E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
No lottery. No line. No quota.
Citizens of 80+ treaty countries can live in the US by investing in a business they run. Approvals in weeks, renewable for life, and your spouse can work.
Why founders call the E-2 the best visa
The 4-question test
Four questions, instant answer. No email required.
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No lottery. Renewable for life. Your spouse can work.
Three paths in
Buy an existing business
The fastest to approve. Revenue, payroll, and tax returns already prove the case; no projections to defend.
Typical range $150k–500k
Start from scratch
Works, but expect scrutiny: a signed lease, money already spent, and a credible plan before you file.
Typical range $80k–200k
Buy a franchise
A proven model officers recognize, with brand support while you learn the market.
Typical range $150k–300k
No business yet? No broker? Fine.
Most of our waitlist starts before they've found the business. We help you scope the search, work with your broker if you have one, and structure the deal so your money is protected if the visa is denied.
The journey
1
Choose and find
Buy, build, or franchise. Then diligence: tax returns, financials, lease, staff.
2
Structure and file
Escrow that refunds if the visa is denied. Attorneys file the petition.
3
Interview and move
Consulate in weeks at most posts. Family comes; spouse works anywhere.
1
Pick your path
Buy, build, or franchise. Budget and risk appetite decide.
2
Find the business
Through your broker or our network. Due diligence: three years of tax returns, financials, leases, staff.
3
Structure the deal
LOI, then escrow that releases only on visa approval. Denied means refunded; that's the point of the structure.
4
File the E-2
Business plan, source-of-funds evidence, the full petition. Our software assembles; attorneys review.
5
Interview at the consulate
Weeks, not years, at most posts. Already in the US? A change of status can work instead.
6
Move and run it
Family comes with you, spouse works anywhere, and the visa renews as long as the business does.
Who it fits
Business owners wanting a US base
Buyers eyeing a US small business or franchise
Families who need the spouse to work too
People burned by the H-1B lottery
Canadian founders moving south
Deal's found, just needs the visa done right
Free webinar
45 minutes on the three paths, what deals get approved, and how escrow protects your money. Live Q&A.
Educational only. No attorney-client relationship.
About Belong
Belong is an AI-native immigration practice: attorneys make the judgment calls, software does the paperwork. We won't promise outcomes, only a straight answer on whether this route fits you.
Legal services provided by Matkowsky Immigration Law.
Questions
The law says "substantial," not a number. In practice most approvals sit above $100k, but the test is whether the amount fits the business: cases have been approved far lower. What matters is that the money is committed and the business is real.
The E-2 follows citizenship, not residence. Some clients qualify through a second citizenship; others fit better on L-1 or EB-5. Join the waitlist and say so; we'll point you at the right route.
Not if the deal is structured properly. Purchase funds sit in escrow that releases to the seller only when the visa is approved, and refunds only if it's denied. That structure satisfies the "at risk" rule while protecting you.
Finding and closing a business is the long part: weeks to months. The visa itself moves fast at most consulates, and there's no annual window or lottery to wait for.
Not directly; it's a nonimmigrant visa you can renew forever. Many holders later move to EB-5, EB-1, or employer sponsorship once established. We plan that path with you from day one.
Two minutes to get in line. When a slot opens, we run your eligibility read, map the path, and get to work.
Check your eligibility