The E-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa for people who want to start a new business or purchase an operating business/franchise in the United States. 

Up to 2 business partners can apply for an E-2 visa each owning 50% of the business. 

E-2 visa applicants can also bring their essential employees to the USA under this visa. 

The spouse of an E-2 visa holder can legally work and the children under the age of 21 can study at US schools or colleges. 

There is no time limit on how long E-2 visa holders can stay in the USA. As long as the business operates, entrepreneurs and their employees can renew their visas indefinitely. 

Requirements

Citizenship 

E-visa applicants and their employees must be citizens of the following countries (at least 50% of an E-2 visa business must be owned by citizens of the following countries):

Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China (Taiwan), Colombia, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Honduras, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea (South), Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Macedonia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia.

Control over the business

A foreign investor must at least own 50% of the US business.

Investment amount

There is not a minimum investment requirement for the E-2 visa, but the investment amount must be substantial enough to successfully operate a business. 

The recommended amount for a successful visa case is usually around 100,000 USD. 

Some small businesses with low start-up costs may also qualify for an E-2 visa with around 40.000-50.000 USD investment. 

Investment source

An applicant must show that the funds have not been obtained, directly or indirectly, from criminal activity. Sources of funds could be personal savings, inheritance, sale of a property, loans, etc. 

Active vs Passive investment

The E-2 business must be for-profit and must provide services or sell products. Passive investments such as buying and renting real estate will not qualify for an E-2 visa.

Marginal business

The business cannot be marginal. It must have a present or future capacity to generate more than enough income to provide a minimal living for the investor and his or her family. The capacity to generate such an income should be achievable within 5 years from the business start date.