We recently received an E-2 change of status approval from USCIS for a UK national who invested in a youth sports enrichment franchise in Florida.
The business will provide structured sports programs for children through schools, community organizations, parks, and other partner locations. The company will offer programs including tennis, golf, and pickleball, as well as after-school activities, camps, clinics, and private or small-group lessons.
The E-2 category is available to nationals of countries that hold a qualifying treaty of commerce with the United States. It allows an investor to come to the U.S. to develop and direct a business in which they have placed a substantial amount of their own capital at risk.
Applicants who are already in the United States can ask USCIS to change their status instead of applying at a consulate abroad. A change of status grants E-2 status rather than an E-2 visa, so it does not by itself provide a travel document for re-entry.
USCIS filings are document-intensive, and the source and trail of the investment capital receives close attention. The money has to be traced from its lawful origin through to the business account, with supporting records behind the expenditures. Although the source and path of the investment funds were complicated, our firm presented them in a clear and easy-to-follow manner for USCIS.
A franchise investment can suit this category well. The franchise fee is a documented, objectively verifiable expenditure, and the franchisor’s model gives an adjudicator a clear picture of how the business is meant to operate.
If you are planning an E-2 investment in a franchise or another U.S. business, schedule a consultation with our team to discuss how your case should be prepared and where it should be filed.
