Buffalo: (716) 970-4007 | Toronto: (866) 697-1832
Buffalo: (716) 970-4007 | Toronto: (866) 697-1832
Not all E-2 visa investments are done with multi-million dollar purchases. In fact, most E-2 visa investments we see are made up of several small investment amounts. If you are applying for an E-2 investor visa, it is important to understand what expenses can be used towards the investment amount. We discuss what expenses can be used in an E-2 investor visa application here.
The E-2 visa is for foreign investors to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which they have invested a substantial amount of capital. Part of the requirement for the E-2 visa is that the company creates jobs for US workers and not just a livelihood for the investor. We discuss the E-2 visa requirement to hire employees here.
If you will be applying for a new office L-1 Visa or an E-2 Visa for a new business, you will be required to produce a business plan. A business plan for immigration purposes differs from a traditional business plan to obtain funding from a bank or other business purposes. When making an application for a new office L-1 Visa or E-2 visa for a new investment, make sure your business plan is immigration compliant. We discuss the basic requirements of a business plan for immigration purposes here.
Qualifying foreign nationals can obtain E-1 visa status as treaty traders and E-2 visa status as treaty investors. We recently received the approval for an E-1 Treaty Trader and two E-2 Treaty Investors on the same day at the US Consulate in Toronto, Ontario. We discuss the approvals here.
The E-2 Visa is not just for large multi-million dollar investments. The E-2 visa is often used by entrepreneurs starting a new business or investing in an existing business. One of the many requirements for an E-2 visa is an office to support business operations. We discuss the E-2 visa office requirement here.
The requirements to obtain an E-2 Investor visa go beyond a substantial financial investment. One of the main considerations when determining qualifications for the E-2 visa is whether the enterprise is more than marginal. We discuss the marginality requirement for an E-2 Visa here.
The United States, Canada, and Mexico rely heavily on trade with each other. One of the largest facilitators of trade is transporting goods via tractor-trailer. Under the USMCA, tractor-trailer drivers can transport goods to and from the United States with some limitations. We discuss the profession of a tractor-trailer driver, the principle of cabotage, and allowances under the USMCA here.
E Visas are for citizens of countries that maintain treaties of commerce with the United States. The purpose of these treaties is to ease trade and navigation between the citizens of treaty countries and the United States. There are three available E-visa categories, the E-1 Visa for Treaty Traders and the E-2 Visa for Treaty Investors, and the E3 Visa for Australians. We discuss the main differences between the E-1, E-2, and E-3 visa categories here.
The E-2 Investor visa has been designated for citizens of countries that maintain treaties of commerce and navigation with the United States. Qualifying E2 Visa entities can become registered as E Visa Companies. Qualifying owners, executives, supervisors, or essentially skilled employees are able to obtain E2 visas to perform work for the company inside the United States. We discuss what businesses can qualify for registration as an E2 Visa company here.
Neither the USMCA (NAFTA) nor USCIS defines how a TN Visa holder must be paid. They simply state that there must be employment or contractual arrangements between a foreign national and a US entity. Only self-employment through a US company is barred. We discuss compensation and self-employment on a TN visa here.