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— Resources
We answer the most common questions about investment visas, employment visas and immigration processes in the United States
The law does not set a fixed amount: the investment must be 'substantial' in relation to the type of business and sufficient to ensure its successful operation. In practice, most approved cases start at around $100,000 USD, although smaller businesses may qualify with lower amounts if they are fully capitalized.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →It may be, depending on the type of business: since there is no fixed minimum, what is evaluated is whether that amount is 'substantial' compared to the total cost of the chosen business and whether it is enough for the business to operate viably, not just to support the investor.
Watch the video →They help, but they do not guarantee it. Investing in a proven business such as a franchise provides a validated business model and standardized documentation that make it easier to support the case, but approval still depends on the investment being substantial and the business generating more than a marginal income.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →The ideal franchise is one with a structured investment plan, a proven track record in the U.S. and real potential for growth and job creation, since those are precisely the elements that strengthen an E-2 petition before the consular officer.
Watch the video →It can be virtually any active, legitimate business (not a passive investment such as non-operating real estate): franchises, independent businesses, the acquisition of an existing business or a startup. What matters is that it generates real income and is not only meant to support the investor and their family.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →The typical process has 8 steps: diagnostic consultation, profile evaluation, strategy definition, contract signing, case structuring (company, business plan, financial evidence), filing of the application, immigration response/consular interview and, finally, approval.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →It must demonstrate real financial viability: revenue projections, a staffing plan, market analysis, operating structure and evidence that the investment is sufficient to grow the business, not just to sustain it. This applies to the E-2 as well as the L-1 and EB-5.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →Yes, it can help: a solid credit history supports your financial solvency and your ability to invest in or sustain the business, which strengthens the overall credibility of the case, although it is not a mandatory legal requirement for every visa category.
Watch the video →Yes, it is possible, but it must be handled carefully: the intentions stated on each visit must be consistent with the tourist purpose, and it is best to avoid signs of premature 'immigrant intent' that could raise doubts for the consular or CBP officer.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →Yes, through a change of status without leaving the country, as long as the E-2 requirements are met and the tourist status is still valid at the time the application is filed.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →It depends on the specific case: prior immigration history (undocumented entry, a pending or denied asylum application) can complicate eligibility, but it does not always rule it out. Each situation must be evaluated individually with a specialist before assuming you do not qualify.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →Not every immigration history automatically disqualifies you from the E-2. Things like an expired visa, a prior denial or an irregular stay can have an influence, but the real impact depends on the type of issue, when it happened and how the current case is presented.
Read the full article →Yes, it is possible to travel with dogs or cats, but you must meet specific vaccination and health certificate requirements and, depending on your country of origin, complete additional USDA/CDC procedures before entry.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →There is no single route: the best one depends on the applicant’s profile (investor, professional, extraordinary ability or family). The most common options are moving from an investment visa (E-2, L-1) to the EB-5 or EB-1C, or building an EB-1/EB-2 NIW case based on professional achievements.
Watch the video →Not directly: the E-2 is a nonimmigrant visa, renewable indefinitely as long as the business operates, but it does not grant a Green Card on its own. Those seeking permanent residence usually combine it with another path such as the EB-5 or build a business structure that qualifies for EB-1C/L-1.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →The main ones include the EB-5 (investment), EB-1 (extraordinary ability), EB-2 NIW (national interest), L-1 with a transition to EB-1C, and family-based petitions. Each has different requirements and timelines.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →Nonimmigrant investment visas (E-2, L-1, E-1) allow you to operate in the U.S. while building a strategy toward permanent residence, typically moving to the EB-5, EB-1C or EB-2 NIW depending on the investor’s profile and the growth of the business.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →The E-2 is for investors from treaty countries who invest in an active business; the E-1 is for traders engaged in substantial bilateral trade; the L-1 is for executives and managers who transfer a multinational company to the U.S.; and the EB-5 is the only one of the four that grants a direct Green Card through an investment starting at $800,000 USD.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →The extension follows 5 key steps: review updated evidence of recent achievements, confirm that the sponsoring employer/agent is still in place, prepare the renewed I-129 petition, file well before the expiration date and follow up on the USCIS response.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →Yes. The O-1A is not limited to traditional artists: content creators, influencers and streamers may qualify if they demonstrate extraordinary ability through reach metrics, industry recognition, media coverage, brand collaborations or other criteria comparable to the traditional ones.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →It is key to verify that your current status is still valid at the time of filing, that there are no prior status violations, and to gather all the evidence supporting the new category requested, since a poorly prepared change of status can result in a denial.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →Yes, through an in-country change of status, as long as your current status is valid and the substantive requirements of the investment visa you are seeking (E-2, L-1, etc.) are met, thus avoiding a trip to the consulate.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →Opening the company is only the first step; then comes what matters most: properly structuring the finances, meeting tax obligations, hiring staff if applicable, and preparing the operational documentation that will support the visa application.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) allows you to request the applicant’s complete immigration file from USCIS, which is useful for understanding the history of prior filings, understanding previous denials or preparing a new application based on what was already submitted.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →The most common questions revolve around the deadline to apply (within the first year after arrival), what happens if the case has been pending for years, whether you can work while it is being decided, and how an asylum case may affect or be combined with other future immigration applications.
