E-2 Visa- Buy a business and receive a US Visa
An E-2 visa is an excellent way for an immigrant to come live in the United States and own a business. An E-2 visa can be obtained by citizens of countries with whom the United States has established a treaty of commerce and navigation. The U.S. gives these visas to qualified non-citizen business buyers because these business owners are expected to make a significant positive impact on the economy. An E-2 Visa is valid for two years and can be usually can be indefinitely renewed as long as you continue to run the business and generate a profit enough to provide for yourself, your spouse and children under 21 years of age. You also must provide jobs for employees. While there is no hard rule generally 3 employees and an investment of $100,000 is acceptable to obtain this visa. For example you could purchase a business for $50,000 and spend 20,000 on new equipment, $18,000 renovating the premises and $2,000 on a website and $10,000 on a sales and advertising program and in most cases this would qualify for the visa.
I, Thomas McGovern, MBA ,CVA am uniquely qualified to help guide you through this process. I am certified as a business Appraiser/ Valuator and have 23 years of experience in business brokering, accounting and taxation field. As a business Appraiser/ Valuator I analyze the business, look at the accounting records and tax records to determine the true market value of the business. I also prepare the business plans that are required to obtain the B-2 Visa. Call or text me at 929 366 0211 to discuss your plan.
First determined if your country is on the list of treaty countries (see the list of treaty countries at the bottom of the page to see if you qualify), if it does then you (or the business) will need to fulfill the following five criteria to obtain your E-2 visa:
Your purpose of coming to the U.S. must be to invest in a new or existing enterprise. Startups qualify but are generally riskier. You will need to obtain a persuasive business that meets the USCIS specifications.
Your investment must be in a ‘bona fide” enterprise. The business cannot be a marginal investment. You will be required to prove that the establishment has formed a legal business entity ( Corporation, LLC, PC etc.) with an EIN (Employer Identification Number), files tax returns, has a lease, pays employees and vendors, has obtained the proper licenses and permits. When you apply to obtain an E-2 visa the U.S. government will review all of these records in order to prove the business isn’t marginal. The purpose of this review is to obtain proof that this business will produce “more than enough money” to support you and your family and will make a significant contribution to the U.S. economy.
You must have 100% of the funds you expect to investment in place. The funds must be solely pledged to the project. The funds should be held in an attorney escrow account.
You must disclose how you obtained the funds. The U.S. requires a “clear and legitimate path” in regards to the source of the money that is being invested in the business. The money must have been obtained legally. If the money is held by a financial institution, the U.S. government generally considers this evidence that the money has been obtained legally.
You must “develop and direct” your investment. If your plan is to purchase a you will need live near the business and actively manage the business. Your E-2 visa will not be approved request if you intend to be a remote or distant absentee owner. A request for an E-2 visa is intended for people who are planning to come to the country to work and contribute to the economy.
You must control more than 50% of the investment An operating agreement that states that you are in control of greater than 50% of the establishment is recommended.
If you meet the above criteria, you are eligible to apply for your E-2 visa.
E-2 Visa Treaty Countries
If you are a citizen of any of the following countries and you buy or open a business in the you could be eligible for a United States E-2 Visa
| Country | Classification | Effective Date |
| Albania | E-2 | January 4, 1998 |
| Argentina | E-1 | October 20, 1994 |
| Argentina | E-2 | October 20, 1994 |
| Armenia | E-2 | March 29, 1996 |
| Australia | E-1 | December 16, 1991 |
| Australia | E-2 | December 27, 1991 |
| Austria | E-1 | May 27, 1931 |
| Austria | E-2 | May 27, 1931 |
| Azerbaijan | E-2 | August 2, 2001 |
| Bahrain | E-2 | May 30, 2001 |
| Bangladesh | E-2 | July 25, 1989 |
| Belgium | E-1 | October 3, 1963 |
| Belgium | E-2 | October 3, 1963 |
| Bolivia | E-1 | November 09, 1862 |
| Bolivia | E-2 | June 6, 2001 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina 11 | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina 11 | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
