E-2 Franchise Visa: Buy a U.S. Franchise and Live in the USA
For citizens of treaty countries who want to buy and run a U.S. franchise and want to know, before signing anything, whether the E-2 fits. Since 1991, AIA has guided 25,000+ clients, and independent U.S. attorneys handle the filing.
since 1991
- A franchise does not change the E-2 test. You still need treaty citizenship, a substantial investment at risk, a business that is not marginal, and at least half ownership or control.
- A franchise can make your plan easier to document, because costs and the business model are written down. That helps your plan. It is not a promise of approval.
- The FTC Franchise Rule says the franchisor must give you the Franchise Disclosure Document at least 14 days before you sign or pay.
- Item 19 of that document covers income claims. If it is not in Item 19, neither the franchisor nor a broker may promise you income.
Why do franchise E-2 plans go wrong?
Most franchise E-2 problems come from picking the franchise first and checking the visa second. A franchise does not change the E-2 test: your money must be at risk, the business must be real and not marginal, and you must own at least half or control it (USCIS). Signing or paying before an attorney reviews your plan can leave your money in a business that does not fit.
Here is how it usually goes wrong. A sales call feels exciting, and a deposit feels small. You sign first and learn later that the agreement does not match what the E-2 asks for. Or you learn that your passport is not on the treaty list.
Underneath, the feelings are real. You feel excited, because a franchise looks safe. You feel pressured, because sellers move fast. And you feel alone, because nobody is on your side of the table.
None of that means you made a mistake. It means you need someone who checks the visa side before you commit. That is where we help,.
Who is behind your franchise 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.
Many of our clients are investors and families moving between Canada, the Gulf and South Asia.
Empathy: We know how big it feels to put your savings into a franchise 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 check the visa before you sign the franchise agreement. We believe a good advisor tells you when a franchise or the E-2 is the wrong move. And we believe you should know exactly who files your case and who pays whom.
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 is the E-2 franchise visa?
The E-2 franchise visa is the E-2 treaty investor visa used to buy and run a franchise in the United States. You hold citizenship in a treaty country, invest a substantial amount in the franchise, and come to develop and direct it (USCIS). Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can come with you.
A franchise is one way to build the business the E-2 needs. It is not a different visa. The same test applies to a franchise, a new business or an existing business.
A franchise can help you show your plan. The costs and the business model are written down, which gives your attorney clear numbers to work with.
Who qualifies for an E-2 visa through a franchise?
You qualify if you hold citizenship in a treaty country, invest a substantial amount at risk in the franchise, and own at least half of it or hold operational control. The franchise must be a real, active business that is not marginal, and you must plan to leave the U.S. when your status ends (USCIS). Check your passport against the State Department treaty list first.
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, and the funds are at risk.
- Real, active business: the franchise unit produces goods or services for profit and follows the law.
- Not marginal: it 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 you are not a citizen of a treaty country, you cannot use the E-2, and a franchise will not change that. India, mainland China, the UAE and Nigeria are not on the State Department list. In that case look at the L-1 or the EB-2 NIW instead.
Not sure which side of the line you are on? The short form tells you, in a few minutes.
Franchise, new business or existing business?
You can use the E-2 with a franchise, a new business you start, or an existing business you buy. The legal test is the same for all three, but the proof you gather is different. Pick the option that you can run well and document clearly.
| Franchise | Start a new business | Buy an existing business | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costs on paper | The Franchise Disclosure Document lists fees and startup costs (Items 5 to 7) | You build your own budget from quotes | The seller's books and the sale price |
| Track record | The franchisor's system and other units | None yet, so the plan carries more weight | The business's own history |
| Who sets the rules | The franchisor sets many rules | You | You, after the sale |
| Control and ownership | You still need at least half ownership or operational control | Same | Same |
| Best for | People who want a defined model | People with a clear idea and a plan | People who want income from day one |
The E-2 does not rank these three. Choose the one you can run well.
What should you check before you sign a franchise agreement?
