The E-2 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows foreign investors to enter and work in the United States based on a substantial investment in a U.S. business. It is also known as an investor visa or treaty investor visa.
To obtain an E-2 visa, the applicant must be a citizen of a country that has a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States. The applicant must also have invested or be in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. enterprise. The investment must be sufficient to ensure the success and viability of the enterprise, and the investment must not be marginal.
The E-2 visa may be granted for a maximum of five years, and may be extended indefinitely as long as the investor continues to meet the eligibility requirements. Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 are also eligible for the E-2 dependent visa.
Unlike other nonimmigrant visas, the E-2 visa does not require a job offer from a U.S. employer. Instead, the investor must demonstrate that he or she will actively participate in the management of the U.S. enterprise and that the investment will create jobs for U.S. workers.
It is important to note that the E-2 visa does not provide a direct path to permanent residence (a green card). However, E-2 visa holders may apply for other types of visas or permanent residency through other means, such as family sponsorship or employment sponsorship.
