E-2 VISA
E-2 VisaLawyers
Tukki’s E-2 visa attorneys document your investment and your source of funds, build the treaty investor case and file it, whether you apply at a consulate or change status inside the U.S.
Find out if your business and your nationality qualify with our E-2 immigration lawyers.
+95%
lawyer success rate
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TUKKI’S E-2 IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY
Meet our leadE-2 attorneys
Tukki’s immigration team has 15+ years of experience helping entrepreneurs and investors build businesses in the U.S.
Watch our attorneys explain what consular officers test in an E-2 case: what counts as a substantial investment, how marginality is proven, and where the source of funds trips applicants up.
WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE E-2
Is the E-2 visa right for you?
The E-2 is a work visa for citizens of countries that hold a trade and investment treaty with the U.S., who invest a substantial amount in a business they will direct. There is no fixed minimum investment, no annual cap and no queue. The case turns on the business being real, operating and more than marginal.
Which businesses qualify for the E-2 visa
Restaurants, cafes and food service, on leases, equipment, payroll and a trading history
Franchises, on the franchise fee, the build-out and the brand’s own projections
Retail and e-commerce, on inventory, fulfilment infrastructure and sales
Professional and consulting firms, on clients, contracts and staff beyond the investor
Construction, trades and logistics, on vehicles, equipment and crew
Technology and software companies, on development costs, product in market and hires
E-2 VISA ELIGIBILITY
E-2 visa requirements
An E-2 case is assessed as a whole. Below are the baseline requirements every case has to meet, and clearing them is where the work starts. What the consular officer weighs from there is the full record: the investment documents, the source of funds and the business behind them. Your E-2 attorney maps all of it onto your specific business. The E-2 is granted in increments of up to 2 years at a time and renews indefinitely while the business runs, but it does not allow dual intent.
1 treaty country
Treaty country nationality
You hold citizenship of a country with an E-2 treaty, and so does at least 50% of the business’s ownership. Canada and Mexico qualify; India and China do not.
0 legal minimum
A substantial investment at risk
There is no legal minimum. The amount has to be substantial in proportion to what the business costs to buy or start, already committed, and irrevocably at risk.
50% ownership or control
You develop and direct the business
At least 50% ownership or operational control through a management role. The enterprise must be real, operating and generate more than enough to support you and your family.
E-2 VERSUS OTHER VISAS
E-2 vs. E-1 vs. EB-5 vs. L-1
What is the difference between the E-1 and the E-2 visa? Is the EB-5 worth the larger investment, or does the L-1 fit better if you already run a company abroad? Here is how the E-2 compares.
| E-2 | E-1 | EB-5 | L-1 | O-1A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What you invest | YesA substantial amount, proportional to the business, no fixed minimum | NoNo investment required, but trade volume has to be continuous and substantial | Yes$800,000 in a targeted employment area or $1,050,000 elsewhere, recoverable | No | No |
| Who files | You, at a consulate, or your company with USCIS for a change of status | Same as the E-2 | You, as a self-petitioner | Your employer’s U.S. entity | A U.S. employer, your own company, or an agent |
| Status | TemporaryRenewable indefinitely, no dual intent | TemporaryRenewable indefinitely, no dual intent | Green cardConditional for 2 years | TemporaryUp to 7 years for L-1A and 5 for L-1B, dual intent | Temporary3 years, then 1-year extensions |
| Who qualifies | Treaty country citizen investing in and directing a U.S. business | Treaty country citizen carrying on substantial trade, mostly between the U.S. and the treaty country | Any nationality, investing in a new commercial enterprise that creates 10 jobs | 1 year at a related company abroad in the last 3 years, as manager or specialized knowledge employee | Extraordinary ability in business, 3 of 8 criteria |
TESTIMONIALS
Visa approvals filedby our attorneys
Professionals from all over the world got their U.S. visas with Tukki’s immigration attorneys.
“I got my O-1 visa approved thanks to the team at Tukki and their lawyers were amazing, a really good process.”
🇮🇳 Akrisht Pandey
Director of Real Estate Krea USA
“Tukki team's support was fast and responsive. I literally had someone responding in a couple of hours—sometimes even within minutes—so whenever I was a bit lost, there was always someone to help me out.”
🇧🇷 Camila Zancanella
Co-founder and CEO of Domu
“I'm glad that I leaned on a team that really can deliver that one-stop service.”
🇬🇧 Lauren Bell
Co-founder and CEO of Cosi Care
“Track record and responsiveness made all the difference. Both the tech and the legal team were top-notch.”
