E-2 Investor Visa ... Anyone Have One?!

[NYCGirl18 1]

Hello everyone.

Okay ... hoping someone here has experience getting an E-2 investor visa!! Anyone?!

I can't seem to find anyone who has gone through this process and since this is the route my boyfriend is going to be taking, I figured I'd try.

If you've applied for this type of visa and want to share some answers based on your experience, I have a few questions!

1.) What is the MINIMUM amount of money needed in your bank account to get approved? My boyfriend's lawyer has told him several times he only needs $100,000 of funds, but I've read in different threads on here that the minimum is $200,000 - $250,000 ... so now we're getting a little nervous. Does the amount of money actually matter if he has an awesome business plan and everything else he needs (An office space, American bank account, etc.)?

2.) What are some reasons someone would be denied this type of visa if they have everything submitted properly and have all the required items? Would not enough funds in his account be the number one reason? What about the business plan? How much of a factor does that play?

3.) If he gets approved, can he leave the country in the two years his visa is good for?

4.) Is the amount of time it takes (I'm talking about from the time the application is sent in until the approval) about the same amount of time as all the other visa types? Or is it quicker? I don't remember ever reading anything about this.

5.) If he gets approved for this visa and then sometime within the two years, we decide to get married, how easy is it to adjust his status? If he's here on the E-2 visa and is allowed to be here for 2 years, could we actually plan (and have) a real wedding?! I know with the CR-1 he would have to go back to the UK once we got married and wait for the visa to be approved, but if he was already allowed to be here, could we get married, and he could stay here on his current E-2? I guess I'm just wondering how exactly that would work...

Any answers would be greatly appreciated! It looks like this isn't a very popular type of visa from what I can see on VJ, but thought I'd try!

Edited June 28, 2012 by NYCGirl18

[NYCGirl18 1]

Hello everyone.

Okay ... hoping someone here has experience getting an E-2 investor visa!! Anyone?!

I can't seem to find anyone who has gone through this process and since this is the route my boyfriend is going to be taking, I figured I'd try.

If you've applied for this type of visa and want to share some answers based on your experience, I have a few questions!

1.) What is the MINIMUM amount of money needed in your bank account to get approved? My boyfriend's lawyer has told him several times he only needs $100,000 of funds, but I've read in different threads on here that the minimum is $200,000 - $250,000 ... so now we're getting a little nervous. Does the amount of money actually matter if he has an awesome business plan and everything else he needs (An office space, American bank account, etc.)?

2.) What are some reasons someone would be denied this type of visa if they have everything submitted properly and have all the required items? Would not enough funds in his account be the number one reason? What about the business plan? How much of a factor does that play?

3.) If he gets approved, can he leave the country in the two years his visa is good for?

4.) Is the amount of time it takes (I'm talking about from the time the application is sent in until the approval) about the same amount of time as all the other visa types? Or is it quicker? I don't remember ever reading anything about this.

5.) If he gets approved for this visa and then sometime within the two years, we decide to get married, how easy is it to adjust his status? If he's here on the E-2 visa and is allowed to be here for 2 years, could we actually plan (and have) a real wedding?! I know with the CR-1 he would have to go back to the UK once we got married and wait for the visa to be approved, but if he was already allowed to be here, could we get married, and he could stay here on his current E-2? I guess I'm just wondering how exactly that would work...

Any answers would be greatly appreciated! It looks like this isn't a very popular type of visa from what I can see on VJ, but thought I'd try!

Can anyone answer my questions ... Pretty please?

Edited July 2, 2012 by NYCGirl18

[SapphireDreams 71]

I don't know the specific answers to your questions, but I found this article that is interesting and will give you some insight.

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/16/business/la-fi-smallbiz-visa-20110516

Sounds like one of the most important things is proving that the business will make an impact in improving the economy through investments and jobs and there is no minumum amount of funds required but many factors are considered.

Good luck.

[NYCGirl18 1]

I don't know the specific answers to your questions, but I found this article that is interesting and will give you some insight.

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/16/business/la-fi-smallbiz-visa-20110516

Sounds like one of the most important things is proving that the business will make an impact in improving the economy through investments and jobs and there is no minumum amount of funds required but many factors are considered.

Good luck.

That is a great article! Thanks for sending it my way! I've forwarded to my boyfriend already!

[Boiler 45,486]

1.) What is the MINIMUM amount of money needed in your bank account to get approved? My boyfriend's lawyer has told him several times he only needs $100,000 of funds, but I've read in different threads on here that the minimum is $200,000 - $250,000 ... so now we're getting a little nervous. Does the amount of money actually matter if he has an awesome business plan and everything else he needs (An office space, American bank account, etc.)?

