US Investor E2 Visa Procedures

Things to Know About US Investor (E2) Visa Procedures

The U.S. E2 investor visa is a temporary (non-immigrant) visa that allows citizens of countries that have a trade agreement with the United States to enter the United States to make a significant investment in a U.S. business or to develop the activities of an organization in which they have invested. Individuals who receive a U.S. investor visa have the right to operate a business, provide employment, and earn a legitimate income in the United States.

Who is Granted a US Investor E2 Visa?

The US investor visa is granted to the persons listed below.

  • Entrepreneurs who have made a significant investment in a US-based company
  • They will go to the USA to develop and direct their investments in Turkey
  • They will go to the US to manage the activities of a venture in which they have invested or are actively in the process of investing capital.
  • Companies that will send key personnel to manage their US subsidiary or branch office
  • Companies that will send personnel to establish branches or subsidiaries in the USA
  • Immediate family members of the E2 visa holder

Eligibility for US Investor Visa Application

Eligibility for the US investor visa is listed below.

  • The investor, whether an individual, partnership or legal entity, must be a Turkish citizen.
  • If the investor is a business, at least 50 percent of the business must belong to persons with Turkish nationality.
  • The investment must be based on a significant amount of committed and irrevocable investment funds or assets. The amount of investment must be sufficient to ensure the successful operation of the business.
  • The investment must be a real business, an active commercial enterprise or entrepreneur. Funds that are not committed to a paper company or a bank account or similar security are not considered an investment.
  • The investment must generate income greater than the individual and family’s livelihood and have an economic impact in the United States.
  • The funds must be controlled by the individual and the investment must be commercially risky. Loans secured by the investment firm’s assets are not permitted.
  • A person must come to the United States to develop and manage the business. Even if not the principal investor, the person coming to the United States must be a key employee, employed in a supervisory or executive position, or employed in a highly specialized skill capacity. Ordinary skilled and unskilled workers are not included.

Minimum Investment Amount for USA E2 Visa

There is no specific minimum investment requirement set by the regulations for the US E2 visa; generally, an investment of at least $200,000 is considered significant and sufficient by most people. However, the minimum investment requirement is not fixed and, depending on the business, a higher or lower amount may be considered sufficient.

If the investment is equal to or more than $500,000 and the criteria for the US EB5 investor visa are met, permanent immigration status can be applied for.

How to Get a US Investor Visa?

To apply for the US E2 investor visa, the steps listed below must be followed.

  • American DS-160 and DS-156E forms are filled out.
  • Necessary documents for the investor visa are prepared.
  • Online appointments can be made from the US Consulate General in Istanbul.
  • The prepared application file is sent to the Consulate General’s E type visa unit.
  • A visa interview will be held on the appointment date.

Application Forms Required for E2 Visa

To apply for an E2 visa in the United States, DS-160 (non-immigrant visa application form) and DS-156E (non-immigrant trader/investor application form) forms must be filled out.

The US DS-160 form is a form that must be filled out completely online at ceac.state.gov. In the travel purpose section of the form, “Treaty Trader or Investor- E” and “Treaty Investor- E2” must be selected respectively.

How to fill out the DS-160 form for the E2 visa is given in the image below.

The DS-156E form can be filled out on a computer or printed out by hand in .pdf format. If the business in the U.S. is not fully operational at the time the visa application is made, the DS-156E form must include estimates of the company’s potential income, job creation capacity, and sales volume.

Documents to be Prepared for Investor Visa

Investor visa applications must submit the required documents listed below.

  • Barcoded page of DS-160 visa application form
  • US DS-156E form
  • G-28 form filled in on behalf of the person or lawyer who has the right of official representation, if any
  • Photocopy of the passport page containing personal information
  • Legal residence/work permit for foreign nationals in Turkey
  • Signed petition to return when legal status in the United States ends
  • Investment cover letter
  • America business plan
  • Company ownership documents
  • Documents proving investment
  • Documents proving the applicant’s professional qualifications

All application documents must be prepared in accordance with the US Consulate General’s Type E visa guidelines and must be added to the application file in the correct order. Application files that are not prepared in the specified manner will result in the file being sent back to the applicants with a request for further clarification and the visa interview being postponed.

Investor Cover Letter

One of the main documents for the US investor visa application is a cover letter that describes the company in the US and the applicant. The investor cover letter should explain in detail whether the company is eligible for the E2 visa status, the applicant’s qualifications, and the requirements of the relevant position.

