Are you a non-citizen that would like to become a business owner in the United States? If interested, consider this:
E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
What is an E-2 Treaty Investor Visa?
An E-2 Treaty Investor Visa (E-2 Visa) is a way for immigrants to legally live in the United States by investing in a business and making a positive impact in the economy of the U.S. The positive impact on the economy is contributed by the purchase price of the business, employing Americans, paying taxes, and purchasing goods from suppliers and reselling to others. The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa can be issued for two or five years and can be renewed indefinitely as long as the criteria is met. The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa will not give the investor citizenship.
What is required by the investor for an E-2 Treaty Investor Visa?
1) Be a citizen from a Treaty Country
2) Make enough active and substantial investment to keep the business a success.
3) The investor must have the ability to have control of the investment/business operations.
4) The investor must be able to develop the business and have supervising skills to manage the employees.
5) The investment/business must have the capability to generate enough monies to provide for living and family and to also create an impact in the economy.
What is the criteria that a business needs to meet in order to qualify for an E-2 Treaty Investor Visa?
It is solely up to the U.S. Government whether an E-2 Treaty Investor Visa is issued to an investor. Check with a Visa Attorney for more information on the criteria that is used to consider a business for the E-2 Visa. Here are some examples of some criteria that the government looks for in a business:
1) The Owner Benefits is GREATER than $30,000.
2) There are at least two current fulltime employees OR Enough current part time employees working a total of 80 hours or more.
3) The business is for sale for at least $75,000.
4) Have at least one year of Tax Returns that demonstrates the business is making enough in Owner Benefits and has the correct amount of employees.
What countries have E-2 Treaty Investor Visa status with the U.S.?
Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China (Taiwan), Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of (FRY), Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Senegal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Yugoslavia