How E-2 Visas Help Foreign Nationals Start Small Businesses in the U.S.

How E-2 Visas Help Foreign Nationals Start Small Businesses in the U.S.

If you are a foreign national interested in starting a U.S. business, the E-2 visa may be perfect for you. The key advantages of an E-2 visa for foreign entrepreneurs is the relatively low investment amount required, the infinite duration of your stay and the option to have your family accompany you and also work in the U.S.

Here’s what you need to qualify for an E-2 visa to start a small business in the U.S.:

Be a national of a U.S. treaty country. The U.S. has commerce and navigation treaties in place with more than 75 countries. You must be a citizen of one of these countries to be eligible for an E-2 visa.

Have invested or plan to invest in a U.S. business. You must have personal assets at risk for investment in a U.S. business and, if the business is not yet operational, it must be “open for business” soon in order to obtain your E-2 visa.

Intend to run the business yourself. You must have the appropriate skills and plan to direct and run the business yourself.

Make a substantial investment. You must make a substantial investment in your U.S. business. While the government does not provide a precise definition for “substantial,” what is considered to be substantial for purposes of obtaining an E-2 visa will be in proportion to the size of and the type of the business.

Employ others. Your business must be large enough to employ others, not just yourself or members of your immediate family.

Intend to return home. You must intend to return to your home country after your E-2 visa expires (though you can apply for a renewal upon the expiration of the initial visa).

Applying for an E-2 visa requires extensive documentation, and should not be undertaken without the counsel of an experienced business immigration attorney.

The North Miami attorneys at Jurado & Farshchian, P.L. are experienced professionals who can assist with your business immigration or residency issues. Please contact us at (305) 921-0440, or email us at info@jflawfirm.com.

 

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