🇪🇸 Lois Rogel Vence
Co-founder and CEO of Momento
“I've worked with a few lawyers, and Tukki has by far been the best experience.”
🇨🇴 Gia Liu
Co-Founder of Fintegral
“The Tukki team's involvement plus the tech platform where you're able to track your own process were key to how smooth it went.”
🇨🇴 Carlos Mejia
Director of Real Estate Development at Delta
“Looking back, I feel that Dobrina's approach made the difference. Taking a more focused approach with stronger evidence made the response much easier to handle and more convincing.”
🇩🇪 Tobias Fischer
Digital Marketing Business Owner
“I didn't really know how to prepare my case, but the Tukki team walked me through the process and answered all my questions.”
🇦🇷 Gonzalo Piñero
PHD Researcher
“I really felt like every single person on the team… everything that I was asking, or everything that they were doing, was like their top priority. And it's so amazing to feel that support for something so important as immigration.”
🇨🇴 Lorenza Velez
Founder & Co-CEO in Ponte
“In a field without structure, Tukki helped me make sense of everything.”
🇮🇳 Archana Raja
Classical Dancer & Choreographer
“Tukki made a fairly unfamiliar process for me as a foreigner more reassuring.”
🇬🇧 Virginia Szepietowski
Co-founder and CEO of Nyad
“Tukki's lawyers and tech guided me all the way through the complex criteria and documentation required, all the way to EB-1A visa approval.”
🇨🇴 Samuel Urquijo
Founder of Keybe
“Overall, the experience was great. I liked very much all the paralegal team; they were super available.”
🇮🇹 Andrea Sguazzi
Head of Venture Builder & Startup Programs
“Tukki's flows make it impossible to upload information with inconsistencies, which I absolutely loved.”
🇦🇷 Guido Tagliavini
Software engineer at Google
“I've been through many immigration processes. Tukki's team was supportive, responsive, and made everything easier.”
🇨🇴 Daniel Baiz
CEO of OneAxiom
“I think everything about the Tukki experience brings a lot of transparency into the problem and into the execution of the process. So that is very, very important. And I would suggest everybody to look for that, because it brings you peace into your everyday.”
🇦🇷 Michelle Shocron
Co-Founder & CEO at Parsed
“Tukki gave us both the structure and the support we needed to make our U.S. move possible.”
🇭🇹 Clifford Nau & Anne-Marie Desormeaux
Co-founder of Kura Technologies | Public Health Specialist
“They explained every step clearly and gave me peace of mind knowing my case was in good hands.”
🇲🇽 Viridiana Aguilar
Founder and CEO of Vivantra
“I had spoken with some lawyers and firms before, and everything felt confusing, like a maze. With Tukki, I could visualize the entire process clearly.”
🇪🇸 Felipe de Sande Palma
Founder of Amrap
“I think this is never going to be an easy process, but you guys make it seem easier.”
🇨🇱 Andres Garbarini
Co-founder and CEO of Finvix
“They were honest from day one. That honesty is what got me approved without an RFE.”
🇮🇳 Shagun Kalra
Architect & Real Estate Developer
“The biggest difference was having everything organized. It turned a long process into something much easier to manage.”
🇪🇸 Pilar Baldominos
Cancer Researcher
“The Tukki team understands each candidate's profile and builds the strategy that works best for them.”
🇮🇳 Tharak Vangalapat
Senior Principal Data Scientist
“I got my O-1 visa approved thanks to the team at Tukki and their lawyers were amazing, a really good process.”
🇮🇳 Akrisht Pandey
Director of Real Estate Krea USA
“Tukki team's support was fast and responsive. I literally had someone responding in a couple of hours—sometimes even within minutes—so whenever I was a bit lost, there was always someone to help me out.”
🇧🇷 Camila Zancanella
Co-founder and CEO of Domu
“I'm glad that I leaned on a team that really can deliver that one-stop service.”
🇬🇧 Lauren Bell
Co-founder and CEO of Cosi Care
“Track record and responsiveness made all the difference. Both the tech and the legal team were top-notch.”
🇪🇸 Lois Rogel Vence
Co-founder and CEO of Momento
“I've worked with a few lawyers, and Tukki has by far been the best experience.”
🇨🇴 Gia Liu
Co-Founder of Fintegral
“The Tukki team's involvement plus the tech platform where you're able to track your own process were key to how smooth it went.”
🇨🇴 Carlos Mejia
Director of Real Estate Development at Delta
“Looking back, I feel that Dobrina's approach made the difference. Taking a more focused approach with stronger evidence made the response much easier to handle and more convincing.”
