We are pleased to announce an E-2 investor visa approval at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto. The applicant, a national of Canada, was granted the visa for five years.
The company is a software and app development business based in Texas, and the applicant will operate the firm in the United States.
The E-2 treaty investor visa is open to nationals of treaty countries, including Canada, who invest in a U.S. business and come to the United States to develop and direct it. There is no fixed minimum investment. Instead, the amount must be substantial in proportion to the cost of the business, so service companies such as software and app development firms can often qualify with less capital than equipment-heavy ventures.
A five-year visa like this one comes through consular processing. Consular E-2 visas can be issued for up to five years, depending on the applicant’s nationality, while E-2 status granted through a USCIS change of status is generally limited to two years. Choosing between consular processing and a change of status is one of the first strategic decisions in any E-2 case.
Visa validity and authorized stay are also separate questions. E-2 holders are generally admitted for two years at each entry, however long the visa itself remains valid, and can renew as long as the business continues to qualify.
If you are a Canadian founder, or a national of another treaty country, and you plan to build a technology business in the United States, schedule a consultation to discuss your E-2 options.
