We are pleased to share an E-2 investor visa approval at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto. The applicant, a Canadian national, was granted the visa for five years, the maximum validity available to Canadian E-2 applicants.
The business is a professional home staging and interior styling services company based in California. The applicant will serve as the company’s chief executive officer, leading its operations in the United States.
The E-2 treaty investor visa allows nationals of countries that hold a qualifying treaty with the United States to live in the U.S. while they develop and direct a business in which they have invested. Canada is one of those treaty countries, and service businesses such as home staging are among the many enterprise types that can qualify.
To qualify, an investor must show a substantial investment that is at risk, an active enterprise that is more than marginal, and a role that puts them in a position to direct the business. For many applicants, a detailed business plan is the central evidence that the company can grow and create jobs for U.S. workers.
E-2 visa length depends on the reciprocity agreement between the applicant’s country and the United States, as well as the discretion of the consular officer. Separately, E-2 holders are generally admitted for two years at each entry, regardless of how long the visa itself remains valid.
If you are a Canadian entrepreneur, or a national of another treaty country, and you are considering a business in the United States, schedule a consultation to discuss whether the E-2 visa fits your plans.
