A free PDF guide — a budget from $100,000
A guide to the E-2 visafor the United States
A status for the owner of a working business in the United States: the law names no minimum sum, but it does impose a hard condition as to nationality. We set out the three ways in, the real budgets and what the consul counts as a real business.
- PDF in English
- Free of charge
- Verified on 12.08.2026
- Sent by email, WhatsApp or Telegram
Preliminary information is not a guarantee of approval. The decision is the consular officer’s.
01 / The essentials first
What to know about the visa before the calculation
Four things that decide whether the category is open to you and what it costs to go in.
- You need the passport of a treaty country
This is the main filter: you may apply only with the citizenship of a country that has a trade treaty with the United States. Russia and Belarus are not on the list — the question is settled with a second passport.
- There is no minimum threshold
The law names no sum: the investment has to be substantial for the particular business. In practice the consulates consider projects from $100,000.
- The business has to be real
The money is invested and working, the company is trading and creating jobs. An account with money in it and an empty firm get no visa.
- This is not a path to a green card
The visa may be renewed any number of times while the business works, but it gives no permanent status of itself. One visa runs 5 years at most.
02 / The budget
What the three ways in cost
Choose the route and the family: we will show the investment, the fees and the costs that go with them.
03 / Three ways
Buying, a franchise, or a business from scratch
The difference is in the budget, in the speed and in how high the risk of refusal runs.
The values were checked against the official material on 12.08.2026. Only the rows for which there is no official wording are marked separately.
| Criterion | BuyingA trading business from $150,000 | A franchiseA franchise business from $200,000 | From scratchA new business from $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The practical budgetA BRIDGES estimate | from $150,000 | from $200,000 | from $100,000 |
| What you show | the turnover and the history of the business | the franchisor’s model and the plan | the business plan and the money invested |
| The risk of refusalA BRIDGES estimate | lower | below average | higher |
| How quickly it startsA BRIDGES estimate | a business already trading | to the franchisor’s timetable | time is needed to start up |
| Jobs | already there | under the franchise plan | created from scratch |
| The term of the visa | up to 5 years | up to 5 years | up to 5 years |
| Who it usually suitsA BRIDGES estimate | You want a predictable outcome | You want a ready-made model | You have your own idea and the experience |
- The practical budgetA BRIDGES estimate
- from $150,000
- from $200,000
- What you show
- the turnover and the history of the business
- the franchisor’s model and the plan
- The risk of refusalA BRIDGES estimate
- lower
- below average
- How quickly it startsA BRIDGES estimate
- a business already trading
- to the franchisor’s timetable
- Jobs
- already there
- under the franchise plan
- The term of the visa
- up to 5 years
- up to 5 years
- Who it usually suitsA BRIDGES estimate
- You want a predictable outcome
- You want a ready-made model
On any route the money has to be invested before filing and be at risk: an intention to invest does not count.
04 / The country
What the country looks like
Briefly about the country and about what sets the terms of the E-2 category.
- The essentials firstThe key facts of the programme: what decides the matter.
- A comparisonThe options and the terms of the programme in one table.
- How the work runsThe process step by step — from the check to the documents.
- The analysisWhat is checked before the status is granted.
- The limitsWhat affects the timings, the costs and keeping the status.
- Your teamWho runs the case and what each specialist answers for.
05 / The order of work
How the process runs
The first step is the passport: without the citizenship of a treaty country the other steps make no sense.
- The nationality is checked
We look at the passport: without the citizenship of a treaty country the category is closed. Where needed we discuss a second passport.
- Choosing the business
Buying, a franchise, or starting from scratch. The budget, the speed and the risk of refusal all follow from the choice.
- The structure and the money
Registering the company, transferring the funds, evidencing the source of the capital.
- The business plan
A plan with jobs and a financial model: the consul looks at whether the business is more than marginal.
- Filing and the interview
The pack goes to the consulate and the investor is interviewed. The decision is the consular officer’s.
- The visa and the renewals
A visa of up to 5 years, renewable without limit while the business works. The whole process takes 2-4 months.
07 / The check
What the consul examines
The nationality, the origin of the money, the fact of the investment and whether the business can stand.
- The applicant’s nationality
The passport of a country with a trade treaty with the United States — a required condition of the category.
- The source of funds
A clear chain from the earnings to the company’s account: the consul examines the origin of every dollar.
- The investment already made
The money has to be invested and at risk: an intention to invest does not count.
- That the business is not marginal
The company has to yield more than a living for its owner: evidenced by the plan and the hiring.
A marginal business is one whose income is only enough to keep its owner. Such projects are not approved.
08 / The limits
What to take into account in advance
Five limits that bear on whether the category is open to you and on the family’s plans.
Nationality decides everythingThe list of treaty countries is limited
Russia and Belarus are not on it: without a suitable passport the category is closed.
The money is at riskNo return is provided for
The funds go into the business and work there. This is not a deposit and not a state contribution.
It gives no green cardThe status is temporary
It may be renewed indefinitely, but the category opens no permanent residence.
The status is tied to the businessClosing it means losing the visa
The visa runs for as long as the company does. Selling the business calls for the status to be revisited.
The spouse may work, the children may notChildren lose the status at 21
The spouse may obtain a work permit; the children may only study, and only until they come of age.
09 / Your team
Who runs your case
The work is led by specialists who prepare business plans and files for the US consulates.
Darya MelnikSenior Investment Migration AdvisorPersonal client support
Dmitry NagyInternational Tax ConsultantInternational taxation, tax residence and banking compliance
Nikos PappasBanking Relations SpecialistPersonal and corporate accounts
Klara RihterHead of Compliance and Due DiligenceSource of funds and bank requestsThe editorial record
The material was prepared and checked by
- First published
- 12 August 2026
- Last updated
- 12 August 2026
The official sources
- U.S. Department of State: Treaty Trader and Treaty Investor VisasBureau of Consular Affairs · checked 12.08.2026The terms of the E-2 category, the requirements on the investment and the list of treaty countries.
- Treaty CountriesU.S. Department of State · checked 12.08.2026The current list of countries whose nationals may take the E-2 visa.
- USCIS: E-2 Treaty InvestorsU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 12.08.2026The requirements that the investment be substantial and the enterprise not marginal.
10 / Common questions
Questions about the E-2 visa
How much has to be invested?
The law lays down no minimum. The investment has to be substantial for the particular business: in practice the consulates consider projects from $100,000, and the purchase of a trading business from $150,000.
Does my passport qualify?
You need the citizenship of a country with a trade treaty with the United States. Russia and Belarus are not on the list — the question is settled with a second passport.
May I simply keep the money in an account?
No. The funds have to be invested in a working business and be at risk. An account with money in it gets no visa.
How long is the visa granted for?
Up to 5 years, depending on the country of nationality, with an unlimited number of renewals while the business works.
Does the E-2 lead to a green card?
No, it is a temporary status. Permanent residence needs other categories — the EB-5 or the EB-1C, for instance.
What about the family?
A spouse and children under 21 take E-2 status. The spouse may work in the United States and the children may study.
What is a marginal business?
A company whose income is only enough to keep its owner. Such projects are not approved: a plan for hiring and growth is needed.
How long does the process take?
2-4 months from the moment the business has been chosen and the money invested.
Free of charge
Take the guide and a budget calculation
We will send the PDF with the list of treaty countries, the requirements on the business, and a calculation for your route.
- Who may apply, and what to do without a suitable passport
- The real budgets of the three ways in
- What the consul counts as a real business
- The terms for the family and how renewal works