Investor visa · Renewable
Run your own US business, on your own visa.
If you're a citizen of a treaty country investing in a US business you'll direct, the E-2 can be the fastest route to running it. We document the investment, the business and the source of funds, and your attorney prepares the application.
E-2 · Case board
Illustrative5 / 6
requirements met
all six needed
- Treaty country citizenshipVerified
- Substantial investment9 exhibits
- Funds at risk, lawful source14 exhibits
- You develop and direct itCap table · 100%
- More than a marginal businessHiring plan in progress
- Flat fee
- $10,000
- Time to submission
- ~3 weeks
- Minimum investment
- None by law
- Renewals
- No limit
- Prepared by a licensed attorney
- One fixed fee — no hourly billing
- RFE responses included
- A candid assessment before you pay
Fit
Is the E-2 right for you?
It's built for founders who put their own money into a US business and run it — with no lottery and no cap.
A strong fit
- Founders from treaty countries investing in their own company
- Buyers of an existing US business or franchise
- Small teams with a real plan to hire in the US
- Investors who want to live in the US and run the business
- Founders who don't fit the O-1 criteria yet
Probably not yet, if
- Your only citizenship is from a non-treaty country, such as India or China
- The funds aren't committed to the business yet
- The investment is passive — shares or property you won't run
That's not a no. A second citizenship from a treaty country can qualify — or an O-1A or EB-2 NIW may fit instead.
Criteria
Six things to show.
There's no minimum amount set by law — but the consulate needs to see all six.
Quick self-check: tap each one you think you can show.
0 / 6
Tap the requirements that fit your plans.
There's no fixed minimum. The test is proportional: enough to make this particular business viable.
A quick self-check, not a legal assessment. Only an attorney can judge whether your evidence meets a criterion.
How we work
From first call to filed petition.
About six weeks, most of it spent on evidence and the argument — not paperwork.
- 1
Week 1
Treaty and investment review
An attorney confirms your treaty nationality, the structure and the investment, and tells you whether the case is ready.
- 2
Weeks 1–2
Source of funds
We trace the money from where you earned it to the business account, and AI organizes every statement and transfer.
- 3
Weeks 2–3
Business plan and package
We review your business plan, projections and hiring plan, and assemble the full application.
- 4
Week 3
Attorney finalizes
Your attorney reviews and finalizes the package for the consulate — or for USCIS, if you're already in the US.
Accountability
AI prepares the petition. Your attorney signs it.
Every E-2 application is prepared and reviewed by a licensed immigration attorney who answers for it — and for the response if the consulate asks for more.
- AIOrganizes evidence and drafts. It doesn't give legal advice.
- AttorneySets the strategy, writes the argument, signs and files.
- YouReview and approve everything before it's filed.
What you'll need
Evidence, gathered once.
Start with what you have. We'll tell you what each document proves — and what's missing.
01
About you
- Passport from a treaty country
- Résumé or CV
- Proof of ownership — cap table or share register
02
The investment
- Bank statements and wire transfers
- Purchase agreements, leases, invoices
- Equipment, inventory or build-out costs
03
Source of funds
- Where the money came from — salary, sale, gift, loan
- Tax returns and supporting records
- A clear trail into the business account
04
The business
- Formation documents and EIN
- Business plan with five-year projections
- Hiring plan and any licenses
Don’t send passports or documents through the website — we set up a secure channel once you start.
Fees
One fixed fee. Government fees shown separately.
Milestone · E-2
$10,000
flat fee per application
Individual filing: $3,000
- Treaty and investment review by an attorney
- Source-of-funds documentation
- Business plan review
- Complete application package
- Responses if the consulate or USCIS asks for more
Where you apply
Filing
US employees
Paid to the government
- Visa application feeState Department · per applicant, including family
- $315
- Reciprocity feeDepends on your nationality · some pay none
- Varies
- Form I-129 filing feeChange of status, if you're already in the US
- $510
- Asylum Program FeeNonprofits pay $0
- $300
- Premium processingOptional · USCIS acts within 15 business days
- $2,965
Total to file
$10,000 Milestone + $315 State Department
$10,315
Government fees are paid to the State Department or USCIS, not to Milestone, and change from time to time. Figures as of October 2026.
After approval
After the application is ready.
Most founders apply at a US consulate. If you're already in the US in valid status, you can ask USCIS to change your status instead.
Step 1
Package ready
Outside the US
Consular interview
You submit the application to the US consulate and attend an interview. The visa goes in your passport.
Inside the US
Change of status
If you're in valid status, a petition to USCIS can change your status without travel — you'll still need the visa to re-enter later.
Step 2
Running your business
How long you can stay
Each entry usually lets you stay up to two years, and the E-2 can be renewed for as long as the business runs — there's no overall limit.
Your family
Your spouse can work in the US, and unmarried children under 21 can study. They come with you in E-2 dependent status.
Questions
E-2, plainly.
How much do I need to invest?
The law sets no minimum. The investment has to be substantial in proportion to the cost of the business — enough to make it viable. Your attorney will tell you whether your amount fits your plan.
Which countries qualify?
Citizens of countries with an E-2 treaty with the US — including most of Europe, the UK, Canada, Japan and many others. India and China are not on the list. The State Department publishes the current list, and our form checks it for you.
Can I buy an existing business or franchise?
Yes. Buying an existing business or a franchise can qualify, as long as you invest substantially and come to the US to run it.
Can I bring employees on the E-2?
Yes. Once your company is approved, employees with the same treaty nationality — in executive or managerial roles, or with essential skills — can get E-2 visas through an individual filing, which costs less because the company has already been proven.
Can my spouse work?
Yes. The spouse of an E-2 investor is authorized to work in the US. Unmarried children under 21 can study, but can't work.
Does the E-2 lead to a green card?
Not on its own — it requires an intent to leave when your status ends. Many founders plan a separate route, such as EB-1A, EB-2 NIW or EB-5, once the business grows.
How long does it take?
We typically prepare the application in about three weeks. After that, it depends on the consulate — interview wait times vary by country.
Start your E-2.
Tell us about your background. An attorney will tell you how strong the case is today — before you pay for a petition.