E2 Visa minimum Investment: What you need to know

Rocio Somoza
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Published on 25 Aug 2022 Time to read 11 min read Last update on 26 Jul 2023

If you’re interested in the e2 visa, you may be wondering what the minimum investment is. The e2 visa minimum investment amount depends on a few different factors. In this blog post, we’ll go over those factors and help you understand what you need to know in order to qualify for an e2 visa.

What is an E2 Visa?

The e2 visa is a US visa available to citizens of countries that have a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States. This particular visa is a great way for foreign entrepreneurs to come to the United States and invest in a new or existing business.

e2 visa minimum investment

E2 treaty visa countries

It’s important to note that, in order to qualify for an e2 visa, your home country must have a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States. Not all countries have this treaty, so it’s important to check and see if your country is on the list.

If you’re not sure whether or not your country has a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States, you can check the State Department’s website for more information.

Advantages of the E2 visa

There are a number of advantages that come with the e2 visa. For one, it’s a relatively easy visa to obtain. Another advantage of the e2 visa is that it’s a renewable visa. As long as you continue to meet the requirements of the e2 visa, you can renew it indefinitely.

In addition, the e2 visa allows your spouse to obtain a work permit. This means that your spouse can work in the United States while you’re working on your e2 visa business. Also, the e2 visa allows you to bring your children to the United States. Your children will be able to attend school in the United States while you’re working on your e2 visa business.

Can I have a business partner for my e2 visa?

You can have a business partner for your e2 visa. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, your business partner must also be a citizen of a country that has a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States. In addition, your business partner’s investment must meet the e2 visa minimum investment requirements.

Requirements for qualifying for an E2 Visa

In order to qualify for an E2 visa, you must be coming to the United States:

– To invest in a new or existing enterprise

– To develop or direct the operations of an enterprise in which you have invested

– As a professional under certain circumstances, such as having a specialty occupation


There are, however, certain requirements that must be met in order for an individual to qualify for this type of visa. One of those requirements is making a qualifying investment.


What is considered a qualifying investment?

According to USCIS, a qualifying investment is “an irrevocable commitment of capital…which demonstrates the investor’s intent to control and develop an enterprise.” In other words, it needs to be a significant amount of money that you’re putting into the business with the intention of growing it.

E2 Visa minimum investment

The amount of money you need to invest depends on several factors, which we will go over in more detail below.

Your investment must be:

– At risk in the commercial sense. This means that it must be subject to loss if the enterprise fails.

– Substantial. This is defined as a “significant” investment, which varies depending on the industry and business structure but generally speaking, it cannot be less than 50% of the total cost of the enterprise

– Active. The money you invest must be used to generate revenue for the business, not just sit idly in a bank account.

5 factors that determine the minimum investment

The e2 visa minimum investment requirement can vary depending on 5 factors. These include:

– The type of business

– The industry

– The business location

– The number of U.S. employees

– Whether the investor is coming to the U.S. to develop and direct the enterprise

As you can see, there’s no one answer when it comes to E2 visa minimum investment requirements. However, USCIS does give some guidance as to what they consider a “substantial” investment. They state that investments of less than $100,000 may not be considered substantial unless the investor can show that the amount is significantly lower than what would normally be required for a successful venture in that particular industry.

Similarly, investments of more than $250,000 will generally be considered substantial. Again, this can vary depending on the industry and other factors, but in general, this is the range that USCIS is looking for.

Types of Businesses

There are a few different types of investments that can be made in order to qualify for an E2 visa. These include:

– Purchasing an existing business

– Investing in a new business

– Making a substantial investment in an existing business

– Buying a franchise. The e2 visa minimum investment requirements for buying a franchise will vary depending on the franchise.

The e2 visa minimum investment amount can vary depending on the type of business and the location of the business. For example, if you’re investing in a high-risk or startup business, the minimum investment amount may be higher. Similarly, if you’re investing in a rural area or an area with high unemployment, the investment amount may be lower.

It’s important to note that the e2 visa minimum investment amount is not a set number. USCIS will evaluate each case individually to determine if the investment meets the requirements.

Evidence you need to submit

In order to demonstrate that your investment is substantial and irrevocably committed to the enterprise, you will have to submit some evidence to USCIS. This could include:

– A business plan

– Financial statements

– Contracts or letters of intent to purchase property or equipment

– Evidence of the investor’s financial ability to make the investment, such as bank statements or tax returns

– A detailed explanation of the investment and how it will be used

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to e2 visa minimum investment requirements. However, if you have a well-thought-out business plan and can demonstrate that your investment is substantial and at risk, you should have no problem qualifying for an E2 visa.

e2 visa minimum investment

Can I still qualify if I don't have $100,000?

