E-2 treaty investor visa specialist lawyers

Invest in a business in the USA with clear legal guidance

If your home country has a qualifying trade treaty with the USA, and you have a substantial amount of capital invested, or are in the process of investing in a US-based company, the E-2 visa offers an efficient route to live and direct your operations in the United States.

At Blue Lake Law, we guide foreign investors, entrepreneurs, and business owners through every stage of the Treaty Investor process: structuring capital securely, packaging clear evidence for consular officers, and maximizing acceptance chances with our focused US Immigration law experience.

Speak with an E-2 Investor Visa specialist today

What is the E2 Investment Visa?

Similar to the E-1 Treaty Trader Visa, the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa is a non-immigrant visa designed to help foreign investors relocate to, direct, and work within the USA with ease. As this is a non-immigrant visa, the E-2 Treaty Investor visa does not offer a direct path to permanent residency (a Green Card) within the United States, but it provides critical operational advantages:

• Indefinite renewals: Remain in the United States as long as the enterprise operates and maintains regulatory compliance.
• Open spousal employment: Your spouse receives work authorisation across any US sector or commercial enterprise.
• Family relocation: Dependent children under 21 can attend US schools, colleges, and universities.
• Flexible capital thresholds: Eligibility is judged on proportionality to your specific business model rather than a fixed statutory minimum.

How Blue Lake Law navigates E-2 Visa eligibility

To be eligible for an E-2 Treaty Investor visa,, you must meet strict statutory criteria. Blue Lake Law prepares comprehensive documentation to address each legal requirement directly:

Treaty country nationality 

You must hold citizenship in a country maintaining a qualifying treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States.

How we assist: We verify qualifying nationality structures, including complex dual-nationality profiles and multinational corporate parent structures.

Key qualifying countries include:

Have citizenship in a country which has a US trade treaty

These countries are:

Active commercial enterprise and capital at risk

The investment must be in a real, active commercial undertaking producing goods or services. Passive investments, such as unimproved land or residential property holdings, do not qualify.

How we assist: We structure escrow agreements and commercial commitments so your funds meet the legal at-risk standard without exposing capital to unnecessary loss prior to visa adjudication.

Substantial investment amount

While there is no statutory minimum amount to invest in order to be eligible, guidance often references $100,000 as a common baseline. However, each case is reviewed individually, and the result depends on the operational model of your enterprise. Blue Lake Law has experience structuring successful applications for lean enterprises with investments in the $50,000 range.

How we assist: We apply the legal proportionality test, demonstrating to consular adjudicators that your capital represents a substantial commitment relative to the total startup or purchase cost. 

Legitimate source of funds

When applying for an E-2 visa, you will be expected to prove that your investment capital was obtained by legal means.

How we assist: We build a clear audit trail: tracing retained earnings, property transactions, gifts, or dividends through banking and tax records to prevent administrative delays.

Non-marginality and economic growth

The enterprise cannot merely support the investor and their immediate family: it must demonstrate the capacity to generate meaningful economic impact.

How we assist: We collaborate on a five-year compliant business plan that shows viable financial growth, commercial contracts, and US job creation.

Ownership and control

You must own at least 50% of the enterprise or demonstrate operational control through a senior managerial or executive capacity.

How we assist: We structure ownership documentation and, where you’re not the majority owner, prepare evidence of your managerial or executive authority over day-to-day operations.

Why choose Blue Lake Law?

At Blue Lake Law, our team of experienced legal professionals is dedicated to using our knowledge of US immigration law to maximize your chances of success with your E-2 Treaty Investor Visa application. We provide qualified legal advice from intake through adjudication to protect your investment, timeline, and commercial plans.  

Our End-to-End Legal Service:

• Intake and admissibility screening: Early assessment of nationality, business viability, and personal eligibility to prevent wasted fees.
• Source of funds tracing: Detailed documentation of lawful capital to satisfy consular standards.
• Compliant business plan development: Structured five-year financial and hiring models.
• Consular package preparation: Clear legal briefs and indexed corporate filings.
• Consular interview preparation: Focused briefing sessions for the principal investor.
• Dependent visa processing: Comprehensive applications for spouses and eligible children.

Cost of our E2 Visa application services

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