E-2 is a nonimmigrant investor visa. It is issued to those who plan to do business in the United States, but do not plan to move here forever. The visa has a relatively low entry threshold: according to the experience of immigration lawyers, it will take about $100,000, this money should be invested in a really working and effective business. This method of moving to the States has two main restrictions: firstly, the investor will not receive a Green Card (permanent residence), even if he has lived in the country for more than a dozen years, and, secondly, an E-2 visa cannot be applied for with Russian passport. However, both of these conditions can be managed.
The official website of the program
The E-2 Visa (Treaty Investor Visa) is a non-immigrant investor visa. Its issuance is based on bilateral agreements on trade and navigation, which the United States concluded with many countries of the world. The first of them appeared in the 19th century, and the most recent ones were signed in 2019. Now more than 70 countries have such agreements, but Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan are not among them.
The essence of the visa is the ability to temporarily move to the United States to conduct business. The main condition will be substantial investments and a business development plan. It is assumed that at the end of the project, the investor will leave the United States, but in reality everything may turn out to be different.
USCIS, the US Citizenship and Immigration Service, regulates the issuance of visas of this and other types. More than 40,000 foreigners receive an E-2 visa every year. This method of moving to the United States is most popular among citizens of Japan, Germany, Canada, France and the UK.
The visa is issued specifically for doing business, and not for moving. Therefore, one of the conditions is to declare the intention to return home after the completion of the project. The validity period is limited to 2 years, but it can be renewed an unlimited number of times - as long as the company continues to operate. In addition, if the business turns out to be successful, it may become a reason for transition to an EB-5 Visa, which already paves the way for permanent residence and American citizenship.
An E-2 Visa can only be obtained by citizens of those countries, which have a separate trade agreement with the United States. A list of them is published on the website of the US Department of State.
The law does not specify the exact amount of investment to be considered significant. Each case is considered individually. According to the experience of immigration lawyers, it is worth focusing on $100,000. If we are talking about a high-tech and promising start-up, the application can be approved with investments of $50,000 or more. But in any case, the more is capital, the higher are the chances of getting a residence permit in the United States.
The E-2 visa can be obtained by the family members: spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old together with the investor.
Relatives are not required to have citizenship of countries which have trade agreements with the United States. A spouse can get a work permit in the United States, but children are only allowed to study, but not to work. Upon reaching the age of 21, they will no longer be eligible for a visa extension as dependent relatives, but they can apply for a student visa.
When applying for an E-2 visa at the US Consulate, you will need:
State fees
State fees depend on how the application is submitted:
Legal expenses
The services of a lawyer who will accompany the process cost $3,000-10,000. Additionally, you may need assistance in registering a legal entity and preparing a business plan if these options are not included in the lawyer's fee.
Rights
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