she must re-enter with a visa.
If you are considering to apply for an E2 visa USA, Anthony Olson, P.A. is ready to serve you. With more than 20 years of experience from helping hundreds of E visa clients and a comprehensive knowledge of immigration options, we have what it takes to guide you through the legal process with ease and efficiency.
Get started today by calling our firm at +1 (941) 362-7100, or by setting up a consultation by contacting us online.
E2 Visa USA Eligible Countries:
Africa: Cameroon, Congo (Kinshasa) and Congo (Brazzaville), Egypt, Ethiopia, Liberia, Morocco, Senegal, Togo, and Tunisia
Central & South America: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Suriname
North America: Canada and Mexico
Asia-Central: Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka
Asia-East: Japan, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand
Oceania: Australia and New Zealand
Caribbean: Grenada, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago
Europe: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and United Kingdom.
Middle East: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Georgia, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Oman, and Turkey