Read the full article (in Spanish) →U.S. law does not set a minimum or a maximum. We recommend investing $75,000 to $100,000 USD or more, depending on the industry, so the capital is considered "substantial."
The amount must make sense for the business: $75,000 USD may be appropriate for a coffee shop, but not for a luxury home builder.
The visa requires an active company with steady cash flow, day-to-day operations, and job creation in the U.S. Passive businesses do not qualify.
Qualify (active):
Do not qualify (passive):
Yes. You can apply through any of three routes:
The principal applicant must own at least 50% of the company (LLC or Corporation).
A partner is allowed only if ownership is exactly 50/50. In that case we recommend a total investment of about $120,000 USD ($60,000 per partner).
By the consular interview, the money must be at risk, with 80% to 90% or more already invested. Keeping funds unused in a bank account does not meet the requirement.
All legitimate project expenses count toward the investment:
The capital can come from any of these sources, as long as its origin can be documented:
Loans: valid only if secured by the investor's personal assets (for example, a property or a vehicle). The company itself, or the assets to be purchased in the U.S., cannot be used as collateral.
Gifts: fully legal (for example, from parents or a spouse). They are documented with a Gift Affidavit, in which the donor states that the funds are given with no obligation to repay.
The money must follow a documented three-step path:
Only citizens of E-2 treaty countries can apply. Some examples:
If you hold a second citizenship from a treaty country, you can apply with that passport. For example, a Venezuelan with a Colombian or Spanish passport.
It depends on each country's reciprocity agreements with the U.S. For example, Colombians, Mexicans, and Spaniards receive the visa for 5 years; Chileans, for 1 year (renewable).
No. The E-2 is a nonimmigrant visa: it requires valid legal status or being outside the U.S. A person with a pending asylum case (affirmative or in court) does not have valid status for this category.
The alternatives are immigrant visas that lead directly to residency (Green Card), such as the EB-2 NIW or the EB-3 (employer sponsorship).
It is high risk and we do not recommend it. If the person accrued more than 180 days or more than 1 year of presence without valid status, leaving the U.S. triggers a 3- or 10-year re-entry bar.
It is essential to have no penalties for unlawful presence. Before filing anything, we recommend requesting your FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) file to review your complete immigration record.
Yes, if you entered legally and maintain valid status (for example, B1/B2, F-1, J-1, or L-1).
Exception: anyone who entered on ESTA / Visa Waiver cannot change status inside the U.S. and must go through consular processing.
We recommend consular processing because it provides longer validity and allows free travel.
The full process takes 4 to 7 months, from signing the engagement agreement and forming the company to the consular interview. At the interview, the consular officer announces the approval or denial immediately.
The visa covers the principal applicant, their spouse, and their unmarried children under 21. All of them receive a Social Security Number (SSN).
No. To include a partner, a civil marriage certificate is required.
No. The visa holder may only manage and work for the company through which the visa was granted.
They lose dependent status and must move to their own status, for example an F-1 student visa, a work visa, or their own investor visa.
Not directly or automatically. The E-2 is a nonimmigrant visa, but it can be renewed indefinitely as long as the business remains active, pays taxes, and creates jobs.
The E-2 works as a bridge to establish yourself in the U.S. With the business running, you can move forward through three routes:
Tell us where you are in the process so we can guide you in the best way. Whether you already have a visa in mind or are still exploring options, we are here to help.
Select the process that best describes what you are looking for. We will take you directly to the scheduling form with the right specialist.