E2 Visa Business Plan

A detailed business plan must be submitted for the E2 visa application. The business plan should include the company’s profit and loss estimates for the next 5 years, and its current and future income potential should be clearly explained. The company’s income to be declared in the business plan is expected to make a significant contribution to the United States economy, beyond providing for the investors and their family members in the United States.

In addition to the business plan, the last 2 years of tax returns showing income reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), if any, and W2 and W4 tax forms must be submitted. Also, company payroll, employee salary statements, employee personal information and W-2 forms must be included in the file.

Company Ownership Documents

All E2 investor visa applications must submit documents showing that at least 50% of the company’s ownership belongs to a Turkish citizen or organization.

For companies with more than one owner or share, the documents given below must also be declared.

  • In cases where the company has more than one owner or legal entities have shares;
    • Organizational chart showing the ownership structure of the company
    • Documents proving ownership such as company establishment certificate, shares, trade registry gazette
    • Shareholders’ percentage of shares in the parent company and passport photocopies
  • In companies with a large number of shareholders (where none of the shareholders has more than 50% of the shares) whose shares are traded on the stock exchange;
    • A petition written by the legal authority of the company showing all stock exchanges
    • A recent letter from the stock exchange where the shares are traded
    Investment DocumentsThe E2 visa applicant must submit documents proving that they have already made an investment or are in the process of making an investment. For this purpose, all types of documents proving investment in the United States, such as rental or sales contracts, employment contracts, bank statements, current invoices and bank statements, must be declared.If documents related to money transfers are submitted, a receipt must be attached for each transfer, and the relevant transfer must be marked in the sender and recipient bank statements.Documents Regarding Professional QualificationsThe current CV of the US investor visa applicant must be submitted. At the same time, the person is required to submit documents that show that he/she is suitable for the position he/she will work in the US and has the necessary experience and skills. Examples of these documents can be diplomas, certificates, certificates of participation and reference letters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions frequently asked to our consultants regarding the US investor visa are answered below.

How to Make an Appointment and Send Files for the US E2 Visa?

US E2 investor visa applications from Turkey are accepted by the US Consulate General in Istanbul. The US Embassy in Ankara does not give appointments for Group E trader/investor visa applications. Unlike other US visa applications, after making an appointment for the E2 visa, the application file must be sent to the Consulate General.

After paying the visa application fee through the US online visa appointment system, an e-mail must be sent to [email protected] to activate the account. Only applicants whose appointment accounts have been activated can complete the appointment process for the online US visa application .

After the Consulate General E Type Visa Unit contacts the person who made the appointment via e-mail, the prepared application file must be sent to the same e-mail address. Care must be taken to prepare and scan all documents to be sent to the E Visa Unit in accordance with the given directives.

What Are the Questions Asked in the Investor Visa Interview?

In order to complete the US investor visa application, it is necessary to attend a visa interview at the US Consulate General on the appointment date. During the interview with the E Visa Unit officer, questions are asked to understand the person’s qualifications, the characteristics of the investment made in the US and future plans.

Some sample questions that may be asked in the US investor visa interview are listed below.

  • What are your experiences regarding the work you will be doing in the United States?
  • What are your plans and expectations for the next 5 years?
  • What is the source of your capital?
  • What are your company’s expenses (rent, employee salaries, etc.)?
  • What is your annual and monthly turnover?

At the end of the interview, the visa applicant’s digital fingerprint is recorded and the applicant is informed whether the E1 visa application is approved or not. Passport tracking for approved investor visa applications can be done via https://ceac.state.gov.

How Much Is the US Investor Visa Application Fee?

The US investor visa application fee is $240 starting in 2024. The application fee must be paid before making an appointment at usvisa-info.com.

If you receive services such as sworn translation, notary approval, passport courier or visa consultancy for your investor visa applications, visa fees increase.

How Many Years Does It Take to Grant a US Investor Visa?

The US investor visa is granted for a maximum of 5 years. The multiple-entry investor visa grants the holder a 2-year residence permit for each entry. It is possible to renew the visa when it expires, but the conditions sought when obtaining the visa must also be met when renewing the visa.

Can My Family Come to the USA With My American E2 Visa?

With the US E2 visa, you can bring your dependent spouse and single children under the age of 21 to the US. Family members can apply for a visa together with the main applicant, or they can apply later.

To obtain an E2 visa as a family member, the relationship between the visa holder and the family member must be proven. For children, a birth certificate is sufficient as proof, and for spouses, a marriage certificate is sufficient.