The full startup budget
Separate purchase or franchise fees from deposits, fit-out, equipment, permits and professional fees. Then plan working capital for payroll, rent and operating costs.
FOR INVESTORS & ENTREPRENEURS
E-2 investment.
A business-first approach.
Explore what it takes to invest in and operate a qualifying U.S. business, with business planning and legal review working together.
Request a consultation
The focusAn operating U.S. business
The categoryNonimmigrant investor visa
The first stepReview your business plan
UNDERSTANDING E-2
Build the plan.
Understand the requirements.
NONIMMIGRANT INVESTOR VISAE-2 is a nonimmigrant visa category for eligible treaty-country nationals who invest in and develop or direct a qualifying U.S. enterprise. It does not itself grant permanent residence, and the applicant must intend to leave the U.S. when E-2 status ends.
The investment, ownership, source of funds and business operations all matter. TCSI helps coordinate discussions about business opportunities and the practical steps needed for a legal review.
WHAT TO REVIEW
Four important considerations.
01Treaty nationality
The investor’s nationality and the enterprise’s ownership must satisfy the applicable treaty requirements.
02Substantial investment
Funds must be committed and at risk. The amount is evaluated in relation to the business; there is no universal fixed minimum.
03A qualifying business
The business must be real and operating, with the present or future capacity to do more than provide a minimal living for the investor and family, or make a significant economic contribution.
04Ability to direct
The investor must be in a position to develop and direct the business, consistent with the applicable requirements.
FROM REVIEW TO APPLICATION
The E-2 preparation process.
Your application route depends on where you are and your circumstances. Coordinate the business transaction and immigration review before making commitments.
Review nationality & plans
Counsel reviews treaty eligibility and the intended business. TCSI helps organize the commercial questions and relevant introductions.
Document the business & funds
Prepare ownership, lawful source of funds, committed investment, operating plans and supporting business records. Review contracts and funding conditions with counsel.
Follow the appropriate filing route
Consular applicants generally submit DS-160 and follow the post’s E-visa instructions. Eligible applicants in the U.S. may instead request a change or extension of status from USCIS.
Plan operations & lawful stay
Review the decision and applicable entry or status conditions before travel and work. A U.S. change of status is not a visa for re-entry after travel.
A MORE INFORMED DECISION
Choose a business model to review.
01Start a new business
Examine the market, premises, permits, equipment, staffing and launch plan. Your budget should account for setup and operations while the business develops.
02Acquire an existing business
Consider how an established operation would transfer to you, including its location, customer base and handover needs.
03Consider a franchise
Consider whether an established brand and operating model fit your experience and intended management role.
These are business structures to discuss, not pre-approved visa options. Each proposed enterprise requires its own commercial and immigration assessment.
TCSI’S BUSINESS FOCUS
Review the business before you invest.
TCSI helps explore franchise and operating-business opportunities in food service, retail and distribution. Your experience, budget and intended role guide the conversation.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY
Four areas to examine before committing.
The records behind the proposal
For an existing operation, discuss tax returns, sales records, payroll, leases and supplier contracts with an accountant and attorney. Compare the seller’s summary with the underlying records.
The owner’s daily responsibilities
Define management duties, staffing, training and ongoing charges. For a franchise, review territory, royalties, supply obligations and the support included in the documents.
The transaction timeline
Align offer, lease and payment deadlines with professional review. Check transfer or exit conditions and the effect of a delayed visa decision on the proposed transaction.
Where the FTC Franchise Rule applies, prospective franchisees generally must receive the FDD at least 14 days before signing an agreement or paying the franchisor or its affiliate.
PREPARING TO PROCEED
A useful first
investment conversation.
Start with a high-level summary. Detailed financial evidence belongs in the appropriate professional review, not your initial inquiry.
Independent legal, accounting and business advice may be needed. Scope and fees are agreed before engagement.
Your business direction
Industry, location, operating experience and the business model you are considering.
Your investment picture
A general funding range and a brief summary of how the funds were acquired.
Your proposed role
Ownership, daily management responsibilities and staffing plans.
Your household plans
Family members, timing and the relocation questions to plan alongside the business.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Before you invest.
Can my family accompany me?
A spouse and unmarried children under 21 may qualify for dependent status. Eligibility and any employment or study considerations should be reviewed with an attorney.
Can TCSI help me explore a business?
Business opportunities and the scope of TCSI’s coordination are discussed individually. Availability, commercial viability and visa suitability require separate confirmation.
LET’S BEGIN
Let’s discuss your business plans.
Start with the kind of business you have in mind and the future you want to build.