The E-2 visa lets a national of a treaty country move to the United States to direct a business in which they have invested a substantial amount. France is a treaty country. For a restaurateur, it is the most direct route.
Ameriadvice is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We prepare and structure your case, then work hand in hand with the specialist E-2 attorney in our network, who remains solely responsible for the legal side.
What we do
- Free initial qualifying call: your project, your budget, your timeline
- Support on structuring the investment: the amount to plan for, what funds “at risk” means, ownership and control requirements
- Support in writing the business plan for the E-2 case
- Introduction to the specialist E-2 attorney and coordination of the case with them
- Help assembling the financial file: proof of funds and source of funds
- Introduction to sworn translators and apostille services for your French documents
- Family matters: spousal work rights, and your children’s status and schooling
Your family is part of the equation
This is often what tips the decision: the spouse of an E-2 visa holder is authorized to work in the United States, for any employer or self-employed, with no separate work permit to apply for. Children under 21 attend public or private school without a separate student visa. We explain what that means in practice and prepare this part of the case with you.
What to prepare
- A clear idea of the amount you can commit, and where those funds come from
- A restaurant already identified, or at least a format and a city in mind
- Your financial documents, translated when the time comes
- Time: expect several months between the first call and the consular interview
The mistakes that cost dearly
- Investing too little relative to the real cost of the project
- Depositing funds without showing they are genuinely committed and at risk
- Failing to document the source of funds
- Presenting a business that appears marginal, with no prospect of creating jobs
- Turning up at the consulate with a generic business plan
Let us talk about your project
The first call is free and without obligation. After that conversation we send you a detailed proposal setting out our support packages and the fees matched to your project.