E-2 Visa Eligibility Check: Test Your Fit in 6 Steps
For entrepreneurs who want to buy or start a U.S. business and want to know, before spending money, which parts of their E-2 plan are strong and which need work. Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the filing.
since 1991
- The check covers six areas: treaty nationality, how substantial your investment is, whether the business is real and active, ownership and control, source of funds, and non-immigrant intent.
- The E-2 is only for citizens of treaty countries. Check yours first.
- You need to show your investment is at risk and committed, not just sitting in a bank account.
- The result shows strengths and gaps to fix. It is not a decision and not legal advice.
- An independent U.S. attorney reviews your full case before anything is filed.
Why do E-2 plans fail the first check?
Most E-2 plans fail the first check because the person tests the visa before testing the plan. The E-2 asks for a treaty nationality, a substantial investment that is already at risk, a real business that is more than a living for you, and proof your funds came from a lawful source. USCIS fees are generally not refunded if a petition is denied, so a gap you find late costs real money (USCIS).
Here is how it usually goes wrong. You pick a business before you check your passport. You keep your money in the bank until the visa is approved. Or you plan a business that only pays you and your family.
Underneath, the feelings are real. You feel excited about the business, unsure what counts as substantial, and worried about wasting your savings.
None of that means the E-2 is out of reach. It means you should test the plan first. The check below does that in six short steps.
Who is behind this check, and why trust it?
Amir Ismail & Associates has guided 25,000+ clients since 1991, from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We built this check so you can see your gaps before you meet anyone. Independent U.S. attorneys handle the legal work and the filing.
Empathy: We know how heavy it feels to put your savings into a business in another country.
Authority: Amir Ismail has worked in immigration since 1991. Over 35+ years, our team has guided 25,000+ clients from Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. That includes many entrepreneurs planning a move to the United States.
Philosophy: We believe you should find your gaps before you spend money. We believe a good advisor tells you when a plan is not ready. And we believe you should know exactly who files your case.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We help you pick your U.S. route, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the legal work and the filing.
Honest route check
We tell you when a route does not fit, before you spend money.
A plan for your profile
We look at your record, citizenship and capital, not a template.
Clear on who does what
AIA organizes your plan. Independent U.S. attorneys give legal advice and file.
A two-country view
We know the Canada and U.S. sides, so you can compare both.
Built for your passport
We check your citizenship first, so you never plan around a visa you cannot use.
Since 1991
35+ years in immigration, 25,000+ clients guided, and the 2026 Canadian Choice Award.
What clients say
“Amir’s team helped structure this to show it was sufficient. The business plan they developed was really detailed.”
Riaz R., E-2 client
Excerpt from a Google review of Amir Ismail & Associates.
What does the E-2 eligibility check cover?
The check covers six areas that USCIS and the U.S. Department of State look at for an E-2: your treaty nationality, a substantial investment, a real and active business, ownership and control, your source of funds, and your non-immigrant intent. You answer short questions, and each step shows feedback right away (USCIS, U.S. Department of State). At the end you see a report with your strengths and the gaps to fix.
- Nationality. Is your country on the E-2 treaty list?
- Investment. Is your money substantial for the business, and is it at risk and committed?
- Enterprise. Is the business real and active, and more than a living for you?
- Control and funds. Do you own at least half or run the business, and can you show where the money came from?
- Intent. Do you plan to leave when your E-2 status ends?
- Report. See your strengths and the gaps to fix.
It is a screening tool, not a decision. An attorney checks your full case.
E-2 Visa Eligibility Check
Six short steps. A screening tool, not legal advice and not a decision.
Step 1: Nationality
The E-2 is only open to citizens of countries on the State Department treaty table. If you hold more than one citizenship, choose the one from a treaty country.
Step 2: Investment
Your investment must be substantial. There is no fixed dollar amount. It is judged against the total cost of the business.
Money sitting in a bank account is not at risk. Committed money is spent or bound, for example a signed lease, bought equipment, or funds in escrow for a purchase.
Step 3: Enterprise
The business must be real and active. It must also be more than a way to support you and your family.
Step 4: Control and funds
You must be able to develop and direct the business, and you must show where your investment money came from.
Tick all that apply. You need a clear paper trail for all of it.
Step 5: Intent
The E-2 is a temporary status. You must plan to leave the United States when your E-2 status ends.
Step 6: Your report
You have finished all five steps. Your report lists your strengths, the gaps to fix, and anything that needs an attorney first.
It is a screening result, not a decision and not legal advice.
Your E-2 check report
Strengths
Gaps to fix
Needs an attorney first
This report is general information based on the limited answers you gave. It is not legal advice, it does not create an attorney-client relationship, and it is not a decision. An independent U.S. attorney must review your full case.
What does AIA do for you?
We help you read your result, fix the gaps, and arrange an independent U.S. attorney for you. We do not file with the U.S. government or give U.S. legal advice.
| What we do | What you get | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Result review | A person reads your report with you | You know which gap to fix first |
| Citizenship and treaty check | A check against the current treaty list | You do not build a plan on the wrong passport |
| Evidence and funds plan | A list of documents for your source of funds | Your paper trail is ready before you apply |
| Independent U.S. attorney hand-off | A licensed attorney advises you and files | You can trust the legal side |
Think of us as the person who reads the map with you. The attorney drives the car.
How the E-2 process works
You take three steps: run the check, send the short form, and meet an independent U.S. attorney. AIA helps you read your result and organize your evidence, and the attorney handles the legal work and the filing.
Step 1: Run the 6-step check
Answer the questions above and read your report.
Step 2: Send the short form
Tell us your goal and your result, and we call you to go over the gaps.
Step 3: Meet an independent U.S. attorney
They confirm your eligibility, advise you on the law and file your case.
Find my U.S. route
Answer a few questions. A member of our team will contact you. No obligation.
AIA is not a law firm. U.S. legal services are provided by independent, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys we arrange for you under a signed agreement.
Questions about cost, time and results
Most people ask three things before they start: what it costs, how long it takes, and whether they will qualify. The answers below are honest and short. If yours is missing, the short form lets you ask.
How accurate is this check?
The check is a screening tool, not a decision, so it shows strengths and gaps and never an approval or a denial. It tests your answers against the E-2 basics: treaty nationality, a substantial and committed investment, a real active business, ownership or operational control, and non-immigrant intent (USCIS, U.S. Department of State). An attorney reviews your full case before anything is filed.
What happens to my answers?
The check runs in your browser, and nothing you type is sent to us unless you submit the short form. If you start over or close the page, your answers are gone. If you send the short form, tell us your result so we can read it with you.
What should I do after my result?
Fix the gaps first, then send the short form so a person can go over your report with you. If a gap needs an attorney, we arrange one for you. A better plan beats a fast filing.
What happens if you wait, and what does success look like?
If you wait, you keep building a plan on guesses, and a gap shows up after you have spent the money. If you run the check first, you see your gaps while they are cheap to fix. The check takes about three minutes.
If you stay stuck: another month of guessing what counts as substantial. Money moved before it is safe to commit. A plan that only pays you, which you find out too late.
If you act now: you know your strengths, you know your gaps, and you know who files. You feel clear and ready, because the next step is plain. That is what we help you reach.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
U.S. legal scope. AIA is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in the United States. U.S. legal services are provided by independent, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys, chosen case by case for fit and cost, whom we arrange for you under a signed agreement. Any attorney-client relationship is between you and that attorney. AIA’s Canadian immigration services are separate. This page is general information, not legal advice.
