The Premier E-2 Visa Lawyers for Global Entrepreneurs
At E2Lawyers.com, we secure US business visas for founders, investors, and franchise owners. We combine top-tier immigration law expertise with deep business strategy to get your E-2 Visa approved.
What Does an E-2 Visa Lawyer Do?
Ensures your investment meets the "substantial" capital requirements, structures your US business entity for compliance, drafts consular-approved 5-year business plans, and meticulously prepares you for your embassy interview.
2,000+
Successful Cases
Completed with accuracy, transparency, and on-time delivery.
Why the E-2 Visa is the Ultimate Founder's Visa
Traditional US work visas rely on lotteries and corporate sponsors. The E-2 Visa puts the control entirely in your hands.
$100,000+
Typical E2 Investment
5 Years
Visa duration
Unlimited
Renewals
Family
Spouse and Kids included
E2 Visa enables entrepreneurs to live and work in the U.S.
Why Founders & Investors Choose E2Lawyers.com
Consular officers deny E-2 visas when the business case is weak, not just when the legal paperwork is flawed. We speak the language of business. We bridge the gap between strict immigration regulations and modern business models.
Proven Success
98% Success Rate
Over 1000 Happy Clients
Expert Guidance
25+ Years of Legal Experience
Expert Advice Tailored for Needs.
Timely Solutions
100% On-Time Filing & Reporting
Never miss a deadline, compliant.
Bespoke Approach
Each case is unique, not a template.
We understand your goals and objectives
Core Requirements for the E-2 Investor Visa
To qualify for an E-2 visa, the US government requires applicants to meet specific legal thresholds:
​
Direction & Control: You must be coming to the US solely to develop and direct the enterprise, demonstrated by at least 50% ownership or managerial control.
Treaty Nationality
You must hold citizenship in one of the 80+ countries that maintain an active commerce and navigation treaty with the United States.
Substantial Investment
You must invest a "substantial" amount of capital relative to the total cost of purchasing or creating the enterprise.
Active Enterprise
The business must be a real, active commercial or entrepreneurial undertaking producing services or goods for profit. It cannot be a passive investment (like undeveloped land or stocks).
Marginality Rule
The enterprise must generate more than enough income to provide a minimal living for you and your family, or it must have a significant economic impact (job creation) in the US.
What Makes E2Lawyers.com Different from other law firms
Laser-Focused E-2 Expertise
We are not generalists. By focusing relentlessly on E-2 and investor visas, our attorneys understand the nuances of consular processing across different global embassies.
Bulletproof Business Plans
We ensure your financial projections, hiring timelines, and operational structure precisely align with strict US immigration standards.
"At-Risk" Capital Guidance
One of the hardest E-2 hurdles is proving your funds are irrevocably committed. We guide you safely through escrow, vendor payments, and asset transfers to ensure compliance without unnecessary risk.
Outcome Focused
When you sign up as our client, we will handle the Request for Evidence (RFE) and Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) at no additional cost.
Testimonials
"Dedicated professionals providing reliable, transparent, and growth-focused immigration solutions." Frank K.
Sean
Client
Gene
Client
Anton
Client
Furkat
Client
E-2 Visa FAQ
The law does not set a strict minimum dollar amount. "Substantial" is calculated proportionally to the total cost of the business. However, our E2 lawyers generally recommend a minimum investment of $100,000 to ensure the highest probability of approval, though successful cases have been built on less for service-based startups.
As of 2026, 81 countries maintain an E-2 treaty with the United States.
​
To qualify for an E-2 visa, the primary investor or business owner must hold citizenship (a passport) from one of these specific treaty nations.
​
-
North America: Canada, Mexico
-
Europe: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
-
Asia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China (Taiwan), Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey
-
South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Suriname
-
Central America & Caribbean: Costa Rica, Grenada, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago
-
Africa: Cameroon, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Egypt, Ethiopia, Liberia, Morocco, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia
-
Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
-
The E-2 is a non-immigrant visa and does not lead directly to a Green Card. However, many investors use the E-2 as a stepping stone and later transition to dual-intent visas (like the EB-5 or EB-1C) to achieve permanent residency.
No. Our E-2 visa attorneys have successfully represented tech startups, venture studios, marketing agencies, retail franchises, restaurants, and consulting firms. The key is that it is a bona fide, active enterprise.
This is the most important rule. You must be a citizen of a country that has a special trade treaty with the United States. Also, citizens of that treaty country must own at least 50 percent of the business you are investing in. You must meet this requirement before you can take any other steps for an E-2 visa.
This is a very important concept for the E-2 visa. A marginal enterprise is a business that only makes enough money to support you and your family. The US government will not accept this. Your business must do more for the economy. To prove your business is not marginal, you should show future sales plans, a schedule to hire US workers, and proof that your business is truly running.
Yes. You can use a US business that already exists for your E-2 visa. You must own at least 50 percent of it. You must also show that you have already spent your money on this business and that your money is at risk. The business must be open and working. Just holding assets or making guesses about future value will not qualify.