I have heard it is possible to get an E2 with such a low sum, it would be very unusual.

2.) What are some reasons someone would be denied this type of visa if they have everything submitted properly and have all the required items? Would not enough funds in his account be the number one reason? What about the business plan? How much of a factor does that play?

The funds have to be committed, usually they would be in ESCROW subject to visa issuance. The totality is what matters.

3.) If he gets approved, can he leave the country in the two years his visa is good for?

Of course

4.) Is the amount of time it takes (I'm talking about from the time the application is sent in until the approval) about the same amount of time as all the other visa types? Or is it quicker? I don't remember ever reading anything about this.

There is not a standard time for all other visa types and it would vary by Consulate.

5.) If he gets approved for this visa and then sometime within the two years, we decide to get married, how easy is it to adjust his status? If he's here on the E-2 visa and is allowed to be here for 2 years, could we actually plan (and have) a real wedding?! I know with the CR-1 he would have to go back to the UK once we got married and wait for the visa to be approved, but if he was already allowed to be here, could we get married, and he could stay here on his current E-2? I guess I'm just wondering how exactly that would work...

E2 is a VERY risky and expensive alternate to the CR-1, but it's his money.

[NYCGirl18 1]

I have heard it is possible to get an E2 with such a low sum, it would be very unusual.

The funds have to be committed, usually they would be in ESCROW subject to visa issuance. The totality is what matters.

Of course

There is not a standard time for all other visa types and it would vary by Consulate.

E2 is a VERY risky and expensive alternate to the CR-1, but it's his money.

Thank you for your response. =)

[mprecious 0]

I hope all works out for you. I am actually trying to get an E2 visa. It seems like I'm paying this lawyer for me to do much work. He is charging me $7375 to obtain this visa, what are your thoughts?

[NYCGirl18 1]

I hope all works out for you. I am actually trying to get an E2 visa. It seems like I'm paying this lawyer for me to do much work. He is charging me $7375 to obtain this visa, what are your thoughts?

That seems a little expensive, but I know my boyfriend's lawyer would charge $6,000 (or at least that's what he told him) ... where are you in the process? It might be easier/cheaper to just research everything and then do it all yourself? My boyfriend hasn't actually applied for the E-2 yet. He comes back to the US on August 1st and then has to finalize some company things over here before he can actually apply (I'm sure you know just how much is required before you can actually submit your application).

Also, do you know anyone else who has an E2 visa? If so, what was their process like? I only know one other person in NYC that has one but his situation is pretty different (he is a millionaire) so of course they would give him one! LoL. I'm just really looking for anyone who has any insights into what kind of business ideas they'll approve (and which ones will be denied) in addition to how long it takes to actually get the visa, and what the absolute minimum amount of money is needed in ESCROW.

If you're willing to share your own experience, I'd love to hear it!

[Boiler 45,486]

The Business will determine the capital investment, if it less than $250,000 then E2 is probably not the way to go.

E2's are not a DIY category.

[NYCGirl18 1]

The Business will determine the capital investment, if it less than $250,000 then E2 is probably not the way to go.

E2's are not a DIY category.

See that's where I'm confused ... you say $250,000 ... my boyfriend's lawyer says $100,000 is all he needs. Realistically ... if he has $100k, is he going to get denied the visa for having "too little" funds, even though that is what his lawyer advised was okay?

[Boiler 45,486]

I suppose you can never say never.

Is the Lawyer guaranteeing that? No Visa, no Fee?

[aaron2020 11,651]

.

Edited July 11, 2012 by aaron2020

[NYCGirl18 1]

I suppose you can never say never.

Is the Lawyer guaranteeing that? No Visa, no Fee?

I'm confused by what you mean - "no visa, no fee" ... are you implying that if his visa application gets denied, he doesn't have to pay the lawyer the fee?

Also - I don't think the lawyer has "guaranteed" him anything. Obviously, the lawyer can only advise on what he thinks is best ... it's not the lawyer's final say whether the visa gets approved or not.

Edited July 11, 2012 by NYCGirl18

[Boiler 45,486]

At least the Lawyer sounds like he is covered.

[NYCGirl18 1]

At least the Lawyer sounds like he is covered.

Just wanted to follow up here, since I still haven't been able to find anyone on this forum that has actually gone through the E-2 process.

I came across this site and found it to be pretty helpful answering a lot of my questions:

http://www.investorvisausa.com/faq.html

They are London-based US Immigration lawyers and seem to give a lot of detailed information on this type of visa. Just thought I'd share in case anyone else would find it as useful as I did.

Edited July 13, 2012 by NYCGirl18