E2 visa gives a foreigner the right to start a business in the US, live, and earn as an ex-pat entrepreneur. This is an investment-based visa and can be availed by nationals of specific E2 treaty visa countries. The entrepreneur can operate all types of business formats. The visa holders are free to travel within and outside of the US with the visa covering the foreigner’s dependents too. However, it is not the same as the EB5 Immigrant Investor visa.
There is a strict term with the E2 status – that the investor can work only in the activity, they have been approved for. The initial period of stay granted is two years, which can be extended by request for another two years. There is no limit to extension; however, the granted extension is only for two years each time.
The list of E2 treaty visa countries
1. Treaties that were signed with countries in the 1800s
The United Kingdom, Yugoslavia, Argentina, Costa Rica, Kosovo, Montenegro, Paraguay, Serbia, and Switzerland.
2. Treaties that were signed between 1900 – 1950
Austria, China (Taiwan), Colombia, Honduras, Italy, Liberia, Norway, and Spain.
3. Treaties that were signed between 1951 – 2000
Albania, Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Congo, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Philippines, Romania, Senegal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
4. Treaties that were signed after 2000
Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bolivia, Chile, Denmark, Israel, Jordan, Lithuania, and Singapore.
The first country to sign the treaty with the US was the United Kingdom when the E2 visa was signed on 3rd July 1815. Israel is the recent addition to the list, with the treaty being signed on 1st May 2019.
What happens to citizens from non-Treaty countries? To know more, you can speak to an E2 Visa expert.
Why E2 Visa?
- The approval process is very fast. If the government is paid extra for the expedited process, the visa will be processed within two weeks. Other visas take up to 8 to 29 months.
- The capital investment is quite low – as low as $60,000. A major part of your start-up fees is treated as capital.
- There is no limitation to the nature of the business and can range from being service-centric to product-centric.
- With the extensions, you can stay back in the US for quite some time.
- Your dependents, family, spouse, kids under 21 years can come to the US with you. Kids are free to attend K-12 schools free of charge. Your spouse can join a job.
- There are no limits to the E-2 visas if you belong to E2 treaty visa countries.
Whether you are looking for help with an E-2 visa or Grenada Citizenship Investment, it is good to contact an expert visa consultant who can offer end-to-end support and guidance in choosing the right visa program for your entrepreneurship.
