An E-2 visa can be issued for up to 5 years, and after that it must be renewed. The renewal process usually involves submitting documentation that shows that you have hired employees, and that your business will continue to be viable. Click here to see the key things Consulates consider when deciding whether to renew an E-2 visa.
The following question often comes up for E-2 visa renewals: Do I have to attend an interview at a Consulate for my E-2 visa renewal?
In some limited cases, a Consulate may waive your visa interview, but an interview will normally be required for an E-2 visa renewal.
If a Consulate were to decide to exercise discretion and waive an interview, a waiver would likely only be granted if the E-2 renewal case were to be very strong (over 3 employees, strong revenue, positive economic impact). Moreover, the file submitted would have to provide the Consulate with enough information to enable them to make their decision without an interview.
Visa interview waiver rules are Consulate specific, and any waiver will always be at the discretion of the Consulate. In some cases (not many), Consulates post visa interview waiver procedures on their website. For example, some Consulates may require that you be physically present in the same country that the visa will be issued in at the time of issuance.
We hope that with the Covid-19 backlogs that more interviews will be waived, but we will have to wait and see.
You can find out more about the E-2 visa requirements by clicking here.
You can review some Considerations when renewing an E-2 visa by clicking here.
