Faced with record breaking unemployment rates and lack of job creation, the U.S. economy seem to be heading in to dire straits. Recently, as a way to stimulate the economy and create more employment opportunities, the U.S. has been encouraging foreign investors to enter the U.S. for investment purposes. The E-2 Investor Visa is the instrument that allows a foreign alien to enter America and work based on an investment that they would be controlling.
The upside to the E-2 Investor Visa is that the visa can be renewed every other year and there is no limitations as to how many times the visa can be renewed. To be able to qualify for an E-2, the foreign alien investor must posses the nationality of one of the treaty countries. A list of the treaty countries is posted below. If the investor is a business, then at least 50% of the business owners must be nationals of the treaty country.
One of the most common question I come across regarding the E-2 Investor Visa is how much investment must be made? As all questions that are met with a legal mind, the answer is: it all depends. It depends on what kind of business the foreign alien or business is seeking to invest in. Whether or not the business is new or existing. Normally, the investment amount usually should exceed $50,000.00 USD.
Something that needs to be in the back of the head of all foreign investors utilizing the E-2 visa is that all foreign investors must return to their country of origin once the investment business has concluded. However, the foreign investor can also petition for an adjustment of status if the option is available to the foreign investor. The holder of the E-2 visa may leave the U.S. at anytime but, is limited to 6 months.
