Investment
An investment in a real business
You invest in your own US company — a restaurant, an IT startup, a franchise. Typically from $80,000-$100,000. The money works for your business — this is not a "status purchase".
The E-2 visa — an investor visa for business owners
The Treaty Investor visa is a non-immigrant visa for investors from countries that hold a treaty with the US. Start or buy a business, move with your family in 3-6 months, and renew your status without limits.
From 3 months
The full cycle takes 3 to 6 months. No Green Card backlog and no waiting for quota allocation.
No quotas, no lottery
File any time of year. The Treaty Investor visa is not subject to the annual USCIS cap.
Your family works in the US
Your spouse receives unrestricted work authorization. Children under 21 get student status and access to US schools.
Unlimited renewals
The visa is issued for 2-5 years and can be renewed an unlimited number of times as long as the business keeps operating.
Treaty Investor
What the E-2 visa is and how it works
The E-2 is a non-immigrant investor visa that gives you the right to live in the US and run a business there. It is issued for 2-5 years with unlimited renewals as long as your business is actively operating. A fit for those ready to invest capital and personally manage their own company in the States.
When to choose E-2
- You want to move to the US fast — processing takes 3-6 months, with no backlog.
- You are ready to invest $80,000-$100,000+ in a real business and actively manage it.
- You hold (or are ready to obtain) citizenship of a country with a US treaty.
- You want flexibility — the visa renews without limits as long as the business operates.
- Your family needs to move right away — your spouse gets unrestricted work authorization.
When to choose EB-5
- You want a Green Card right away, with no interim non-immigrant status.
- You are ready to invest $800,000+ and wait 2-3 years for your status.
- You prefer not to manage the business day to day — passive investment is allowed.
- You hold no treaty-country citizenship and have no plans to obtain one.
- You want your spouse and children to receive Green Cards together with you.
For your family
Your family moves with you
Your spouse receives unrestricted work authorization. Children under 21 get student status — they can enroll in US schools and colleges as students.
No treaty passport?
Through a second citizenship
Russia is not on the E-2 treaty country list. But there is a path: citizenship of Turkey, Grenada, or another treaty country. Migrator supports the entire process.
Who it's for
We help professionals from many fields around the world move to the US legally
Do you have a university degree and significant professional achievements? Find out which visa type is right for you.
Don't see your profession here? We work with professionals from many different fields.
Check if I qualifyThe 5 key E-2 requirements
What it takes to get an E-2 visa approved
USCIS evaluates E-2 cases against 5 key requirements. All of them must be met at the same time — your attorney builds a case of 200-800 pages of evidence: financial records, a business plan, the source of funds, and proof of active operations.
- 01
Citizenship of a treaty country
You hold citizenship of a country that has a treaty of trade and investment with the US: Turkey, Grenada, Germany, the UK, Japan, and others. Russia is not on the list — Russian citizens qualify through a second citizenship.
- 02
A substantial investment
Capital sufficient to launch and operate the business. Typically from $80,000-$100,000 for a small business. The money must be "at risk" — actually invested, not sitting in a reserve account. You must also prove a lawful source of funds.
- 03
A real, active business
Not a paper office and not the purchase of a shell company — real operations: premises, employees, contracts, customers. The business must generate more income than the owner needs to make a living.
- 04
A managerial role
You personally develop and direct the business. You make the key decisions, control the finances, and hire staff. Not a passive investor — an active manager with at least a 50% stake or operational control.
- 05
Temporary intent
An intent to return home when the visa expires. In practice the visa renews without limits, but the petition must not declare immigration plans. For immigration there is a parallel path — EB-5.
Not sure which visa fits — E-2 or EB-5?
An attorney will review your business experience and budget — for free. You will learn which program fits you, how long processing takes, and what budget you need.
How it works
How to get a US visa in 7 steps — no chaos, no hunting down a dozen specialists
Swipe to see all the steps
Select a step
Step 01 of 07
Free visa assessment
You fill out a questionnaire, and our specialists analyze your case in detail to assess your real chances of approval. At this stage you already see which path is the most promising for you. We then contact you to schedule an online meeting at a time that suits you.
01 / 07
Take the first step — get a free expert consultation and an eligibility checklist
Get startedTimeline
The average time to get an E-2 visa is 3-6 months. With Premium Processing — from 3-4 months.
| Stage | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Case assessment and contract | 1-2 days |
| Business plan and company registration | 4-8 weeks |
| Evidence collection | 3-6 weeks |
| USCIS processing | 6-8 wks / 15 days (Premium) |
| Consular interview and visa | 1-2 weeks |
The longest stage is the business plan and company registration. The pace depends on how ready your business model is, on the source-of-funds documents, and on how quickly the US entity and bank account are set up.
At Migrator, every case goes through 3 rounds of document review by specialists at different levels — the final word and the filing always belong to a licensed US attorney.
Why Migrator
Our attorneys hold a 95% approval rate — with a money-back guarantee in the contract
Every case is handled by a licensed US attorney. The company takes the financial risk on itself — it is written into the contract.
* The 95% approval rate is an approximate figure based on approved cases across different time periods and visa categories.
Licensed US attorneys
Every case is handled by a licensed US attorney or an accredited representative specializing in immigration law. Hundreds of approved petitions.
Money-back guarantee in the contract
Approval or a full refund — the terms are written into the contract. Migrator takes the financial risk on itself — this is not a marketing gimmick.
Fixed price
The price is set before the contract is signed. An RFE response, extra consultations, case adjustments — all included. Government fees are not included.
Available 24/7
Your personal chat includes the department head, a supervisor, a paralegal, a case manager, and an AI bot. Weekly progress updates.
Three rounds of document review
The coordinator checks completeness, the attorney checks legal strength, the senior partner checks case strategy. Your petition passes three filters before it reaches USCIS.
Support after approval
We help schedule your consular appointment and prep you for the interview. Guidance on next steps — we stay in touch after you receive your visa.
Don't put it off
Start your E-2 journey today — later it only gets harder and more expensive
Requirements keep tightening
US immigration policy keeps shifting. The bar for a substantial investment is rising — what was enough in 2024 may fall short in 2026. Consulates scrutinize the source of funds more strictly every year.
Processing times are growing
Standard E-2 processing keeps getting longer. What used to take 6 weeks can now take 3 months. The sooner you file, the sooner your family moves.
The second-citizenship window
If your path runs through citizenship of Turkey or Grenada, those timelines are changing too. CBI programs revise their terms, raise the amounts, and tighten due diligence every year.
The window for your family is closing
Children adapt more easily at 5 than at 12. It is easier for a spouse to start a career at 35 than at 45. Every year of waiting is a year your family could have spent in the US.
Request a free assessment
Submit a request and get a free visa assessment
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Free case assessment
Not sure you’d qualify? See real client cases — with USCIS approval letters.
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