E-2 Investor Visas

An E-2 Investor Visa may be available to certain foreign investors or employees of foreign investors who are looking to invest a substantial amount of capital in a United States business. The visa grants the recipient two years to legally work in the U.S. with the ability to renew an indefinite amount of times. This type of visa is a great option for those who qualify.

Who May Qualify for an E-2 Investor Visa?

First and foremost, to be eligible for an E-2 Visa, a person must be a citizen of a country that maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation with the U.S. Additionally, the applicant must be an investor in an enterprise located in the U.S. or a qualifying employee of said enterprise. The sole reason for seeking entry into the U.S. must be for development of the investment enterprise. To support the fact that this is the applicants sole purpose in coming to the U.S., the applicant must be able to demonstrate that he or she owns at least 50% of the enterprise, is in operational control of the enterprise.

If it is not the actual treaty investor applying for the visa but an employee of a treaty investor, the employee must also be of the same nationality as the principal employer who is a national of a treaty country. Additionally, the employee must fall within the legal definition of an “employee.” The employee must also have job duties which are executive or supervisory in nature. If not, the employee must at least have special qualifications.

What are the Benefits and Disadvantages of E-2 Investor Visas?

There are many significant benefits to holding an E-2 Visa, including the fact that you are not only permitted to legally work in the U.S., but you also have the ability to freely travel in and out of the U.S. Additionally, with an E-2 Visa, you have the ability to obtain an unlimited number of two-year extensions as long as you maintain the qualifications of the E-2 Visa. Also, your dependents under 21, as well as your relatives and spouse, can join you in the U.S. with an E-2 Visa. Your dependents may attend U.S. schools, including colleges and universities, without needing to apply for a separate visa. You spouse may also work while in the U.S.

While the E-2 Visa has some very appealing advantages, you should also be aware of the downsides of this kind of visa. For instance, it is very limited in the way that it is only available to nationals of countries that have investment treaties with the U.S. If you are a national of an eligible country, you still may face a slow application process as E-2 Visas are approved for two years at a time. If you are granted an E-2 Visa, you are restricted to being able to work only for the employer who acted as your E-2 Visa sponsor.

E-2 Visa Applicant Advisors

If you think you may qualify for an E-2 visa, contact the dedicated immigration attorneys at Nachman, Phulwani, Zimovcak Law Group, P.C. The requirements and application process for an E-2 visa are specific and can be complex if not familiar with the system. Contact us today

If you should have any questions or need more information about the ways in which the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Laws may impact you, your family, your friends or your colleagues, please contact the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Lawyers at the NPZ Law Group – VISASERVE – U.S. Immigration and Nationality Lawyers by e-mailing us at info@visaserve.com or by calling us at 201-670-0006 (x107). For more up-to-date immigration and nationality law information you can also visit our Law Firm’s website at www.visaserve.com.