E-2 Investor Visa
E-2 Visa Attorney for Business Investors
Thinking of immigrating to the US? If you’re an investor who owns at least 50% of the shares in a company, an E-2 investor visa may be the way for you to turn your immigration dreams into reality! By investing in a new or existing American company, the Investor Visa E-2 Program grants you temporary residence in the United States.
With a 98% approval rate for petitions filed by AmLaw Group, you can rest assured knowing that your business immigration is in good hands. Schedule your consultation with one of our experienced E-2 visa attorney and get started with your E-2 investor visa application today!
What Investors Should Know About E-2 Visas
The Classic E-2 Investor Visa Applicant
If you’re applying for an investor visa E-2, you need to invest and commit at least $100,000 in your U.S. company. The overwhelming majority of E-2 visa applicants are also the owner of a business, whether small or medium. Most applicants are small business owners who are usually married with children and want to offer their family an opportunity to live in the U.S.
Often, applicants choose to apply for this visa category because they’re not sure if they want to have permanent residence in America, and wants to “take a closer look” first. If this sounds like you, get in touch with our US E-2 visa attorney to check your eligibility and get started with your business immigration in the United States.
In order to qualify for an E-2 visa, the applicant must be a citizen of a country that has an E-2 treaty in effect with the United States. E-2 visas have increasingly become popular for those who don’t even have a qualifying passport. Increasing numbers of investors are acquiring a second passport (such as in Grenada or Turkey) to then qualify for an E-2 visa.
Benefits of an E-2 Investor Visa
Your E-2 visa attorney will likely share with you the following advantages of securing an E-2 investor visa:
Relatively small amount of required investments (at least $100,000).
High chances of getting approval from the US Immigration Service (compared to other visa categories).
No requirement for the presence of a company overseas in the country of residence.
No requirement for job creation in the United States.
Ability to renew E-2 status indefinitely, provided that the applicant’s company is active and profitable.
The applicant’s family (spouse and unmarried minor children under the age of 21) also receive an E-2 visa, which gives them the right to live, study, and work in the United States.
The ability to switch to a green card through an EB-5 visa after the natural development and expansion of business in the United States and the transition to an EB-5 visa.
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Business Requirements for the E-2 Investor Visa
To qualify for an E-2 visa, your business should meet the following criteria:
This agreement was signed between the United States and most of the CIS and European Union states, with some Latin American countries and a number of other states. Here’s a complete list of Treaty countries.
Important: Russia and Belarus do not have a corresponding treaty with the United States.
You must register a new or acquire an existing company in the selected state. The applicant must necessarily own a controlling stake in this company.
You should rent an office to conduct commercial activities. The office must meet a number of requirements set by the USCIS.
You must invest at least $100,000 in this company. By the time the petition is filed, these funds must be transferred to the company’s account, spent on its activities, or placed under long-term obligations.
You’ll need to provide documents proving the legality of the source of the invested funds.
Provide a business plan for a period of 5 years as proof that the company is able to successfully develop and generate profit.
If you need someone to guide you through the E-2 process, schedule a call or a meeting with one of our Miami business immigration attorneys.
Processing Times for the E-2 Investor Visa
Investor visa E-2 petitions are processed within 4-6 months for standard petition processing, and 15-30 days for expedited petition review. Missing paperwork and errors in your E-2 visa application can cause delays in the processing of your business immigration.
Our experienced E-2 Visa lawyers can provide assistance in your E-2 visa petition to catch mistakes before filing and ensure that you have a smoother business immigration process. Contact AmLaw Group today to schedule a consultation and get started with your visa application!
Getting A Green Card Through Investor Visa
E-2 is a nonimmigrant visa and does not in itself qualify for a green card. However, there is the possibility of switching to a green card through the EB-5 category, subject to investment in the applicant’s company of funds from $900,000 and the creation of 10 jobs.
There are also a few other things to take into consideration when it comes to E-2 investor visas.
The validity of the visa depends on the nationality of the applicant, as the terms of the E-2 agreement vary from country to country. A complete list of countries and visa terms can be found here.
