An E-2 visa can be a great visa option for an investor who wants to buy or start a business. You can find out more about the E-2 visa requirements by clicking here. In many cases, only one investor exists, but this is not always the case. Recently, a prospective client asked us the following: Can the E-2 Visa application be shared between 2 investors?
The short answer is yes. That is, 2 people can apply for an E-2 visa for the same business as two investors.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Each investor must own 50% of the company
- An E-2 visa is not available for passive investors, so each investor must have a role where they are directing and developing the operations
- The investors do not have to be from the same country, but must both be from a treaty country
- The investors do not have to apply at the same time, but both must make a substantial investment. For example, an investor who invested just “sweat” equity would not be eligible even if the other investor invested a substantial amount. In this scenario, the person who did not invest money, may still be eligible for an E-2 employee visa if he/she is the same nationality as the other investor
- Investors can get E-2 visas for spouses and children under 21
