The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
Did you know?
You and your family may obtain E-2 investor visas with capital investment of as little as $100,000.
Apply for an E-2 Investor Visa
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LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH YOUR FAMILY
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WORK IN THE U.S. AND DEVELOP YOUR BUSINESS
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SEND YOUR KIDS TO PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL IN THE U.S.
With a capital investment of as little as USD $100,000, the E-2 investor visa may be granted to a investor or businessperson to develop his or her own business. The E-2 investor visa allows nationals of treaty countries (such as Colombia) to travel to the United States to initiate and operate their business with their families.
Under the E-2 treaty investor visa, the investor may petition for E-2 visas for his spouse and children under 21. The family can reside in the United States on a permanent basis. Additionally, the E-2 investor's spouse can apply to USCIS for U.S. work authorization to work for any other employer, or may work for the spouse's business.
E-2 treaty investor visas are generally valid for 5 years and may be renewed.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The E-2 investor visa is NOT an EB-5 visa. Among other things, the EB-5 visa normally requires an investment of one million or a half-million dollars (in economically depressed areas) and requires job creation. The E-2 is a more accessible visa with less requirements.
What are the Requirements to Apply?
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The applicant must be a national of a treaty country (such as Colombia)
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The money invested must be sufficient to assure the business' success
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The investor must control the capital that he or she plans to invest
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The investor must be going to the U.S. for the purpose of running the business; OR
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If the investor chooses to have another person travel to the U.S. to direct the investment, that person must demonstrate supervisory knowledge and skill.
How Long Does the Visa Application Take?
These visas are processed fast. Call us to find out exactly what the current processing times are.
Can my children go to School with an E-2 visa?
Yes! They can attend either public or private schools. At the age of 21, the child "ages-out" of the E-2 visa. Frequently, children who age out of the E-2 visa are accepted to secondary university institutions and are granted F-1 visas.
Can I get a Green Card after the E-2 visa?
Indirectly, yes. Many E-2 visa holders whose businesses are successful apply for EB-5 investor visas, after proving the viability of their business and accumulating the necessary capital investment for the EB-5 visa program. The E-2 visa is however, not a direct path to U.S. citizenship.
How Do I Apply?
The E-2 treaty investor visa is a complex application process and it is imperative to avoid creating issues with the consulate post. An application that is handled properly will have less of a chance of a USCIS recall or other problems down the line. For skilled legal assistance with your investor visa process, please contact us at our United States or Colombia offices.