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United StatesActiveBusiness Migration
United StatesActiveBusiness MigrationE-2 Treaty Investor Visa
No fixed statutory minimum — must be "substantial" relative to the business. Only available to nationals of E-2 treaty countries.
E-2 is only open to nationals of treaty countries. Check the current treaty country list at state.gov before you plan.
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Book a Consulting Session- Official program name
- E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
- Program category
- Purchasing or actively operating a business
- Current status
- Active and accepting applications
- Best suited for
- Nationals of E-2 treaty countries actively running a US business they've invested in
- Overview
- The E-2 has no fixed statutory minimum investment — it must simply be "substantial" relative to the type of business, and the investor must be actively directing and developing the enterprise, not investing passively. Critically, this visa is only available to nationals of countries with a qualifying treaty with the United States (the current list is maintained by the State Department). Unlike EB-5, the E-2 does not lead directly to permanent residence — it's a renewable nonimmigrant status.
- Minimum investment
- No fixed statutory minimum; must be "substantial" relative to the business
- Active involvement required
- Yes — must actively direct and develop the enterprise
- Residence status granted
- Renewable nonimmigrant status
- Family inclusion
- Yes — spouse and unmarried children under 21
- Spouse work rights
- Yes
- Permanent residence pathway
- No direct pathway — E-2 does not lead to a green card on its own
- Nationality restriction
- Only available to nationals of countries with a qualifying E-2 treaty with the US
- Official source
- uscis.gov; state.gov (treaty country list)
Want more background?
Our guide explains how this route works in practice and what to prepare first.
Read the United States guide →Directional guidance only, not immigration advice. Confirm current treaty-country eligibility and "substantial investment" standards with USCIS. Last verified September 15, 2026.