The E2 visa is a non-immigrant visa for investors, businesses, and persons in the United States who wish to run a company & there are few E2 visa requirements. You can create a US company or invest in a US company with an E2 visa and work with that company.
- The E2 visa is a non-immigrant visa for investors.
- You qualify for an E2 visa by making a substantial investment in a US company.
- The E2 visa can be renewed over and over as long as the business continues to operate and meet the E2 requirements.
Also Read: How to get Green Card in USA?
Benefits of an E2 Visa
- With an E2 visa, you can start a business in the United States and work for that business.
- By getting an E2 visa, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old can also qualify for E2 visas.
- Your spouse can apply for work authorization, to work in the United States.
- Your children can go to school in the United States.
- The minimum investment amount to be eligible for an E2 visa is not specified. E2 is suitable for investments that are as little as $50,000 or below.
- There is no limit to the number of times you can extend your E2 visa. Some E2 visa holders stay in the United States for 15 years or longer.
- Unlike other non-immigrant visas, you do not need to maintain a foreign residence to get an E2 visa.
What are the E2 Visa Requirements?
There are 8 main requirements to qualify for an E2 visa:
- Must be a national of a country with an E2 treaty with the United States.
- You must have the intent to depart the US once your E2 status ends.
- Should make a substantial investment in a US company.
- Your E2 business must be an active, for-profit business.
- The business that you invest in cannot be considered a marginal enterprise.
- You must be entering the United States to direct and develop your E2 business.
- The source of your investment funds must be lawful.
- Your investment must be irrevocably committed to the E2 business and must be at-risk.
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There are two ways to qualify for an E2 visa:
- You can make an investment in a US business as an individual.
- Your foreign business can make an investment in a US business.
The funds that you use to invest in your E2 business must have been obtained lawfully.
- Examples of lawful sources of funds include earnings from lawful employment, income from the sale of a property, gifts, an inheritance, etc.
- You can also use the proceeds from a loan as your investment funds. The loan must be either unsecured or secured by your personal assets.
- You must be able to sufficiently document how the funds were earned.
Commonly Asked Q&A about E2 visa requirements:
- How Long Can I be in the US on an E2 Visa?
- The duration of validity of your E2 visa depends on where nation the visa is issued. The validity length of the visa usually extends from 1 to 5 years. But claim it’s going to provide you at least 2 years of service.
- For example, your E2 visa is valid for 5 years, this does not mean that you can stay in the US for 5 years at a time. Your status will determine how long you can stay at a time.
- With an E2 visa, you are granted 2 years of status each time you enter the US.
- Will you need to travel outside of the US?
- Keep in mind that if you change status to E2 status, once you leave the United States, you will no longer have status.
- How Long Does it Take to Get an E2 Visa?
- By paying an additional $2,500.00 charge for premium processing you can speed up the procedure. The entire processing time will be reduced to 15 calendar days. This procedure can be slowed down by a request for further evidence (RFE). It takes 2 to 3 months to alter the status of USCIS.
- If I Get an E2 Visa, Do My Family Members Get Immigration Benefits?
- Yes, as the principal E2 applicant, you can bring your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old.
- Spouse and unmarried children also have E2 status.
- Spouse may apply for a work permit to work in any lawful capacity in the United States.
- Your children may attend school in the US but they may not work.
- Is it Possible to change E2 Visa to Green Card?
- The E2 visa is a non-immigrant visa category. This means that the E2 visa is temporary and does not directly lead to a green card.
Also Read: EB3 visa for USA, Family visitation act
But you can convert your status by following ways for example:
- EB-5 Visa
- Family-Based
- Spousal
- Employment-Based
- EB-2 National Interest Waiver
Resources:
- U.S. Department of State – Treaty Countries
- 9 FAM 402.9
- 22 CFR Section 41.51
- USCIS – E2 Treaty Investors