What are E2 Visa Countries?
E2 visa countries are countries that have treaties with the United States which allow their nationals to apply for the non-immigration E2 Treaty Investor visa. This type of visa allows for an investor to either set up a U.S. business or invest in an existing business, and live and work in the country.
There are roughly 80 current countries that have treaties with the United States, which you can find below.
List of E2 Visa Countries
Here are the countries eligible for an E2 Visa:
| Treaty Country | Entered Into Force on |
| Albania | January 4, 1998 |
| Argentina | December 20, 1854 |
| Armenia | March 29, 1996 |
| Australia | December 27, 1991 |
| Austria | May 27, 1931 |
| Azerbaijan | August 2, 2001 |
| Bahrain | May 30, 2001 |
| Bangladesh | July 25, 1989 |
| Belgium | October 3, 1963 |
| Bolivia | June 6, 2001 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | November 15, 1982 |
| Bulgaria | June 2, 1954 |
| Cameroon | April 6, 1989 |
| Canada | January 1, 1994 |
| Chile | January 1, 2004 |
| China (Taiwan) | November 30, 1948 |
| Colombia | June 10, 1948 |
| Congo (Brazzaville) | August 13, 1994 |
| Congo (Kinshasa) | July 28, 1989 |
| Costa Rica | May 26, 1852 |
| Croatia | November 15, 1982 |
| Czech Republic | January 1, 1993 |
| Denmark | December 10, 2008 |
| Ecuador | May 11, 1997 |
| Egypt | June 27, 1992 |
| Estonia | February 16, 1997 |
| Ethiopia | October 8, 1953 |
| Finland | December 1, 1992 |
| France | December 21, 1960 |
| Georgia | August 17, 1997 |
| Germany | July 14, 1956 |
| Grenada | March 3, 1989 |
| Honduras | July 19, 1928 |
| Ireland | November 18, 1992 |
| Israel | May 1, 2019 |
| Italy | July 26, 1949 |
| Jamaica | March 7, 1997 |
| Japan | October 30, 1953 |
| Jordan | December 17, 2001 |
| Kazakhstan | January 12, 1994 |
| Korea (South) | November 7, 1957 |
| Kosovo | November 15, 1882 |
| Kyrgyzstan | January 12, 1994 |
| Latvia | December 26, 1996 |
| Liberia | November 21, 1939 |
| Lithuania | November 22, 2001 |
| Luxembourg | March 28, 1963 |
| Macedonia | November 15, 1982 |
| Mexico | January 1, 1994 |
| Moldova | November 25, 1994 |
| Mongolia | January 1, 1997 |
| Montenegro | November 15, 1882 |
| Morocco | May 29, 1991 |
| Netherlands | December 5, 1957 |
| New Zealand | June 10, 2019 |
| Norway | January 18, 1928 |
| Oman | June 11, 1960 |
| Pakistan | February 12, 1961 |
| Panama | May 30, 1991 |
| Paraguay | March 07, 1860 |
| Philippines | September 6, 1955 |
| Poland | August 6, 1994 |
| Romania | January 15, 1994 |
| Senegal | October 25, 1990 |
| Serbia | November 15,1882 |
| Singapore | January 1, 2004 |
| Slovak Republic | January 1, 1993 |
| Slovenia | November 15, 1982 |
| Spain | April 14, 1903 |
| Sri Lanka | May 1, 1993 |
| Suriname | February 10, 1963 |
| Sweden | February 20, 1992 |
| Switzerland | November 08, 1855 |
| Thailand | June 8, 1968 |
| Togo | February 5, 1967 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | December 26, 1996 |
| Tunisia | February 7, 1993 |
| Turkey | May 18, 1990 |
| Ukraine | November 16, 1996 |
| United Kingdom | July 03, 1815 |
| Yugoslavia | November 15, 1882 |
Steps to Apply for the E2 Visa in Eligible Countries
To apply for an E2 visa, follow these steps:
- Fill Out the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-160). Fill out the online Nonimmigrant visa application (Form DS-160) in your home country. Due to the online nature of this document, it is important to provide accurate and true data about yourself and your ambitions to apply for the E2 visa. The filing fee for your DS-160 visa application is $205. Generally speaking, If you are filing a petition for a change of status through USCIS, the filing fee for Form I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker) with USCIS costs $460. The request for premium processing has an extra cost of $2,500 to get processed in 15 days.
