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United States of America · investor

E-2 Treaty Investor

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Non-immigrant treaty investor visa for nationals of countries with a qualifying treaty of commerce and navigation with the US.

No sponsorship requiredDoes not lead to permanent residencyInitial up to 2 years at port of entry (5-year visa stamp for many nationalities); renewable indefinitely.
Processing time
Consular: 2–6 months depending on post. Change of status inside US: several months.
Government fees
DS-160 USD 315 (reciprocity-adjusted); I-129 USD 1,015 (for in-country change of status).
Typical duration
Initial up to 2 years at port of entry (5-year visa stamp for many nationalities); renewable indefinitely.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗

In short

As of 8 July 2026, the E-2 Treaty Investor for United States of America is an unsponsored United States immigration route. Sources: official United States of America government pages, reviewed 10 September 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/us/e-2#answer

What is the E-2 Treaty Investor in United States of America?

E-2 Treaty Investor is an unsponsored United States route. Indicative government fees are DS-160 USD 315 (reciprocity-adjusted); I-129 USD 1,015 (for in-country change of status); indicative processing time is Consular: 2–6 months depending on post. Change of status inside US: several months; typical duration is Initial up to 2 years at port of entry (5-year visa stamp for many nationalities); renewable indefinitely. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Verified against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on 1 June 2026.

Overview

The E-2 permits nationals of E-2 treaty countries to invest a substantial amount of capital in a US business and direct its operations. There is no fixed minimum, but the investment must be substantial relative to the cost of the business and sufficient to ensure commitment. E-2 is renewable indefinitely but is not a direct pathway to permanent residence.

Guidance by nationality

Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Confirm treaty-country nationality

    Verify the applicant holds a passport from an E-2 treaty country.

  2. Commit investment and document

    Transfer funds irrevocably into the US enterprise and document the source.

  3. File DS-160 or I-129

    Apply at US consulate or change status inside the US.

  4. Renew indefinitely

    Extend in 2-year increments as long as the business operates.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For E-2 Treaty Investor, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official E-2 Treaty Investor instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to United States

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in United States. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Check E-2 filing route ↗

    Treaty investors use this USCIS page to confirm E-2 eligibility and whether to file with USCIS or a consulate.

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · verified

Fees and processing time

Indicative government fees: DS-160 USD 315 (reciprocity-adjusted); I-129 USD 1,015 (for in-country change of status).. The issuing authority does not publish a central processing time for this route, so plan against comparable cases. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.

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Frequently asked questions

Is E-2 dual intent?+

No. E-2 is a non-immigrant visa and is not formally dual-intent. Filing for a green card can make renewals more difficult, though it is not an automatic bar; many E-2 holders transition to EB-1, EB-2, or EB-5.

Can I use US real estate as my E-2 treaty investor investment?+

Passive investments such as real estate held for personal use or speculative holdings do not qualify for the E-2. The investment must be substantial capital, irrevocably committed, in a bona fide, real and operating US enterprise that the investor develops and directs. Confirm the requirements on the official USCIS source before committing funds.

Can I get an E-2 visa if I'm not from a treaty country?+

No. The E-2 requires you to be a national of a country with a qualifying E-2 treaty with the US, and being a national of a non-treaty country is a common reason applications are refused. If you don't hold treaty-country nationality, the E-2 is not available regardless of how much you invest; confirm your country's treaty status on the official source.

Does the E-2 treaty investor visa lead to a green card the way EB-5 does?+

No. The E-2 is a non-immigrant visa that is renewable indefinitely while the business operates, but it is not a direct pathway to permanent residence. The EB-5 immigrant investor program, by contrast, grants conditional permanent residence leading to an unconditional green card. Many E-2 holders later transition to EB-1, EB-2, or EB-5.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

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How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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