» E-2 Visas FAQs

The E-2 investor trader visa is only available to people from the countries that the U.S. has a treaty with.  Many Western countries are on the list, but there are also countries from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East on the list. Israel was just recently added to the list.

Your husband or wife can get an E-2 visa and are eligible to apply for an “Employment Authorization Document” (referred to as an EAD) to work in the United States after obtaining E-2 status. They can work in any field, and this is a significant advantage of an E-2 visa, as many other non-immigrant visas, like a TN visa and an H-1B visa, do not allow a spouse to work in the U.S.

No. The E-2 visa can be obtained by either purchasing an existing business or creating a new business in the United States, and the business must be an “active” business. This excludes passive investments like real estate or owning stock. Your business must also make money, and as such, not-for-profit enterprises are excluded.

Yes. A 5-year business plan is required and the business plan is a key element that immigration officials consider when they review your petition. 

No. Any for-profit active business type is fine.

Yes. Borrowing money is fine as long as the business is not overly leveraged.

There is no required investment amount.  A common myth is that a minimum of $100,000 is required. If your business is a service business, the investment that is required will be much lower than if your business is a capital-intensive business.

No. The E-2 visa is often confused with an EB-5 visa. In contrast to an EB-5 visa, an E-2 visa does not require a specific amount of investment and does not have a specific number of employees that you have to hire.