E-2 Visa Investment Requirements in 2026: How Much Do You Need to Invest and What Expenses Qualify?

One of the key requirements for obtaining an E-2 investor visa is the investment of a substantial amount of money into a U.S. business. In practice, most successful applicants invest approximately $100,000 into a new or existing business venture. At the same time, it is important to understand that immigration authorities evaluate not only the fact that funds are available, but also the extent to which the investor has actually invested them into the development of the business.

To obtain an E-2 visa, it is not necessary for the company to already be generating profit at the time of filing the application. However, the existence of revenue, active clients, and proven business activity significantly strengthens the immigration case and increases the level of confidence on the part of the consular or immigration officer.

New Business or Purchase of an Existing Company?

In practice, approximately 90% of investors choose to register a new company specifically for obtaining an E-2 visa. This approach allows them to fully control the project from the very beginning and build the business according to their own vision.

Nevertheless, purchasing an existing business can, in many cases, be a more advantageous and less risky solution.

An operating company usually already has several advantages:

• an established business model;

• an existing customer base;

• a history of financial activity;

• active employees;

• established business processes;

• documented revenue.

For investors who have doubts about the prospects of their own startup or wish to reduce the risks associated with obtaining a visa, purchasing an existing business is often a safer option.

In addition, if for some reason the visa is not approved, recovering part of the invested funds through the sale or continued operation of an existing business is usually easier than in the case of a newly created company that has not yet developed assets or market value.

Step 1. Registering a Company in the United States

The first stage of the E-2 visa process is the registration of a U.S. company.

In most cases, investors choose an LLC structure, although the creation of a corporation is also possible.

After registration, the company receives an EIN (Employer Identification Number), which is a federal tax identification number required for conducting business in the United States.

It is important to note that company registration and obtaining an EIN can usually be completed remotely without the investor being physically present in the United States.

Step 2. Opening a Bank Account

After the company has been registered, it is necessary to open a corporate bank account in the name of the U.S. legal entity.

In many cases, banks require the company owner to be physically present when opening the account. Therefore, most investors must travel to the United States, even if only for a short period of time.

For entrepreneurs from Europe, alternative solutions may sometimes be available through international payment platforms such as Wise. However, regardless of the option selected, the account must be opened in the name of the U.S. company rather than in the name of an individual.

Step 3. Preparing a Business Plan

If the company has existed for less than one year or has not yet begun full-scale operations, a detailed business plan will be required.

The business plan is one of the most important documents in the E-2 visa package because it demonstrates the future prospects of the project to the immigration officer.

A business plan typically includes:

• a description of the business;

• market analysis;

• marketing strategy;

• financial projections;

• anticipated expenses;

• hiring plans;

• a multi-year growth strategy.

Step 4. Investing the Funds

The next mandatory stage is making the investment into the business.

In practice, the investor must invest approximately $100,000 and demonstrate that these funds have actually been committed to the development of the company.

The funds must originate from the investor’s personal account, since it must be shown that the applicant personally made the investment.

Special attention is paid to how actively the invested funds are being used. It is not sufficient simply to transfer money into the company’s account and leave it there until the application is filed.

Typically, it is required that at least 50–60% of the total investment amount be spent before the application is submitted.

The expenses must be real and supported by documentation.

Such expenses may include:

• software development;

• contractor services;

• marketing and advertising;

• participation in conferences;

• business travel;

• equipment purchases;

• lease payments;

• inventory and materials.

It is important to note that expenses may be incurred not only in the United States but also outside the country, provided they are directly related to the development of the U.S. business.

For example, if an investor invests $100,000 and has already spent $60,000 on developing the project, the remaining $40,000 should ideally be documented through:

• lease agreements;

• employment contracts;

• contractor agreements;

• equipment purchase orders;

• other financial commitments.

All documents should contain specific amounts. Indefinite or conditional obligations are generally not considered sufficient proof of investment.

The investor’s primary objective is to demonstrate that the funds are not simply sitting in the company’s bank account but are actually being used to develop the business.

Step 5. Proving the Source of Funds

An equally important stage is documenting the source of the investment funds.

The requirements for proving the source of funds under the E-2 visa program are significantly less demanding than those under the EB-5 program.

The investor must demonstrate where the money invested in the business originated.

The most common sources include:

• sale of real estate;

• sale of a business;

• personal savings;

• bank loans;

• private loans;

• gifted funds from close relatives.

For example, if the money originated from the sale of real estate, it is usually sufficient to provide the purchase and sale agreement and documents confirming that the proceeds were deposited into the investor’s personal account.

The use of multiple funding sources within the same application is permitted.

For example:

• part of the funds came from the sale of an apartment;

• part came from a bank loan;

• part was received as a gift from parents.

If borrowed or gifted funds are used, the person providing the funds must also demonstrate the lawful origin of those funds.

Bank loans are generally among the easiest sources to document because the origin of the bank’s funds does not need to be proven separately.

E-2 Visa Renewal

Renewing an E-2 visa is generally a relatively straightforward process if the business is genuinely operating and generating income.

During the renewal process, the primary focus is on the current condition of the company rather than the projections that were once included in the business plan.

For a successful renewal, it is desirable that the business:

• continues active operations;

• demonstrates stable revenue;

• generates profit;

• creates jobs;

• has potential for future growth.

Although there is no formal requirement regarding the number of employees, having two or three U.S. workers generally has a positive impact on how the business is viewed by immigration authorities.

Likewise, there is no officially established minimum profit requirement. Nevertheless, in practice, the business should generate sufficient income to support the investor and the investor’s family.

In many cases, annual income or profit in the range of $30,000–$40,000 or more is considered a useful benchmark, although actual expectations vary depending on the state, cost of living, and family size.

The investor’s income may be received in the form of salary, dividends, or other lawful methods of profit distribution.

Conclusion

Obtaining an E-2 visa requires not only investment capital but also proper business documentation and organization. Correct company registration, preparation of a strong business plan, documentation of the source of funds, and proper tracking of business expenditures are key components of a successful case.

At the same time, for immigration authorities, the most important factor is not the size of the projections originally stated in the business plan, but rather the actual condition of the business at the time the application or renewal is reviewed. For this reason, investors should focus not only on obtaining the visa itself but also on building a sustainable and profitable company capable of operating successfully in the U.S. market over the long term.