We’ve heard you’re looking to expand your horizon, spread your wings, and fly. You want to transverse some land and/or water and reach the shores of North America. With your many successes in your native country, you seem like a suitable candidate, if not an excellent one. But are you ready? Are you truly prepared? Well, first, we’ll start small list of questions taken directly from the USCIS website to better evaluate your situation.
Could an E-2 Visa work for you? Ask yourself the following questions to see if you might qualify:
- Are you a national of a country where a qualifying Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, or Navigation or its equivalent exists with the United States? To see if your country of nationality qualifies, please visit the Department of State’s Treaty Countries webpage.
- Have you invested, or are you in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital in a bona fide U.S. enterprise?
- Can you show that you have control of the enterprise by owning 50 percent or more of the enterprise, or by showing that you have operational control through a managerial position or other corporate devices?
If you could answer yes to all three you are on your way. And that’s wonderful news. But what exactly is the E-2 visa? And how do you prepare for the application?
The E-2 Visa Cliffnotes
Not quite a startup visa, but it’s close enough; it’s meant for entrepreneurs conceiving a new business in the US and investing a significant amount of money.
However, you have to be from one of the countries with which the US has a treaty.
The amount of money you need to invest will vary according to the business,and while there’s no exact measure here, the investment must be substantial in relation to the overall costs of starting the business. Some people need to invest at least $100k, whereas others only will be asked to invest $40k. A good gauge would be around $70,000.
This visa has many benefits, one being that it can be renewed indefinitely, and, the icing on the cake, your spouse is eligible for a work visa, too. Double perk for the E-2 visa.
However the biggest downside is that the E2 does not offer an official path to a green card (unlike how you can obtain Cyprus citizenship by investment). That means you’ll permanently be regarded as a non-resident alien for the amount of time you plan on spending in the US. If citizenship is your ultimate goal, then the E2 may not be the best option for you.
Stay Within the Industry for E-2 Visa Success
For E2, the USCIS favors working with restaurants, retail stores, gas stations, supermarkets, and spas because these businesses require large upfront investments. Having a substantial amount of capital demonstrates interest, at the very least, but also determination. An individual who has the ability to invest in one of these businesses is considered, at the very least, responsible and very clever with capital; someone who has researched the various aspects of their proposed business and understands the risks, profit potential, and the sustainability that their venture can provide. These businesses require approximately 2-3 employees very early, ensuring that Visa employment requirements are met early in the life of the business.
Both of these features fulfill two main proponents of the E2 visa application: investment and employment. In this regard, they meet USCIS’s criteria. Consider a business in these industries when seeking the E2 visa application. Or, at the very least, stick as closely as possible to the aforementioned arenas.
Business Plan Writing Help
Like any venture, your visa application will require that you demonstrate that you have thought your business through, understand the risks, and have a plan for how you will develop. Don’t jump into any business plan blindly. Be sure to stick as closely as possible to the guidelines for all documents. For the business plan writing portion, consult writing professionals, where company, such as Joorney Business Plans, can lend their expertise to your product, and draft a plan worthy of approval. The business plan document cannot and should not be underestimated. It really is the primary focus of the USCIS. With many stipulations, you can’t go wrong in consulting the experts It can make the difference between those that make it and those that break it.
On the Road to Success
Having reviewed these guidelines, you can now begin your journey regarding your future as an entrepreneur in the US. Being knowledgeable makes a huge difference in your chances of being accepted or rejected. The E-2 visa could be the visa of your American dreams.
As with any process, seek counsel and/or services from experts or contact an immigration lawyer to better assist you on the road to your dreams. Don’t compromise your dreams of being an entrepreneur in the US because you were not prepared or willing to be informed. Use resources, use the Internet, use your head – then get ready to fly.