While a higher investment amount will increase your chances of being approved for an E2 visa, it’s still possible to qualify with a lower amount. It’s important to remember that the minimum investment requirements vary depending on the industry and business structure, so if you’re investing in a relatively low-cost business, you may not need to meet the $100,000 threshold.

Additionally, even if your investment is less than $100,000, you can still demonstrate that it is substantial by showing that it is significantly lower than what would normally be required for a successful venture in that particular industry.

When it comes to e2 visa minimum investment requirements, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The amount you’ll need to invest depends on a variety of factors, including the type of business, the industry, and the location.

How to calculate the e2 visa minimum investment

There are a few different ways to calculate your e2 visa minimum investment. The most common method is to take the total cost of the business and subtract any debts or liabilities that will be paid by someone other than the investor.

For example, if you’re purchasing an existing business for $200,000 and you have $50,000 in debt that will be paid by the seller, your e2 visa minimum investment would be $150,000.

Another method is to take the total cost of the business and subtract any cash that will be invested by someone other than the investor. For example, if you’re investing $100,000 in a new business and your partner is investing $50,000, your e2 visa minimum investment would be $50,000.

It’s important to remember that these are just two examples of how to calculate your e2 visa minimum investment. USCIS will evaluate each case individually to determine what qualifies as a substantial investment.

Where can the investment money come from?

The E2 visa investment funds can come from a variety of sources, including your personal savings, a loan, or investment by another person or entity.

No matter where the money comes from, you will need to show that it is available to you and that you have full control over it. You will also need to provide evidence that the money has been transferred into the United States.

USCIS does not specify a minimum amount of time that the money must be in the U.S. before you can file your E2 visa application, but they do require that you show proof of legal entry into the country with the intention of making the investment. This means that if you’re transferring the money from another country, you will need to show that it was done legally and that you have the proper documentation.

For how long is the E2 Visa valid?

An E2 visa is generally valid for up to five years, although it can be renewed indefinitely as long as the investor continues to meet the requirements, and the treaty between the U.S. and the investor’s home country remains in effect.

However, the duration of the e2 visa depends on the home country of the investor. For example, investors from countries like Canada and the United Kingdom can get e2 visas that are valid for up to two years, while investors from countries like China and India can get e2 visas that are valid for up to five years.

In order to get an e2 visa renewal, the investor must show that they are still actively involved in the enterprise and that the enterprise is continuing to operate successfully. Additionally, the investor must show that they have made the necessary investments and that these investments are at risk.

Steps to obtain an e-2 visa

First, you’ll need to determine if your home country has a treaty with the United States that allows for E2 visas. If so, you’ll need to gather all of the required documentation. This may include proof of investment, business plans, financial statements, and more.

Once you have all of the required documentation, you’ll need to submit it to USCIS along with your visa application. Once your application has been approved, you’ll be able to travel to the United States and begin operating your business.

Do I recover the investment if my e2 visa gets denied?

If your E2 visa application is denied, you will not be able to recover your investment. USCIS does not offer refunds for E2 visa applications that are denied.

Although, you will be able to appeal the decision or reapply for the visa. However, if you choose to reapply, you’ll need to submit new documentation and may need to make a new investment.

It’s important to remember that E2 visas are not guaranteed, and there’s no guarantee that your application will be approved. However, if you do everything correctly and provide all of the required documentation, you should have a good chance of success.

How long does the E2 Visa process take?

This process may take some time, so it’s important to start the E2 visa process as soon as possible.  It generally takes around two to three months for USCIS to adjudicate an E2 visa application. Although, this timeline may vary depending on the individual case.

Conclusion

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to e2 visa minimum investment requirements. At Visa Franchise, we can help simplify the process for you. We can help you determine whether you meet the e2 visa minimum investment requirements.  We can also help you with the entire E2 visa application process, from start to finish.

Visa Franchise is the leading E2 visa company in the United States, and has a proven track record of success. Contact us today to learn more about E2 visas and how we can help you get your E2 visa. We also offer a free E2 visa consultation to help you determine your next steps.

Also, Vetted Biz has a wide variety of franchise opportunities that may be a good fit for you. We offer everything from traditional brick-and-mortar businesses to home-based businesses and everything in between.

Take a look at our directory of franchises to learn about the different types of businesses we have to offer. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help you find the perfect business opportunity for you!

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