E-2 Investor Visa USA: Run Your Own U.S. Business and Bring Your Family
For investors and founders from treaty countries who want to build a business in the United States and want to know, before spending money, whether the E-2 fits. Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the filing.
since 1991
- The E-2 is only for citizens of treaty countries. Canada and Pakistan are on the list. India, China (mainland) and the UAE are not.
- There is no fixed minimum investment. USCIS looks for a substantial amount in a real, active business that is not marginal.
- You must own at least half of the business or control it, and you must plan to leave the U.S. when your status ends.
- Your spouse can work in the U.S. on E-2 status. Your unmarried children under 21 can come too, but cannot work.
- The E-2 does not lead directly to a green card. Plan that step early with an attorney.
- Buying a franchise is a defined way to build the business the E-2 needs. It does not change the legal test. See the E-2 franchise visa.
Why do E-2 applications fail?
Most E-2 problems come from a weak plan, thin proof of funds, or a business that looks marginal. USCIS and the State Department look at whether your money is truly at risk, whether the business is real and active, and whether it can do more than support you and your family. A refusal can cost you months and put money you already committed at risk (USCIS).
Here is how it usually goes wrong. You pick a business because it looks cheap, not because it fits the test. You commit funds before anyone has checked your plan. Or you find out too late that your passport is not on the treaty list.
Underneath, the feelings are real. You feel anxious, because your savings are on the line. You feel unsure, because every site gives a different number. And you feel stuck, because you cannot tell whether to buy a franchise, start a business, or walk away.
None of that means you made a mistake. It means no one gave you a clear test to measure against. The next section shows who is behind this page, and the sections after it give you the test.
Who is behind your E-2 plan, and why trust them?
Amir Ismail & Associates has guided 25,000+ clients since 1991, from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. We help you check your fit and plan your investment, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the legal work and the filing. We also know both sides of the border, so we can tell you when Canada is the better move.
Many of our E-2 clients come from treaty countries such as Canada and Pakistan.
Empathy: We know how heavy it feels to put your savings into a business in a new 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 people choosing between the United States and Canada.
Philosophy: We believe you should test your plan before you spend a dollar on it. We believe a good advisor tells you when the E-2 is the wrong visa. 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 is the E-2 investor visa?
The E-2 treaty investor visa lets citizens of treaty countries live and work in the United States while they run a business they invest in. You must invest a substantial amount in a real, active business, own at least half of it or hold operational control, and plan to leave when your status ends (USCIS). Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can come with you.
You can reach the E-2 in three common ways. You can start a business, buy a franchise, or buy an existing business. Each has the same test, but each needs a different plan and different proof.
The E-2 is a visa, not a green card. It is temporary, and you can extend it for as long as you keep running the business.
E-2 with a franchise: a defined way to build the business
Buying a franchise is one of the most common ways to build the business an E-2 needs, because the costs and the business model are written down. It does not change the E-2 test, and it is not a promise of approval. You still need treaty citizenship, a substantial investment at risk, a business that is not marginal, and at least half ownership or control (USCIS).
Before you sign anything, the FTC Franchise Rule says the franchisor must give you its Franchise Disclosure Document at least 14 days before you sign or pay (FTC). Read it, and have a licensed U.S. attorney review the agreement against the E-2 test.
See the E-2 franchise visa for the checks, the disclosure and how it works.
Who qualifies for an E-2 visa?
You qualify if you hold citizenship in a treaty country, invest a substantial amount in a real, active U.S. business, and come to develop and direct it. The business must not be marginal, which means it should be able to produce more than a living for you and your family. USCIS says a new business can qualify if it can reach sufficient income within five years (USCIS).
Here are the requirements, in plain words:
- Treaty nationality: you hold a passport from a country on the State Department treaty list.
- Substantial investment: you have invested, or are actively investing, a substantial amount of capital, and the funds are at risk.
- Real, active business: the business produces goods or services for profit and follows the law.
- Not marginal: the business can produce more than a minimal living for you and your family.
- Ownership or control: you own at least 50 percent, or you hold operational control through a managerial role.
- Intent to depart: you plan to leave the United States when your E-2 status ends.
Who this is not for. If your only citizenship is from a country without a treaty, you cannot use the E-2. India, mainland China, the UAE and Nigeria are not on the State Department list. If you hold two passports, you may be able to use the treaty-country one. The E-2 is also the wrong tool if your main goal is a direct green card.
Not sure which side of the line you are on? The short form tells you, in a few minutes.
Not sure you qualify? Test your E-2 fit in six steps. It takes about three minutes and shows your gaps before you spend money.
What does AIA do for you?
We help you check your fit, test your plan, and arrange an independent U.S. attorney for you who files. Each service below has a clear benefit and a clear reason it matters. We do not file with USCIS or the State Department, and we do not give U.S. legal advice.
| What we do | What you get | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality check | A clear yes or no on treaty eligibility | You do not waste money on a visa you cannot get |
| Franchise introductions | Vetted introductions to franchise partners we know | You compare options with the facts in front of you |
| Investment fit review | A view on whether your plan looks substantial and not marginal | You adjust the plan before you commit funds |
| Business plan review | Feedback on the plan before it goes to an attorney | The filing starts on a stronger base |
| Source-of-funds checklist | A list of proof to gather early | You avoid scrambling for documents later |
| Independent U.S. attorney hand-off | A licensed attorney advises you and files | You can trust the legal side |
| Green card planning | A first view of what could come after the E-2 | You plan the next step from day one |
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: answer the short form, get your route review, and meet an independent U.S. attorney. AIA helps you check your fit and organize your plan, and the attorney handles the legal work and the filing. Which filing path you use depends on where you are when you apply (USCIS).
Step 1: Answer the short form
Tell us your citizenship, your business idea and your budget.