- Upload Your Photo. When you fill out Form DS-160, you will be asked to upload a passport photo that complies with the given size, color, and dimension conditions.
- Pay the Application Fee and Print Receipt. Pay the app-payment fee via the Internet at the payment gateway earmarked for the application fee. Let the operator see your payment receipt at the end of the payment.
- Wait for Confirmation. The process of the online application is going smoothly and get electronic approval. Ensure to bring out a copy of the confirmation sheet containing a barcode, which you will be required to present at the interview, together with an admission slip.
- Schedule an Interview. Make sure to set an appointment with the local embassy or consulate. These can be done through their embassy or consulate's website or by contacting their consular section.
- Complete Required Documents. Collect and submit all E2 visa application materials that are required. This may include business plans and financial statements, among others, that provide a solid background to the investment proposal.
- Attend the Visa Interview. Appear on the scheduled interview at the assigned US embassy or consulate specified on the visa form. Be ready to submit all required papers and answer questions about your business plans, investment, migration, and life in the US.
- Submit Additional Forms (if required). Requirements differ, depending on the place where you are applying (embassy or consulate), so additional forms, such as the Treaty Trader/Treaty Investor Application-Nonimmigrant, might be needed to give specific details about your business plan and investment.
- Ensure to Make a Follow-up. After the interview is completed, follow the instructions provided by the consular officer. If your visa application is accepted, you will receive instructions on how to collect your passport stamp.
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Criteria for the E2 Visa Countries
The eligibility criteria for an E2 visa Countries include:
- Nationality Requirement: Candidates should be a citizen of the country having a bilateral agreement or Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with the United States. Either an individual or a business entity can have entitlements depending on the fact that other requirements have to be fulfilled.
- Ownership Requirement for Companies: If a company is an applicant it must be a minimum 50% national-owned in the country of the treaty.
- Position Requirement for Employees: If the applicant is an employee of a treaty nation company, they must be occupying a supervisory, managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge position in the company.
- Intent to Invest: Whether the investor is an individual or a company, they must demonstrate the intention of investing a substantial amount of capital in the establishment and operation of a bona fide (genuine) business in the United States. The minimum investment required to obtain an E2 visa is often more than $150,000.
- Substantial Investment: Significant investment is a must, which should be enough to secure the operational efficiency of the organization. The minimum investment amount is not specified, but it should be substantial within the total investment in either business acquisition or business creation.
- Intent to Develop the Business: This refers to the investors’ intention to expand on the existing business and direct it to greater heights.
- Funds Placement: For the investment, the investor has to put the funds in the account of the bank or of the agent so that the visa is approved.
- Intent to Return: The investor must possess the intention to depart the US at the end of either the expiration or termination of their E2 status and to subsequently return to the country from where he/she/they originated.
Key Terms for E2 Visa Countries
- Nationality: The status of being an inhabitant of a specific country, being eligible for the E2 visa under the treaty agreements.
- Bona Fide Business: A real business that builds items or offers services as well as makes money. This is good to know when getting an E2 visa.
- Substantial Investment: There is a lot of investment that would be sufficient and necessary for the business to run successfully.
- Treaty Investor: The investor that is an individual or a company from a treaty country but the one that capitalizes a US business to qualify for entering the US is called an E2 visa holder.
- Adjudication: The process to identify and review applications or petitions and the subsequent decisions made on E2 visas by USCIS or consular officers.
Final Thoughts on E2 Visa Countries
The treaty investor's visa program helps citizens of the treaty country to open investment and business opportunities in the United States. The applicants who are eligible may either start new enterprises or sow their money in anything that will lead to economic development and cross-border relationships. From the small requirement of significant investment and actual business operations to the big contribution to revitalizing the US business scene that also promotes international cooperation and the growth of the country’s economy, entrepreneurs and companies can find their best way towards success in the U.S.
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