E-2 Visa: Great option for small business owners in the United States
An E-2 Treaty Investor Visa is a non-immigrant work visa reserved for entrepreneurs of nations that have a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States. It enables foreign investors to work and develop their businesses in the United States.
E-2 visas are only available to nationals of a country that has a valid commerce and navigation treaty with the United States. The E-2 Investor visa applicant may invest in his own start-up or purchase an existing business.
The E-2 Investor must own at least 50% of the business, and should make substantial investment in a business or commercial enterprise in the United States. While the U.S. government has not set a minimum level of investment to qualify as “substantial,” the amount must be at least enough to develop the business in order for it to conduct operations.
The E-2 enterprise should be engaged in active trade of goods or services with the goal of generating profits. Passive investments, such as the purchase of stocks or real estate properties, do not qualify for the E-2 Visa.
E-2 Visa is also available for E-2 company's employees who hold the same nationality as the E-2 Investor. The E-2 Employee can be a Manager or a worker with special skills, making him or her essential to the running of the business.
See the list of E-2 Treaty countries below:
Albania
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belgium
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Congo (Brazzaville)
Congo (Kinshasa)
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Ethiopia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Grenada
Honduras
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Liberia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Mexico
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Philippines
Poland
Romania
Serbia
Senegal
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom.