E-2 Visa Application Process

The application end to end: what happens at each stage, what it costs, how long it takes, and where cases most commonly go wrong.

The stages

Most of an E-2 timeline is preparation, not government processing. The stages below run in sequence, and attempting to compress the early ones is the most reliable way to generate a request for evidence later.

1
Eligibility and strategy
Confirm treaty nationality, establish the capital genuinely available, and shortlist business types whose total cost is proportionate to it. Nothing should be spent before this is settled.
2
Business selection and due diligence
Identify the specific enterprise. For acquisitions, verify financials against tax filings. Confirm that leases, licences and any franchise terms are transferable and leave you in control.
3
Business plan
Build the plan an adjudicator will read: use of funds reconciled to the investment, five-year projections with stated assumptions, and a hiring schedule that addresses marginality in the near term.
4
Investment and documentation
Commit the capital irrevocably, or place it in escrow releasing on issuance. Assemble the source-of-funds chain — where the money was earned and every step it took to reach the business.
5
Filing
File Form DS-160 and the E-visa application package with the consulate having jurisdiction. Requirements and formats vary by post; check the specific post's instructions.
6
Interview
Attend the consular interview prepared to explain the business without notes. Respond to any request for evidence precisely and within the stated window.

What it costs

Beyond the investment itself, budget for the visa application fee, business plan preparation, legal fees, and due diligence on any acquisition. Professional fees directly tied to establishing the business count toward the qualifying investment; the visa fees themselves do not.