E2 Visa Investment REquirements 

How Much do I need to invest?

This is the perhaps the most commonly asked question in relation to the E2 visa investment requirements. The answer however is that there is no specific minimum amount sufficient to qualify you for an E2 visa.

Many Attorneys band figures of above a minimum amount of $100,000.00 (Forbes.com suggest an even higher figure of $150,000.00) to qualify when nowhere in the E2 requirements does it state that or any amount of funding in fact the United States Embassy in London says:

“The applicant must be coming to the United States to engage in substantial trade, including trade in services or technology, in qualifying activities, principally between the United States and the treaty country (E-1); or to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which the applicant has invested or is in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital (E-2).”

So how does that work? The term Substantial is the key word in working this one out. If the business you wish to purchase has an annual turnover of $1Million and a profit of $200,000.00 but the investment you are making is only $20,000.00 that would not be considered to be substantial.

However, if you were making an investment of $700,000.00 it would be considered substantial. This would also apply if the business had a turnover of $70,000.00 and a profit of $50,000.00 and you were making an investment of $40,000.00.

However you would have to work very smart to ensure that the business grew enough to qualify for a renewal when it was due. Your funding also has to be committed to the purchase of the business you are buying or in place to buy items for the set up of a start up business.

So why do Attorneys quote such high figures? Simply because it makes their job easier and many quote their fees based on the amount you invest. Here at E2 Visa Express our fees are transparent and constant regardless of your investment amount and we work hard on all of the applications we prepare.

Capital

In order to meet the investment requirements you will also have to show where your funding has come from. A full money trail has to be provided from the source of funds to where it is being held in the USA (usually an escrow account is set up by your business broker where the funds will sit until closing on your business is completed).

Funds can come from various places, such as a Gift, savings or a property sale, however they can not be a loan that does not put your funds at risk, i.e a loan means that the loan grantors funds are at risk and not yours.

MARGINALITY

Marginality is where a business is considered to be doing nothing more than creating a job for the E2 investor and shows very little potential to grow beyond this in years to come.

When considering your E2 application the adjudicator will look to see that your company is going to do more than just give you a job. They want to see that it is possible that the company can grow and employ American workers and make a positive impact the on local economy in some way.

1. Ice Cream Parlour

“Peter” wanted to purchase a small beachfront Ice Cream Parlour in Clearwater Florida.

The business was being sold for a low figure as the owners had to sell it fast due to a family issue. It was on the market for $50,000.00 and showed a turnover of around $75,000.00 and a profit of $35,000.00.

2. Property management company

3. Laundry services

A Commercial Laundry service that has been operating for 5 years and is on the market for $145,00.00.

With a turnover last year of $875,000.00 and profits over $400,000, on the face of it it looks like a great deal, but, the investment could be seen as not substantial enough for the business and would take a considerable amount of convincing at the Embassy that the business is genuine.

The real price tag on this business should be around $500,000.00 to make it a viable E2 business.