E-2 Visa Cost in 2026: Government Fees, Attorney Fees and the Total

Government fees for an E-2 visa are a small part of the total: $315 per applicant at a U.S. consulate, or $1,015 for Form I-129 plus a $600 Asylum Program Fee if you change status inside the United States. Professional fees, the business plan and company setup cost more. In our experience, a family of four should budget roughly $11,000 to $32,000 on top of the investment itself, before travel.

The investment is the headline number in an E-2 case, but it is not the whole bill. This guide lists every cost we see in a typical case, separates fixed government fees from variable professional fees, and gives a sample budget for a family of four. Government fees below are current as of October 2026; always check the official fee pages before you pay.

What are the government fees for an E-2 visa?

Applying at a U.S. consulate

MRV application fee: $315 per applicant. This is the fee for E category visas, paid by the principal investor, spouse and each child before the interview. It is non-refundable even if the visa is refused. Every applicant also completes Form DS-160 online.

Reciprocity issuance fee: depends on nationality. Some countries’ citizens pay an additional fee after approval, mirroring what their government charges Americans. Many treaty countries pay nothing; check the reciprocity table for your nationality on travel.state.gov. The same table sets how long your visa will be valid, from 3 months to 5 years.

Visa Integrity Fee: confirm with your embassy. Public Law 119-21, signed on July 4, 2025, created a $250 visa integrity fee. Implementation has been uneven, so confirm with the embassy where you apply whether it is being collected.

Changing status or extending inside the United States

Form I-129 (E classification): $1,015, or $510 for small employers with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees. Most new E-2 businesses qualify for the lower fee. The business files the petition.

Asylum Program Fee: $600, or $300 for small employers and $0 for nonprofits. It is paid with the I-129.

Premium processing: $2,965 for requests postmarked on or after March 1, 2026. USCIS then acts on the I-129 within 15 business days. It is optional.

Form I-539 for dependents: the spouse and children file one Form I-539. See the current USCIS fee schedule for the amount.

Form I-765 for the spouse (optional): since January 30, 2022, the I-94 for an E-2 spouse carries the class E-2S and is itself evidence of work authorization. A separate EAD is optional; see the current USCIS fee schedule if you want one.

Government fee	Amount	Who pays
MRV visa application fee (E)	$315	Each applicant at a consulate
Reciprocity issuance fee	$0 or more, by nationality	Each applicant, after approval
Visa Integrity Fee	$250 if collected; confirm with the embassy	Each applicant
Form I-129, E classification	$1,015 ($510 small employers)	The business, inside the U.S.
Asylum Program Fee	$600 ($300 small employers, $0 nonprofits)	The business, with the I-129
Premium processing, I-129	$2,965 (optional)	The business
Form I-539, dependents	See current USCIS fee schedule	Spouse and children
Form I-765, spouse EAD	See current USCIS fee schedule (optional)	Spouse

For a comparison of the two routes, read our guide to E-2 change of status inside the U.S..

How much do E-2 attorneys and business plans cost?

Professional fees vary by firm, city and complexity. The ranges below are typical of what we see in 2026; they are not fixed prices.

Immigration attorney. E-2 cases are usually quoted as flat fees, in our experience $4,000 to $10,000 for the principal investor and $500 to $1,500 for each dependent. Acquisitions with escrow and seller financing, or cases that need a response to a 221(g) request, sit at the top of the range. Our guide on working with an E-2 lawyer versus a consultant explains what each typically covers.

Business plan. A professionally written E-2 business plan typically costs $2,500 to $8,000, depending on research depth and the financial model. See how much an E-2 business plan costs and our business plan service.

Acquisition advisory. If you buy a business, buyer-side due diligence, valuation and deal structuring typically cost $5,000 to $25,000 depending on deal size. Brokers are usually paid by the seller.

Accountant. Entity setup with a CPA, first-year bookkeeping and the first tax filings usually run $1,500 to $4,000.

What other costs should I budget for?

Company formation. State LLC or corporation filing fees range from about $50 to $500 depending on the state, plus $100 to $300 a year for a registered agent. The IRS does not charge for an EIN. Our guide to choosing an LLC or corporation for an E-2 covers the structure.

Licenses, permits and insurance. From under $100 for a simple business license to several thousand dollars in regulated sectors such as food service or transportation.

Translations and document certification. Foreign-language documents usually need certified English translations. Depending on volume and language, this typically ranges from a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.

Travel. Since September 6, 2025, nonimmigrant visa applicants generally must apply in their country of nationality or legal residence, and in-person interviews are the norm. Budget for the trip to the consulate and for any earlier trips to the U.S. to sign a lease or meet a seller.

The investment itself. This is the largest cost by far, and there is no legal minimum. See the E-2 visa minimum investment guide and test your numbers with the E-2 investment calculator.

How much does an E-2 visa cost for a family of four?

The table shows a consular application for an investor, spouse and two children, excluding the investment and travel. Government fees are from the sections above; professional fees are typical ranges from our practice.

Item	Low	High
MRV visa fee, 4 x $315	$1,260	$1,260
Visa Integrity Fee, 4 x $250, if collected	$0	$1,000
Reciprocity fees	Depends on nationality	Depends on nationality
Attorney, principal	$4,000	$10,000
Attorney, 3 dependents	$1,500	$4,500
Business plan	$2,500	$8,000
Formation and registered agent	$150	$800
CPA setup and first-year bookkeeping	$1,500	$4,000
Translations and certifications	$300	$2,000
Total, excluding investment and travel	about $11,200	about $31,600

If the family changes status inside the U.S. instead, replace the MRV and integrity fees with the USCIS fees: $810 for a small employer ($510 I-129 plus $300 Asylum Program Fee) or $1,615 at the standard rate, plus $2,965 if you choose premium processing, plus the I-539 fee from the current USCIS schedule. Remember that a change of status does not give you a visa; your first trip abroad will require a consular application and the $315 fee per person.

What does it cost to renew an E-2?

Renewal repeats the government fees for the route you use: $315 per applicant at a consulate, or the I-129 and Asylum Program Fee for a USCIS extension. Attorney fees for a renewal are typically lower than for the first case, and the business plan is usually replaced by evidence of actual performance. See E-2 visa renewal.

Where should I not cut costs?

Government fees are fixed. The flexible money is in the business plan and the choice of business, and those are the two places where savings most often backfire. A template plan that does not match your bank records can lead to a 221(g) request, months of delay and a second attorney fee. A business chosen because it was cheap, rather than because it can grow beyond a minimal living, can sink the case entirely.

Next steps

For a budget tailored to your nationality, family size and filing route, request a consultation. We build the business, prepare the business plan and organize the investment evidence; your independent immigration attorney prepares and files the application.