Step 2: Get your route review
If your answers fit the E-2, we call you to go over your plan and what to gather.
Step 3: Meet an independent U.S. attorney
They confirm your eligibility, advise you on the law, and file for you once they are engaged under your signed agreement.
- You are ready to file
- Next:
- Are you in the U.S. in lawful nonimmigrant status?
- Yes:
- Your attorney files Form I-129 to change status to E-2
- Next:
- E-2 status granted
- Next:
- Your attorney files Form I-129 to change status to E-2
- No, outside the U.S.:
- Apply for an E-2 visa through the State Department, then enter the U.S.
- Next:
- E-2 status granted
- Next:
- Apply for an E-2 visa through the State Department, then enter the U.S.
- Yes:
- Are you in the U.S. in lawful nonimmigrant status?
- Next:
How long can you stay on an E-2, and who can come with you?
Your first stay can last up to two years, and you can extend in steps of up to two years with no limit on the number of extensions (USCIS). Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can apply for E-2 dependent status, whatever their nationality. Your spouse can work in the U.S. without a separate permit, because USCIS treats E-2 spouses as work-authorized incident to status.
Children can study but cannot work. Keep your business running well, because extensions depend on it.
Does the E-2 lead to a green card?
No, the E-2 does not lead directly to a green card. It is a temporary visa, and you must plan to leave when your status ends. Many people still plan a later green card through EB-2 NIW, EB-1A or EB-5, and an attorney should map that plan with you early (USCIS).
Start thinking about the next step on day one. It is much easier than starting late. See U.S. green card options and the EB-2 NIW page.
E-2 or Canada? Compare the two routes
If you are choosing between two countries, compare the E-2 with Canada’s C11 entrepreneur work permit. Both are temporary, both need a real business plan, and neither leads directly to permanent residence. The main differences are who can apply and how Canada defines success.
| U.S. E-2 | Canada C11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can use it | Citizens of treaty countries | Foreign nationals who will run their own business and bring significant benefit to Canada |
| Status | Temporary, renewable | Temporary, no fixed length |
| Key test | A real, active business that is more than marginal | Work that brings significant economic, social or cultural benefit |
| Path to permanent residence | None directly. You need a separate green card route | None directly. Time on C11 does not count toward the Canadian Experience Class. Provincial business streams are the PR route |
See the full comparison: E-2 vs C11. The Canada side is on the C11 entrepreneur work permit page.
Can Canadians apply for an E-2 visa?
Yes, Canada is on the State Department treaty list, so Canadian citizens can use the E-2 if they meet the investment and business tests. A Canadian applying from outside the U.S. applies for the visa through the State Department. A Canadian already in the U.S. in lawful status may change status with Form I-129 (USCIS, U.S. Department of State).
For the Canada-specific steps, see E-2 for Canadian investors.
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 investors ask three things before they start: how much to invest, 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 much do I need to invest for an E-2 visa?
There is no fixed minimum. USCIS asks for a substantial amount of capital in a real business, and the funds must be at risk (USCIS). What counts as substantial depends on the cost of the business, so a small business may need most of its price invested, and a large one needs a larger amount.
Plan around the business, not around a number from a blog. A plan that fits the test beats a round figure.
Which countries qualify for an E-2 visa?
Citizens of the countries on the State Department treaty list qualify, and the list includes Canada, Pakistan, Mexico, Turkey, Egypt and the Philippines. India, mainland China, the UAE and Nigeria are not on it. Check the current list before you plan, because treaties can change (U.S. Department of State).
Does citizenship by investment count for the E-2?
Yes, it can count, but only after a waiting period. If you gained your citizenship through a financial investment and have never held E status, you must have lived in that country continuously for at least three years at some point before you apply (Public Law 117-263, section 5902). Citizenship by birth, descent, marriage or naturalization is not affected, and the country still has to be on the State Department treaty table.
Can my spouse and children come with me?
Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can apply for E-2 dependent status, whatever their nationality (USCIS). Your spouse can work without a separate permit, and your children can study. Children who turn 21 may lose eligibility, so timing matters.
How long can I stay on an E-2 visa?
Your first stay can last up to two years, and you can extend in steps of up to two years each with no limit on the number of extensions (USCIS). Extensions depend on your business staying real, active and not marginal. You must also plan to leave when your status ends.
What does the E-2 visa cost, and who do I pay?
You pay different parties for different things: the government, your attorney, and the business itself. Government fees are set by the State Department and USCIS, and each attorney sets their own fees. The business investment is the largest cost, and it is the part you control through your plan.
We do not quote fees on this page.
A wrong filing costs more than a good plan, because government fees are generally not refunded. Testing your plan first is the cheaper path.
How long does the process take?
It depends on where you apply, how busy the consulate or USCIS is, and how ready your documents are. Applying from outside the U.S. goes through the State Department, and a change of status inside the U.S. goes through USCIS. We do not quote dates before we review your case, because a guess helps nobody.
The part you control is the start. The short form takes a few minutes, and the route review follows.
Will I qualify?
No one can promise you will qualify. The short form and the route review tell you honestly where you stand, including when the E-2 does not fit. If it is a poor match, we say so before you spend money.
That is also why some people leave with a different visa than the one they came for. A better-fitting route beats a hopeful filing.
What happens if you wait, and what does success look like?
If you wait, you keep guessing, and a plan that does not fit the test gets more likely. If you test your plan first, you move forward with the right business and the right attorney. The short form takes a few minutes.
If you stay stuck: another year of reading conflicting numbers. Savings sit idle while you wonder. A plan that does not fit costs you months and fees you will not get back.
If you act now: you know whether you qualify, you know what to gather, and you know who files your case. You feel relieved and confident, because the next step is clear. 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.