| Brunei | E-1 | July 11, 1853 |
| Bulgaria | E-2 | June 2, 1994 |
| Cameroon | E-2 | April 6, 1989 |
| Canada | E-1 | January 1, 1993 |
| Canada | E-2 | January 1, 1993 |
| Chile | E-1 | January 1, 2004 |
| Chile | E-2 | January 1, 2004 |
| China (Taiwan) 1 | E-1 | November 30, 1948 |
| China (Taiwan) 1 | E-2 | November 30, 1948 |
| Colombia | E-1 | June 10, 1848 |
| Colombia | E-2 | June 10, 1848 |
| Congo (Brazzaville) | E-2 | August 13, 1994 |
| Congo (Kinshasa) | E-2 | July 28, 1989 |
| Costa Rica | E-1 | May 26, 1852 |
| Costa Rica | E-2 | May 26, 1852 |
| Croatia 11 | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Croatia 11 | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
| Czech Republic 2 | E-2 | January 1, 1993 |
| Denmark 3 | E-1 | July 30, 1961 |
| Denmark | E-2 | December 10, 2008 |
| Ecuador | E-2 | May 11, 1997 |
| Egypt | E-2 | June 27, 1992 |
| Estonia | E-1 | May 22, 1926 |
| Estonia | E-2 | February 16, 1997 |
| Ethiopia | E-1 | October 8, 1953 |
| Ethiopia | E-2 | October 8, 1953 |
| Finland | E-1 | August 10, 1934 |
| Finland | E-2 | December 1, 1992 |
| France 4 | E-1 | December 21, 1960 |
| France 4 | E-2 | December 21, 1960 |
| Georgia | E-2 | August 17, 1997 |
| Germany | E-1 | July 14, 1956 |
| Germany | E-2 | July 14, 1956 |
| Greece | E-1 | October 13, 1954 |
| Grenada | E-2 | March 3, 1989 |
| Honduras | E-1 | July 19, 1928 |
| Honduras | E-2 | July 19, 1928 |
| Iran | E-1 | June 16, 1957 |
| Iran | E-2 | June 16, 1957 |
| Ireland | E-1 | September 14, 1950 |
| Ireland | E-2 | November 18, 1992 |
| Israel | E-1 | April 3, 1954 |
| Italy | E-1 | July 26, 1949 |
| Italy | E-2 | July 26, 1949 |
| Jamaica | E-2 | March 7, 1997 |
| Japan 5 | E-1 | October 30, 1953 |
| Japan 5 | E-2 | October 30, 1953 |
| Jordan | E-1 | December 17, 2001 |
| Jordan | E-2 | December 17, 2001 |
| Kazakhstan | E-2 | January 12, 1994 |
| Korea (South) | E-1 | November 7, 1957 |
| Korea (South) | E-2 | November 7, 1957 |
| Kosovo 11 | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Kosovo 11 | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
| Kyrgyzstan | E-2 | January 12, 1994 |
| Latvia | E-1 | July 25, 1928 |
| Latvia | E-2 | December 26, 1996 |
| Liberia | E-1 | November 21, 1939 |
| Liberia | E-2 | November 21, 1939 |
| Lithuania | E-2 | November 22, 2001 |
| Luxembourg | E-1 | March 28, 1963 |
| Luxembourg | E-2 | March 28, 1963 |
| Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of (FRY) 11 | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of (FRY) 11 | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
| Mexico | E-1 | January 1, 1994 |
| Mexico | E-2 | January 1, 1994 |
| Moldova | E-2 | November 25, 1994 |
| Mongolia | E-2 | January 1, 1997 |
| Montenegro 11 | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Montenegro 11 | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
| Morocco | E-2 | May 29, 1991 |
| Netherlands 6 | E-1 | December 5, 1957 |
| Netherlands 6 | E-2 | December 5, 1957 |
| Norway 7 | E-1 | January 18, 1928 |
| Norway 7 | E-2 | January 18, 1928 |
| Oman | E-1 | June 11, 1960 |
| Oman | E-2 | June 11, 1960 |
| Pakistan | E-1 | February 12, 1961 |
| Pakistan | E-2 | February 12, 1961 |
| Panama | E-2 | May 30, 1991 |
| Paraguay | E-1 | March 07, 1860 |
| Paraguay | E-2 | March 07, 1860 |
| Philippines | E-1 | September 6, 1955 |
| Philippines | E-2 | September 6, 1955 |
| Poland | E-1 | August 6, 1994 |
| Poland | E-2 | August 6, 1994 |
| Romania | E-2 | January 15, 1994 |
| Serbia 11 | E-1 | November 15,1882 |
| Serbia 11 | E-2 | November 15,1882 |
| Senegal | E-2 | October 25, 1990 |
| Singapore | E-1 | January 1, 2004 |
| Singapore | E-2 | January 1, 2004 |
| Slovak Republic 2 | E-2 | January 1, 1993 |
| Slovenia 11 | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Slovenia 11 | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |
| Spain 8 | E-1 | April 14, 1903 |
| Spain 8 | E-2 | April 14, 1903 |
| Sri Lanka | E-2 | May 1, 1993 |
| Suriname 9 | E-1 | February 10, 1963 |
| Suriname 9 | E-2 | February 10, 1963 |
| Sweden | E-1 | February 20, 1992 |
| Sweden | E-2 | February 20, 1992 |
| Switzerland | E-1 | November 08, 1855 |
| Switzerland | E-2 | November 08, 1855 |
| Thailand | E-1 | June 8, 1968 |
| Thailand | E-2 | June 8, 1968 |
| Togo | E-1 | February 5, 1967 |
| Togo | E-2 | February 5, 1967 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | E-2 | December 26, 1996 |
| Tunisia | E-2 | February 7, 1993 |
| Turkey | E-1 | February 15, 1933 |
| Turkey | E-2 | May 18, 1990 |
| Ukraine | E-2 | November 16, 1996 |
| United Kingdom 10 | E-1 | July 03, 1815 |
| United Kingdom 10 | E-2 | July 03, 1815 |
| Yugoslavia 11 | E-1 | November 15, 1882 |
| Yugoslavia 11 | E-2 | November 15, 1882 |