Buying houses just to rent them out usually does not work for an E-2 visa. The E-2 visa requires you to run an active business. If you want to use real estate, it must be an active business. For example, a company that builds new properties or a business that actively manages many commercial buildings can qualify.
Applying at an embassy means you process your paperwork outside the United States. If approved, you get a visa stamp in your passport. This lets you travel in and out of the country.
Changing your status happens while you are already inside the United States on a different visa. If approved, you can stay and work, but you do not get a travel stamp in your passport. If you leave the country, you will need to get a visa stamp from an embassy before you can return. Your choice depends entirely on whether you plan to travel.
The time depends on where you apply. U.S. embassies in different countries have different wait times. It can take a few weeks or many months. If you apply to change your status from inside the United States, you can pay an extra fee for faster processing. With this extra fee, the government will give you an answer within 15 business days.
Yes. Husbands and wives of E-2 investors are allowed to work just by having their E-2 status. They do not need to apply for a special work permit. They can use their I-94 travel record, which will show a special E-2S code, to prove they are legally allowed to work.
Children under age 21 can study in the United States on an E-2 visa. However, the rules for working are different for them. Children are not automatically allowed to work. To get a job legally, they must apply and qualify for their own work visa.
The US government wants to know exactly where your money came from. The money must be legal. You can show documents like past tax returns, records from selling a house, inheritance papers, or business profits. You must also show bank receipts. These receipts must show the money moving clearly from your personal bank account in your home country directly to your business bank account in the United States.
Yes, you definitely need a very detailed business plan. This is true especially if you are starting a new business or applying at an embassy. Government workers expect a professional plan that covers five years. It needs to show future money plans, information about your market, a summary of the business, and a schedule for hiring US workers. A good plan proves your business will be successful and not just a small business for your family.
This depends on your home country. Your visa stamp might last anywhere from 3 months to 5 years. However, no matter how long the stamp is good for, border officers usually only let you stay for 2 years each time you enter the country. The good news is that there is no limit to how many times you can renew your E-2 visa. As long as your business is running and meets the rules, you can keep renewing it.
No. The E-2 visa is only a temporary visa. You must plan to leave the United States when your visa ends. Some other visas allow you to try for a permanent green card at the same time, but the E-2 visa does not. If you file the final papers to get a green card, you will likely break the rules of your E-2 visa. You should talk to a lawyer before trying to stay permanently.
Your E-2 visa only allows you to work for the specific business that the government approved. You cannot start a completely different business and work for it at the same time. However, if your approved business is a parent company that completely owns other smaller companies, you can manage those smaller companies. If you want to change your business structure, you must send a new application to the government.
The E-2 visa does not have a strict rule about an exact number of jobs you must create. This is different from other investor visas. However, you must hire enough US workers to show your business is helping the economy. A good goal for a normal shop or service business is to plan to hire 2 to 5 workers during your first five years.
Yes, but there are strict rules. You can borrow money, but you cannot use the US business to guarantee the loan. Your investment money must be at risk. This means the loan must have no guarantee, or you must guarantee the loan using your own personal property, like a house in your home country.
Most E-2 visas are denied because of three common mistakes:
-
Money is not at risk: The person only put money into a US bank account. They did not actually spend it on the business or sign a real contract.
-
The business is too small: The business plan did not prove that the company will make enough money to do more than just support the owner's family.
-
Unclear money source: The person could not provide clear bank records to show exactly how they got their investment money legally.
-
The best choice depends on what you want and how much money you have.
​
-
The E-2 Visa: This is much faster and requires less money, usually between $100,000 and $150,000. However, it is only temporary and does not give you a green card. You also must be from a specific treaty country.
-
The EB-5 Visa: This takes a much longer time to process and requires a very large investment of at least $800,000. However, it gives you and your family a permanent green card. People from almost any country can apply for it.
-
Your right to live in the United States depends completely on you running your specific business. If you sell that business, your E-2 visa ends right away. If you want to sell your company, you need to apply for a different visa before the sale is finished. If you do not do this, you will lose your legal right to stay in the country.
Locations
In person meetings are available by appointment only.
Los Angeles
Client
San Francisco
149 Commonwealth Drive
Suite 1090
Menlo Park, CA 94025
United States
Dallas
The Crescent
100 Crescent Court Uptown
7th Floor
Dallas, Texas 75201
United States
Miami
Causeway Square
1801 NE 123rd Street
Suite 314
North Miami, FL 33181
United States
Toronto
First Canadian Place
100 King Street W
Suite 5600
Toronto, ON M5X 1C9
Canada
London
Berkeley Square House
2nd floor
Berkeley Square
London W1J 6BD
United Kingdom
Dubai
Boulevard Tower 1, Level 9
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd, Burj Khalifa
Downtown Dubai, Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
Sydney
20 Martin Place
Levels 10
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia