If you plan on moving to the US to manage an entrepreneurial venture there, you may need to obtain legal permission to live and work in the country. The E2 visa enables entrepreneurs to achieve this goal.
The E2 visa allows entrepreneurs from certain countries to be admitted to the US for the purpose of directing and developing a US company in which they have invested a substantial amount of capital.
Although the US company can be a new startup venture, the E2 visa is also valid for entrepreneurs who purchase a majority ownership of an existing profitable company in the United States.
Certain employees of the E2 company are also eligible for the E2 visa.
When you want an American lawyer for your E2 visa application, contact the law firm JORDAN COUNSEL.
Questions often follow some themes:
The initial investment includes:
Your E2 visa application must demonstrate that you have already actively invested a substantial amount of money in your US company. There is no absolute or relative minimum amount required for your initial investment because every E2 visa application is evaluated by reviewing the totality of the applicant’s circumstances. Nevertheless the following scale will give you a rough idea of the amount other successful E2 visa applicants have invested in their businesses.
Your E2 visa application must demonstrate that you have already made a substantial investment in your business. Many E2 visa applicants are naturally hesitant to invest $100,000 (or more) in their new US business if there is a risk that their visa application will not be approved. Jordan Counsel can help you lower that risk.
To mitigate the risk associated with investing a large amount of money into a new business before your E2 visa application is approved, you can use escrow accounts for the following expenditures:
To append your purchase or lease agreement, Jordan Counsel can draft an escrow agreement that stipulates that you will place funds for the transaction into an escrow account while you and the seller (or lessor) wait for approval of your E2 visa application. Once your E2 visa application is approved, your funds will be disbursed from the escrow account directly to the seller.
In the event that your E2 visa application is not approved, two things will happen:
This strategy only works if the seller/lessor is willing to enter into an escrow agreement with you. Some large franchisors are already familiar with E2 visas and are willing to enter into escrow agreements with E2 applicants. Other vendors may not have much experience dealing with foreign entrepreneurs and may need to be convinced (through negotiations) to use an escrow account.
This is an necessary category.
This is an non-necessary category.