The period of stay in the United States after entry on a visa status is 2 years and remains the same for citizens of all participating countries.
It is important to understand that only companies with active commercial activities are suitable for this category. Companies whose activities do not require active management, as well as companies with extremely low annual turnover, are not suitable for this category.
For registration of E-2, you can purchase a franchise, namely a controlling stake in a company operating under a well-known brand, with the possibility of subsequent passive management of this company. The previous owner will continue to manage the business, and you will receive your share of the profits.
Obtaining E-2 Visas for Entrepreneurs from Russia and Belarus
Citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus cannot participate in the program due to the lack of an E-2 agreement between these states and the United States. AmLaw Group can help Russian and Belarusian clients to apply for this visa in two stages:
Issuing a second passport for the client (usually citizenship of Grenada).
Processing an E-2 investor visa petition.
Stage 1 | Registration of Citizenship of Grenada
Grenada is a picturesque and economically developed island nation in the Caribbean. Grenada citizenship provides a number of benefits:
- Citizens of Grenada can visit 143 countries of the world without a visa (including China, Great Britain, Schengen countries, and the EU);
- Grenada is a tax-friendly jurisdiction. Grenadian passport holders pay income tax only on income derived from domestic sources;
- Grenada allows dual citizenship and does not require other countries to be notified;
- The presence of the Embassy of Grenada in Moscow simplifies the process of obtaining citizenship;
- Applicants are not required to pass interviews, English, or country history exams;
- Citizens of Grenada are not required to visit or reside in the country;
- Citizenship is life-long for the investor and those whom he included in the application (spouse, children, parents, brothers, and sisters);
- Citizenship passed down from generation to generation Citizens of Grenada are eligible for a US E-2 investor visa for 5 years;
- Citizens of Grenada are eligible to apply for a US tourist visa for 10 years.
The process for obtaining citizenship of Grenada is as simple as possible. There are two ways: paying a state fee (non-refundable fee) or buying real estate, which can be sold after 5 years, retaining citizenship forever.
The amount depends on the number of people who want to obtain citizenship. The fee for a family (2-4 people) is $200,000, and the fee for one person is $150,000.
The volume of investments in the state-approved real estate object must be at least $220,000, while the amount of the non-refundable contribution for a family of 4 will decrease to $50,000. The options for exiting the program in five years provide an opportunity to sell the property, realize capital gains and receive income from investments.
IMPORTANT: For an E-2 visa application, it’s enough to have only one family member (the one applying for the visa) apply for citizenship in a country that is part of the E-2 treaty.
After choosing the path to obtain a passport, all that remains is to go through a medical commission and a security check. The entire process usually takes about 6 months. Our specialists and partners provide full support from the moment we receive your application to the issuance of a second passport in your hands.
Stage 2 | Obtaining an Investor Visa E-2
Immediately after receiving your Grenadan passport, our business immigration lawyers at AmLaw Group will start issuing an E-2 visa for the applicant and his family members. The processing time for an E-2 petition is on average 4 to 6 months for standard processing, or 15 to 30 days for expedited processing.
Optional | Getting a Green Card
The E-2 visa is suitable for those who do not want to risk large funds (investments of at least $900,000) and agree to temporary residence in the United States in order to create and develop a business. For those who are not satisfied with a temporary stay in the United States and who are aiming at obtaining a green card, there is the possibility of switching to an EB-5 immigration visa after successful business development and bringing it to the level required by US legislation (creating at least 10 jobs, increasing the total amount investments up to at least $900,000).
You’ll need to submit documents to assess the financial condition of the company and the availability of the required number of jobs. Our specialists, who have many years of successful experience with the EB-5 program, will be able to provide assistance in the process of collecting and preparing the required documentation.
Why Choose AmLaw Group
AmLaw Group, you can have the guarantee of a successful business immigration to the US. Thanks to our unique immigration philosophy, comprehensive individual approach, and extensive work experience, our business immigration attorneys receive approval in 99% of cases we handle. Our team employs only highly qualified specialists under the guidance of an outstanding immigration attorney Charles Reather.
Schedule a consultation with us to get started with your business immigration today!
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