E-2 visa
Encyclopedia
The E2 Investor Visa allows an individual to enter and work inside of the United States
based on an investment
he or she will be controlling, while inside the United States. This visa
must be renewed every other year, but there is no limit to how many times one can renew. Investment must be substantial. An investor
must contribute to the US economy. (Setting up a small shop alone is not enough.) Investor visas are available only to treaty nations.
The dollar amount of cash investment normally should exceed $50,000 depending on the type of business (new or existing), although cases have been made for less amounts. This is an approximated amount and applicants should consult an immigration law
yer prior to making any offers for existing business. The dollar amount should only be money spent on the business. Any expenses not directly spent on the actual business itself will not count toward the required amount.
For new start ups, the investment must be large enough to start and operate the business. The amount of investment varies on the type of business. The $50,000 dollar amount would not be a substantial investment for a business such as the construction and management of a shopping center or office complex
. The investment will not be considered substantial if it is not large enough to capitalize the venture. The USCIS will use an ‘Inverted Sliding Scale’ to determine whether the investment is substantial in proportion to the overall cost of the enterprise.
Upon conclusion of the business, investors must return to their countries of origin, or change their status. The holder of an E-2 visa may leave the United States at any time.
, may receive derivative E-2 visas in order to accompany the principal alien.
Dependents may seek employment
in the US by applying for Employment Authorization using Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. Children under 21 cannot apply for work , only the spouse of the E2 holder.
($100) and submit:
over their place of permanent residence. As part of the visa application process, an interview at the embassy consular section is required for visa applicants from age 14 through 79. Persons age 13 and younger, and age 80 and older, generally do not require an interview, unless requested by embassy or consulate.
During the visa application process, usually at the interview, an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan will be quickly taken. Some applicants will need additional screening, and will be notified when they apply. The E-2 visa application process vary from Consular Posts in one country to another country as there is often difference in policies and visa processing procedures. Visa applicants should review regulatory requirements before submitting E-2 visa application.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
based on an investment
Investment
Investment has different meanings in finance and economics. Finance investment is putting money into something with the expectation of gain, that upon thorough analysis, has a high degree of security for the principal amount, as well as security of return, within an expected period of time...
he or she will be controlling, while inside the United States. This visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
must be renewed every other year, but there is no limit to how many times one can renew. Investment must be substantial. An investor
Investor
An investor is a party that makes an investment into one or more categories of assets --- equity, debt securities, real estate, currency, commodity, derivatives such as put and call options, etc...
must contribute to the US economy. (Setting up a small shop alone is not enough.) Investor visas are available only to treaty nations.
The dollar amount of cash investment normally should exceed $50,000 depending on the type of business (new or existing), although cases have been made for less amounts. This is an approximated amount and applicants should consult an immigration law
Immigration law
Immigration law refers to national government policies which control the phenomenon of immigration to their country.Immigraton law, regarding foreign citizens, is related to nationality law, which governs the legal status of people, in matters such as citizenship...
yer prior to making any offers for existing business. The dollar amount should only be money spent on the business. Any expenses not directly spent on the actual business itself will not count toward the required amount.
For new start ups, the investment must be large enough to start and operate the business. The amount of investment varies on the type of business. The $50,000 dollar amount would not be a substantial investment for a business such as the construction and management of a shopping center or office complex
Office complex
Commonly referred to as a plaza, an office complex is often confused with an office building. Complexes are just one storey, with extensive fields available in retail positioning, but primarily used for medical practitioners along with a stronghold potential for community development.This due to...
. The investment will not be considered substantial if it is not large enough to capitalize the venture. The USCIS will use an ‘Inverted Sliding Scale’ to determine whether the investment is substantial in proportion to the overall cost of the enterprise.
Upon conclusion of the business, investors must return to their countries of origin, or change their status. The holder of an E-2 visa may leave the United States at any time.
Dependents
Spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age, regardless of nationalityNationality
Nationality is membership of a nation or sovereign state, usually determined by their citizenship, but sometimes by ethnicity or place of residence, or based on their sense of national identity....
, may receive derivative E-2 visas in order to accompany the principal alien.
Dependents may seek employment
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
in the US by applying for Employment Authorization using Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. Children under 21 cannot apply for work , only the spouse of the E2 holder.
Required documentation
Each visa applicant must pay a nonrefundable $390 application fee and pay for border crossing cardBorder Crossing Card
A Border Crossing Card is a document that allows limited entry into the United States by visitors. The cards authorize visits to the border areas of the United States for a set amount of time...
($100) and submit:
- Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, Form DS-160. The State Department has a DS-160 webpage that details the DS-160 online process.
- Application DS-156E, completed and signed.
- A passportPassportA passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant’s intended period of stay in the United States. If more than one person is included in the passport, each person must complete an application.
- One (1) 2 by 2 inch photograph.
- All male nonimmigrant visa applicants between the ages of 16 and 45, regardless of nationality and regardless of where they apply, must complete and submit a form DS-157 in addition to the Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-156E).
- As part of the visa application process, an interview at the embassy consular section is required for almost all visa applicants.
How to apply
Applicants should generally apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdictionJurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
over their place of permanent residence. As part of the visa application process, an interview at the embassy consular section is required for visa applicants from age 14 through 79. Persons age 13 and younger, and age 80 and older, generally do not require an interview, unless requested by embassy or consulate.
During the visa application process, usually at the interview, an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan will be quickly taken. Some applicants will need additional screening, and will be notified when they apply. The E-2 visa application process vary from Consular Posts in one country to another country as there is often difference in policies and visa processing procedures. Visa applicants should review regulatory requirements before submitting E-2 visa application.
External links
- Treaty Traders and Treaty Investors - US Department of State