WHAT IS THE MINIMUM INVESTMENT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN E-1/E-2 VISA?
Unlike some other visa categories, the E-1/E-2 Treaty Trader visa does not have a strict minimum investment requirement. Instead of a specific monetary threshold, the E-1 visa focuses on the concept of “substantial trade.” This means that the trade conducted between the applicant’s home country and the United States should be sizable and continuous. The applicant’s investment should demonstrate a commitment to the success of the enterprise. In short, your investment needs to make business sense in relation to the business that you are setting up.
There is also no fixed minimum investment amount for the E-2 visa. The amount of investment will vary based on factors such as the type of business, its size, location, and overall cost. The law requires the investment to be substantial, which means sufficient to ensure the successful operation of the business and to demonstrate the investor’s commitment to the business’s growth and viability. The investment should not be marginal, meaning it should have the potential to generate more than just enough income to support the investor and their family.
The investment should be significant enough to cover the costs associated with starting or purchasing the business, such as purchasing assets, leasing space, hiring employees, and covering operational expenses. Generally, E-2 visa applications that show a larger investment have a better chance of being approved, especially if the investment aligns with the business’s needs and potential for growth.
The investment must be at risk, that is, not just sitting in your bank account. You must have already spent sizable amounts of your investment in physical space, employees, equipment, marketing, and other costs necessary to buy or open a business.
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