E-2 Visa
USA, investor visa
A visa for those who want to live and work in the USA while running their own business. It is not a green card, but it renews indefinitely. You need a passport of a country with an E-2 treaty — among the Caribbean ones only Grenada qualifies, which is why it is so popular.
- What it is
- A US investor visa: you live in the country and run your own business there
- Where it applies
- The USA (under E-2 treaties with a number of countries)
- What is required
- A passport of a country with an E-2 treaty — in the Caribbean, Grenada
- Duration
- Renewable indefinitely as long as the business is genuinely operating
- Can you prepare
- Yes: first a Grenadian passport, then the groundwork for the E-2 visa
In plain words
E-2 is a visa for those who want to live in the United States and run their own business there. You invest money in an American enterprise and genuinely manage it — and receive the right to live in the country with your family for as long as the business operates. Compared with EB-5, the entry threshold is noticeably lower and processing is faster.
E-2 has two important features. First, it is a visa that is renewable essentially indefinitely — as long as the business is alive, the status can be renewed again and again. Second, to qualify for E-2 you need a passport of a country that has an E-2 treaty with the United States. Among the Caribbean countries, Grenada has such a treaty — which is why its passport is so often obtained precisely for the E-2 visa.
Hence the popular combination: first a Grenadian passport is obtained quickly through investment, and then it is used to apply for a US E-2 visa. The route to America is noticeably cheaper and faster than EB-5, although it gives the right to live and work rather than a permanent green card. It is a deliberate choice of speed and price.
Why people choose E-2
What E-2 requires
- A passport of a country with an E-2 treaty
- In the Caribbean — Grenada
- Can be obtained through investment
- A substantial investment in a US business
- Funds at risk
- Not a “token” sum
- A real operating enterprise
- Active management
- Job creation
- Residence for the spouse and children
- The spouse can work
- Renewed together with the principal
How to obtain E-2 (the Grenada combination)
- 01A Grenadian passport through investment
- 02Due diligence check
- 03Investment in a business in the US
- 04Applying for the E-2 visa
- 05Living there and running the business
What you need to know
- E-2 is available only to citizens of countries with an E-2 treaty — in the Caribbean, that means Grenada
- It is a visa, not a green card: it does not give permanent status
- Renewable indefinitely as long as the business is genuinely operating
- There is no fixed minimum: the investment must be substantial and at risk
- Faster and cheaper than EB-5, but the nature of the status is different
What the route to E-2 costs (through Grenada)
- Grenadian passportfrom $235,000A contribution to the NTF fund — the passport that unlocks the E-2 visa. Takes a few months to obtain.
- Investment in a US businesssubstantialThere is no fixed minimum; the investment must be substantial relative to the business and genuinely at risk.
- Support and feesseparatelyLegal preparation of the visa, a business plan, consular fees.
The total is noticeably cheaper and faster than EB-5, but the result is a visa (the right to live and work), not a permanent green card. We calculate the exact budget for your business and family composition.
Timelines
- The key citizenship
- A passport of a country with an E-2 treaty (Grenada — through investment)
- Timeline
- Noticeably faster than EB-5; depends on obtaining the passport and preparing the business
- Renewal
- Indefinitely, as long as the business meets the conditions
- Status
- The right to live and work, but not a permanent green card
Common mistakes
- Counting on E-2 without a passport of a treaty country
- Treating E-2 as a green card — it is a visa and gives no permanent status
- Investing a token sum: the investment must be substantial
- Setting up a “paper business” with no real activity
- Not considering EB-5 as an alternative if you specifically need permanent status
What this means for a BRIDGES client
We handle the whole combination: first we help you obtain a Grenadian passport, then we prepare the groundwork for the E-2 visa. You understand in advance that E-2 gives the right to live and work in the US but not permanent status — and decide deliberately whether this trade-off of speed and price suits you or whether you need EB-5.
Frequently asked questions
01 /Why is Grenada the choice for E-2?
Because the E-2 visa is available only to citizens of countries that have the relevant treaty with the United States. Among the Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes, only Grenada has such a treaty, so its passport is the key to E-2.
02 /Can E-2 be renewed indefinitely?
Essentially, yes — the visa is renewed as long as your business in the US is genuinely operating and meets the conditions. It is a long-term right to live and work, yet it remains a visa and does not automatically turn into a green card.
03 /How much do you need to invest in a business for E-2?
There is no fixed minimum. The investment must be substantial relative to the scale of the business and genuinely at risk. In practice it is often a matter of several hundred thousand dollars or more.
04 /Does E-2 give a green card?
No. E-2 is a visa giving the right to live and run a business, but not permanent status. If you specifically need a green card, EB-5 is considered.
05 /Can the spouse work on E-2?
Yes. The spouse of an E-2 holder can obtain permission to work in the US, and the children can live and study in the country.
06 /How long does the Grenada + E-2 combination take?
A Grenadian passport usually takes a few months, then the business is prepared and the E-2 application filed. Overall it is noticeably faster than the multi-year EB-5 route.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
Want to go to the US through E-2?
We will handle the whole combination: first a Grenadian passport through investment, then the groundwork for the E-2 visa — faster and cheaper than EB-5.