A citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Treaty Investors (E-2) visas are for citizens of countries with which the United States maintains treaties of commerce and navigation. For a list of participating countries, select Treaty Countries.
You must be coming to the United States to:
- develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which you have invested a substantial amount of capital.
- The investor, either a person, partnership or corporate entity, must have the citizenship of a treaty country.
- If a business, at least 50 percent of the business must be owned by persons with the treaty country’s nationality.
- The investment must be substantial, with investment funds or assets committed and irrevocable. It must be sufficient to ensure the successful operation of the enterprise, etc.
- The investment must be a real operating enterprise, an active commercial or entrepreneurial undertaking.
- It must generate significantly more income than just to provide a living to you and family, or it must have a significant economic impact in the United States.
- the investment must be at risk in the commercial sense.
- must be coming to the United States to develop and direct the enterprise.
