E-2 visa consultants for investors building a U.S. business
An E-2 application needs a qualifying business and a qualifying applicant. We help investors compare business options, document the investment and source of funds, and prepare a plan grounded in actual records. An independent immigration attorney can assess legal eligibility and represent you under a separate agreement.
Initial 30-minute consultation without charge. We review your goals, budget and business options and outline the scope and fees of an engagement.
- Minimum investment
- None set by law; must be substantial for the business
- Eligible nationalities
- 80 treaty countries
- Stay per entry
- Generally up to 2 years; continued qualification required
- Spouse
- Work authorized with valid E-2S status; licensing rules still apply
- Unmarried children under 21
- May apply as dependents; no work authorization from E-2 child status
- E-2 visas issued, FY2024
- 55,324
Sources: 9 FAM 402.9 and State Department FY2024 statistics. Issuance totals are not personal approval odds.
- business models against your budget and operating role
- Compare
- investment payments and source-of-funds records
- Document
- revenue, operating costs and staffing assumptions
- Model
- business evidence with your independent advisers
- Coordinate
Business consulting deliverables depend on the agreed scope. The government decides each application.
What an E-2 case has to prove
These are core business requirements, not an exhaustive eligibility checklist. Intent to depart, admissibility and the filing route also matter. Review your personal circumstances with immigration counsel before committing funds.
Treaty nationality
You hold citizenship of one of the countries with an E-2 treaty, and treaty nationals own at least 50% of the business.
Treaty countries list 02Substantial investment
No fixed minimum. The amount is measured against the cost of the specific business, and it must be committed and at risk.
How much to invest 03Real, operating business
A real, active enterprise, not merely passive property or securities holdings. The operating model and evidence matter.
E-2 business options 04More than marginal
Show capacity for more than a minimal living or a significant economic contribution. There is no universal minimum employee count.
What the business plan must show 05Control of the enterprise
You develop and direct it through at least 50% ownership or operational control.
Ownership and control rules 06Lawful source of funds
Document lawful origin, possession, control and transfer of the investment funds, including business expenditure records.
Source of fundsWe build the business your E-2 case rests on
Agree deliverables, exclusions, responsible professionals and fees in writing. Legal, tax, brokerage and escrow services have separate scopes; no engagement guarantees a purchase, profit or visa.
E-2 business consulting
Business selection, investment structure, launch plan and documentation built around the E-2 criteria.
Learn moreE-2 business plans
Business plans with five-year forecasts and an evidence-based staffing plan, adapted to relevant filing instructions.
Learn moreBusiness acquisition
Search criteria, commercial due diligence and valuation support, coordinated with separately retained legal and tax advisers.
Learn moreIndependent professionals
Separate legal, tax and transaction responsibilities. Bring your own counsel or ask about introductions and availability.
Learn moreTealBridge Consulting is a business consultancy, not a law firm. Legal advice and representation require a separate engagement with an appropriately authorized professional; you may bring your own attorney.
Six stages from first call to an operating E-2 business
Use evidence and decision gates to plan each stage. Confirm deliverables, dependencies and dates in your engagement; these stages are not a promised visa timeline.
- Step 1Define
Goals and scope
Citizenship, capital, operating experience and goals. Separate business planning from the legal eligibility assessment.
- Step 2Compare
Business selection
Compare startup, acquisition and franchise costs, responsibilities and evidence. A category is not a pre-approved E-2 business.
- Step 3Verify
Diligence before commitment
Review financials, leases, licenses and ownership. Counsel and tax advisers review contracts and structure before binding commitments.
- Step 4Reconcile
Investment and plan
Connect bank records, payments, contracts and forecasts. Distinguish actual spending, proposed spending and personal living reserves.
- Step 5Review
Filing preparation
Your legal representative determines the filing strategy. We explain business assumptions and supply the agreed business exhibits.
- Step 6Maintain
Operating records
Keep accounts, payroll and investment evidence. Renewal planning compares actual results with forecasts; ongoing support needs an agreed scope.
Check where you stand before you invest
E-2 eligibility checker
Review nationality, investment, control and business evidence. The tool identifies questions to investigate, not an approval score or legal determination.
%Investment calculator
Organize committed funds and compare them with business cost. The arithmetic does not decide which expenses qualify or predict approval.
80Treaty country lookup
Searchable list of every E-2 treaty country with the number of E-2 visas issued to each nationality in FY2024.
55,324 E-2 visas issued in fiscal year 2024
Official State Department figures by nationality, including investors, employees and family members. Asia accounted for 27,159 and Europe for 17,272. Changes of status approved inside the U.S. by USCIS are counted separately.
E-2 statistics and approval factors- Japan15,521
- Korea (South)6,778
- Canada6,747
- Germany3,902
- France3,574
- China (Taiwan)2,921
- United Kingdom2,720
- Italy1,531
- Mexico1,514
- Spain1,438
Source: U.S. Department of State, Nonimmigrant Visas Issued by Nationality, FY2024.
Find the guide for your E-2 decision
Dated guides connect questions to primary sources. Rules and procedures can change; verify current agency instructions before filing.
Start with the question you need to answer
No business selected yet?
Compare startup, acquisition and franchise responsibilities before searching for a target or paying a deposit.
Considering a purchase?
Use the diligence checklist to assess the evidence. This site does not publish verified live businesses for sale.
Ready to document the business?
Review plan deliverables, advertised fees and the records needed for a scope-specific quote.
E-2 visa questions we hear most
This article is general information and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed immigration attorney.
What is an E-2 visa?
The E-2 treaty investor visa lets a national of a treaty country live in the U.S. to develop and direct a business in which they have invested a substantial amount of capital. It is a nonimmigrant visa that can be renewed for as long as the business keeps qualifying.
How much do I need to invest for an E-2 visa?
The law sets no minimum. Officers compare your investment with the total cost of the business: a low-cost business is expected to be funded close to 100%, a more expensive one can qualify with a lower share. No amount alone guarantees qualification. Separate committed business investment from uncommitted cash and family living costs.
Which countries qualify for the E-2?
80 countries currently have E-2 treaty status, including Japan, Korea, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Mexico, Turkey, Israel and, since March 2024, Portugal. India, mainland China, Brazil and Russia do not.
How long does it take to get an E-2 visa?
Preparation, appointments and government review are different clocks. There is no universal total. Eligible USCIS premium processing provides an adjudicative action within 15 business days, not guaranteed approval or a consular visa.
Can my spouse and children come with me?
A spouse and unmarried children under 21 may apply as dependents; their nationality need not match the principal. Each must qualify and maintain status. Valid E-2S spouse status authorizes work, subject to professional licensing; E-2 child status does not.
Does TealBridge file my visa application?
No. TealBridge is a business consulting firm, not a law firm. We support business plans and records. If you retain an attorney for advice or representation, you engage that professional separately. Our consultation does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Can the E-2 lead to a green card?
Not directly, because the E-2 is a nonimmigrant visa. EB-5, EB-1C, EB-2 NIW and family routes have separate eligibility tests; an E-2 business does not automatically satisfy them. Plan the sequence with your attorney, since immigrant intent affects E-2 renewals.
Request an initial consultation
Share your citizenship, investment budget and timeline. A TealBridge consultant can arrange a 30-minute call on your goals, suitable business directions and the scope and fees of an engagement.
- Call or WhatsApp
- +1 (929) 213-1104 · WhatsApp
- client@tealbridge.us
- Based in
- Dallas, TX. Clients worldwide.