E-2 visa and investment

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.

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

The steps of your E-2 file

1. Qualification. At the first call, we check what matters: nationality, funds available, where the funds come from, type of project.
2. Structuring. Together we set an investment amount that matches the real cost of the project, and how to commit it.
3. Business plan. A plan built for your restaurant and its city, with figures you can defend, never a generic template.
4. Financial file. Proof of funds, a clear trail of where they come from, certified translations and apostilles.
5. Filing by the attorney. The E-2 attorney in our network prepares and files the application. For French nationals, it is handled by the U.S. Embassy in Paris.
6. Consular interview. The attorney prepares you for how the interview runs; we help you present your project with confidence.

Frequently asked questions

How much do I need to invest?

The law sets no minimum: the investment must be substantial relative to the real cost of the project. In practice, a café or bakery taken over as a going concern comes to around $100,000–$150,000, and a full-service independent restaurant well above that. The details are in How much does it cost to open a restaurant in Florida?

How long does it take?

Several months between the first call and the consular interview. Incomplete files cause the longest delays; traceable funds from day one and a file prepared alongside the restaurant search save the most time. See How long does an E-2 visa take?

Can I take over an existing restaurant on an E-2 visa?

Yes, and it is often the most direct route: the revenue is proven and the licences are already in place. The funds must be genuinely committed (spent or held in escrow) before the file is submitted.

Can the E-2 visa be renewed?

Yes, as long as the business keeps operating and still meets the visa requirements. The attorney confirms the validity period that applies to your nationality, and we prepare the renewal paperwork with you.