E-2 Treaty Investor Visa

Invest & Operate in the U.S. Market

The E-2 classification allows nationals of treaty countries to be admitted to the United States when investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business. It is the premier option for entrepreneurs seeking to direct and develop their own enterprise.

⚠️ CRITICAL LEGAL UPDATE: The AMIGOS Act.
If you obtained your treaty country citizenship via financial investment (e.g., Grenada, Turkey) rather than birth or descent, you must now be domiciled in that country for a continuous period of 3 years before applying for an E-2 visa.

Key Advantages

Flexibility

Indefinite Renewals: No limit on the number of extensions as long as the business remains operational.

Faster Processing: Can be obtained directly at a U.S. Consulate (often in weeks) or via Premium Processing with USCIS (15 days).

Spouse & Family

Automatic Work Rights: Spouses are authorized to work incident to status (no separate EAD application required).

Children: Unmarried children under 21 can attend public or private schools.

Investment Logic

No Minimum Cap: Unlike EB-5, there is no fixed $800k requirement. The investment must simply be “substantial” for the specific business type (often $100k+ is recommended).

Core Requirements

  • Nationality: Must possess citizenship of a treaty country.
  • Control: Must own at least 50% of the business OR possess operational control (managerial role).
  • At Risk: Capital must be irrevocably committed and subject to loss.
  • Non-Marginal: The business must generate more than just enough income to support the investor’s family.

Treaty Countries (Selected)

Asia & Pacific

  • Taiwan
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Singapore
  • Australia
  • Philippines

Europe & Others

  • United Kingdom
  • France / Germany
  • Italy / Spain
  • Canada / Mexico
  • Israel
  • Turkey* (See warning)

*Note: Mainland China and India are NOT treaty countries.

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