If you’re an entrepreneur dreaming of starting a business in the United States, the E-2 investor visa could be your way in. The E-2 investor visa program is like a special visa designed to support people who own or want to start a business, and who come from specific countries. It helps them set up and run their businesses in the United States without any challenges.
So, if you have the dream of starting a business in the US, this could be what you have been waiting for but before you dive into this, here are the pros and cons of the E-2 investor visa program for business owners and entrepreneurs in the US Understanding both the pros and cons will help you decide if this is the best visa option for you.
Pros of the E-2 investor visa program in the US
It’s flexibility
One of the significant advantages of the E-2 visa program is its flexibility regarding the type of business you can invest in.
With this visa, you can invest in different types of businesses. It doesn’t matter if it’s a new startup, a franchise, or an existing business, as long as it meets the required rules. The business you choose to invest in depends on what you want for yourself.
Low investment threshold
Compared to some other visas, the E-2 visa asks for a relatively small investment. The exact amount depends on your business type and location, but it’s usually less than what’s needed for other visas like the EB-5.
You don’t have to make groundbreaking investments before you are qualified for the E-2 investment visa type. This is great if you aren’t a big investor but have a great business idea.
Fast processing times
E-2 visas are known for being processed relatively quickly. This means you can start your business in the US sooner compared to other visa types that take longer to process.
It’s renewable
Initially, you will get an E-2 visa for up to five years but the great news is that you can renew it as long as your business is still running and meets the visa requirements.
This gives you stability for your business plans in the US. You don’t have to worry about sudden changes in visa policies that can affect your business.
Spousal work permit
This is another amazing benefit of the E-2 investment visa (you will love it too), if you have an E-2 visa, your spouse can apply for a work permit in the US. With your spouse’s work permit, they can work in the US, which will add a little more to your family income.
Educational opportunities
E-2 visa holders can also attend schools and colleges in the US. So, if you want to learn more or improve your skills while running your business, you can do that.
Cons of the E-2 investor visa program
It’s limited to treaty Countries
The most disappointing disadvantage of the E-2 visa is that it’s not allowed for all nations. To qualify for an E-2 visa, you must be a citizen of a country that has a special trade agreement with the US.
Countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Mexico, Australia, and Spain have this treaty with the US.
So, not all countries have this agreement, which can restrict who can apply. If you are from a country without a treaty with the US, you won’t get the E-2 visa no matter how excellent your business idea proves to be.
No Permanent Residency for you
Unlike some other visa programs like EB-5, the E-2 visa doesn’t directly lead to getting a green card or permanent residency. You have to keep renewing your E-2 visa if you want to stay in the US. This doesn’t look good and we hope it changes with time.
It doesn’t allow long-term intent
As an E-2 visa holder, you are expected to maintain a non-immigrant intent, which means you cannot have the intention to permanently reside in the US.
This will be a problem if you later want to become a permanent resident. This is one aspect of this visa that we do hope changes very fast, with so much investment in the US, anyone would love to reside in the country permanently.
Your investment is always at risk
Every business faces struggles and sometimes can fall and build back, this is not allowed in the E-2 visa. If your business falls or fails to meet the eligibility requirement due to business challenges.
The money you invested for the E-2 visa will be at risk, meaning you could lose it if your business fails.
In addition to this, there are strict rules about the type and size of the business you can run with this visa. You also need to create jobs and make sure your business stays successful.
Conclusion
The E-2 investor visa program is a good option for every business person or investor who wants to run a business in the US.
But before you get started with this visa, you need to understand its limitations. You should know the other side of it. You can speak with an immigration expert who knows about E-2 visas to understand if your business is a good fit before starting.
