How much do I need to invest to be eligible for an E-2 Investor’s Visa?

There is no pre-determined amount of money that must be invested to obtain an E-2 Treaty Investor Visa. That means there is no floor and no ceiling on an investment for the purposes of obtaining the E-2 Investor Visa. Instead, the investment must be “substantial.” So what qualifies as substantial?

The “Substantiality Test” indicates that in order for an investment to be substantial you must
evaluate how much capital it would take to open and operate a business of that kind or how much you the market indicates that an existing business to purchase is worth.

An E-2 Investor’s Visa may be approvable in any industry. For instance, over the years I have submitted E-2 visa applications to help clients investment in businesses such as car washes, chiropractic offices, physical therapy office, small retail operations, and large multi-national corporations.

The best place to start to determine substantiality is with a business plan.

Your business plan should outline all of the costs associated with starting the new business or purchasing an existing one. You will need to prove that the investment is substantial in relationship to the total cost of either purchasing an established enterprise or establishing a new one. You will also need to prove that the investment is sufficient to ensure successful operation of the business.

Lastly, the investment must be enough for the investor to successfully develop and direct the enterprise. In the case of purchasing an existing business, the lower the purchase price for that business, the investment must be proportionally higher to be considered substantial.

If you would like to explore opportunities to obtain an E-2 Investor’s Visa, I am happy to help you. Feel free to call me at 716-810-2121. Or you can email me at jfiegel@fiegelcarr.com.