Before you sign or pay, check that your passport is on the treaty list, that you have the Franchise Disclosure Document, and that a licensed U.S. attorney has reviewed the agreement and your plan. The FTC Franchise Rule says the franchisor must give you the document at least 14 days before you sign or pay (FTC). Do not let a sales call hurry that window.
Here are the checks, in plain words:
- Treaty list: confirm your citizenship on the State Department list before you spend money.
- FDD in your hands: the document has 23 items. Read Items 5 to 7 for fees and startup costs, Item 19 for income claims, and Item 21 for financial statements.
- Income claims: if a figure is not in Item 19, neither the franchisor nor a broker may claim it. Ask where any number came from.
- Attorney review: have a licensed U.S. attorney read the agreement before you pay. Ask whether ownership, control and funds at risk fit the E-2.
- Deposits: ask what happens to your money if the visa is refused. Get the answer in writing before you pay.
- You find a franchise
- Next:
- Is your passport on the treaty list?
- No:
- Look at L-1 or EB-2 NIW instead
- Yes:
- Ask for the Franchise Disclosure Document
- Next:
- Wait at least 14 days, read Items 5 to 7, 19 and 21
- Next:
- Attorney reviews the agreement and your plan
- Next:
- Does the plan fit the E-2 test?
- No:
- Change the plan or walk away
- Yes:
- Sign, then your attorney files for the E-2
- No:
- Does the plan fit the E-2 test?
- Next:
- Attorney reviews the agreement and your plan
- Next:
- Wait at least 14 days, read Items 5 to 7, 19 and 21
- Next:
- Ask for the Franchise Disclosure Document
- No:
- Is your passport on the treaty list?
- Next:
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 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 fit check | A view on whether the cost and plan look like the E-2 test | You adjust before you sign |
| FDD question list | A plain list of what to ask and what to read | You are not hurried by the sales call |
| Franchise introductions | Introductions to franchise partners we know | You compare options with the disclosure in view |
| 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 franchise 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.
Step 1: Answer the short form
Tell us your citizenship, your budget and the kind of franchise you are looking at.
Step 2: Get your route review
If your answers fit the E-2, we call you to go over your plan and the checks above.
Step 3: Meet an independent U.S. attorney
They confirm your eligibility, advise you on the law, review the franchise agreement, and file for you once they are engaged under your signed agreement.
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: 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.
Can I get an E-2 visa by buying a franchise?
Yes, if you hold citizenship in a treaty country and the franchise meets the E-2 test. You must invest a substantial amount at risk, the business must be real, active and not marginal, and you must own at least half or control it (USCIS). A franchise is one way to build that business, not a separate visa.
Does a franchise make the E-2 easier to get?
Not in the law, because the same test applies to every business. A franchise can make your plan easier to document, since costs and the business model are written down in the disclosure document. We cannot tell you that franchises are approved more often, and no one should promise that.
Judge a franchise on whether you can run it well and prove the plan.
What should I check before I sign a franchise agreement?
Check that your passport is on the treaty list, that you have the Franchise Disclosure Document, and that a licensed U.S. attorney has reviewed the agreement and your plan. The FTC says the franchisor must give you the document at least 14 days before you sign or pay (FTC). Ask in writing what happens to your money if the visa is refused.
What does a franchise E-2 cost, and who do I pay?
You pay different parties for different things: the franchisor, the government, your attorney. Franchise fees and startup costs are listed in Items 5 to 7 of the Franchise Disclosure Document. Government fees are set by USCIS and the State Department, and each attorney sets their own fees.
The franchise 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 USCIS or the consulate is, and how ready your documents are. The 14-day review window for the franchise document comes before any filing, and your attorney will plan the rest. We do not quote dates before we review your case, because a guess helps nobody.
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 a franchise or 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 route 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 sales deadline from a franchise seller may decide for you. If you check your fit first, you move forward with the right franchise, the right plan and the right attorney. The short form takes a few minutes.
If you stay stuck: another year of comparing franchises with no way to test them. Or a rushed deposit that does not fit the visa. 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 read in the disclosure document, 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.