🇩🇪 Tobias Fischer
Digital Marketing Business Owner
“I didn't really know how to prepare my case, but the Tukki team walked me through the process and answered all my questions.”
🇦🇷 Gonzalo Piñero
PHD Researcher
“I really felt like every single person on the team… everything that I was asking, or everything that they were doing, was like their top priority. And it's so amazing to feel that support for something so important as immigration.”
🇨🇴 Lorenza Velez
Founder & Co-CEO in Ponte
“In a field without structure, Tukki helped me make sense of everything.”
🇮🇳 Archana Raja
Classical Dancer & Choreographer
“Tukki made a fairly unfamiliar process for me as a foreigner more reassuring.”
🇬🇧 Virginia Szepietowski
Co-founder and CEO of Nyad
“Tukki's lawyers and tech guided me all the way through the complex criteria and documentation required, all the way to EB-1A visa approval.”
🇨🇴 Samuel Urquijo
Founder of Keybe
“Overall, the experience was great. I liked very much all the paralegal team; they were super available.”
🇮🇹 Andrea Sguazzi
Head of Venture Builder & Startup Programs
“Tukki's flows make it impossible to upload information with inconsistencies, which I absolutely loved.”
🇦🇷 Guido Tagliavini
Software engineer at Google
“I've been through many immigration processes. Tukki's team was supportive, responsive, and made everything easier.”
🇨🇴 Daniel Baiz
CEO of OneAxiom
“I think everything about the Tukki experience brings a lot of transparency into the problem and into the execution of the process. So that is very, very important. And I would suggest everybody to look for that, because it brings you peace into your everyday.”
🇦🇷 Michelle Shocron
Co-Founder & CEO at Parsed
“Tukki gave us both the structure and the support we needed to make our U.S. move possible.”
🇭🇹 Clifford Nau & Anne-Marie Desormeaux
Co-founder of Kura Technologies | Public Health Specialist
“They explained every step clearly and gave me peace of mind knowing my case was in good hands.”
🇲🇽 Viridiana Aguilar
Founder and CEO of Vivantra
“I had spoken with some lawyers and firms before, and everything felt confusing, like a maze. With Tukki, I could visualize the entire process clearly.”
🇪🇸 Felipe de Sande Palma
Founder of Amrap
“I think this is never going to be an easy process, but you guys make it seem easier.”
🇨🇱 Andres Garbarini
Co-founder and CEO of Finvix
“They were honest from day one. That honesty is what got me approved without an RFE.”
🇮🇳 Shagun Kalra
Architect & Real Estate Developer
“The biggest difference was having everything organized. It turned a long process into something much easier to manage.”
🇪🇸 Pilar Baldominos
Cancer Researcher
“The Tukki team understands each candidate's profile and builds the strategy that works best for them.”
🇮🇳 Tharak Vangalapat
Senior Principal Data Scientist
“I got my O-1 visa approved thanks to the team at Tukki and their lawyers were amazing, a really good process.”
🇮🇳 Akrisht Pandey
Director of Real Estate Krea USA
“Tukki team's support was fast and responsive. I literally had someone responding in a couple of hours—sometimes even within minutes—so whenever I was a bit lost, there was always someone to help me out.”
🇧🇷 Camila Zancanella
Co-founder and CEO of Domu
“I'm glad that I leaned on a team that really can deliver that one-stop service.”
🇬🇧 Lauren Bell
Co-founder and CEO of Cosi Care
“Track record and responsiveness made all the difference. Both the tech and the legal team were top-notch.”
🇪🇸 Lois Rogel Vence
Co-founder and CEO of Momento
“I've worked with a few lawyers, and Tukki has by far been the best experience.”
🇨🇴 Gia Liu
Co-Founder of Fintegral
“The Tukki team's involvement plus the tech platform where you're able to track your own process were key to how smooth it went.”
🇨🇴 Carlos Mejia
Director of Real Estate Development at Delta
“Looking back, I feel that Dobrina's approach made the difference. Taking a more focused approach with stronger evidence made the response much easier to handle and more convincing.”
🇩🇪 Tobias Fischer
Digital Marketing Business Owner
“I didn't really know how to prepare my case, but the Tukki team walked me through the process and answered all my questions.”
🇦🇷 Gonzalo Piñero
PHD Researcher
“I really felt like every single person on the team… everything that I was asking, or everything that they were doing, was like their top priority. And it's so amazing to feel that support for something so important as immigration.”
🇨🇴 Lorenza Velez
Founder & Co-CEO in Ponte
“In a field without structure, Tukki helped me make sense of everything.”
🇮🇳 Archana Raja
Classical Dancer & Choreographer
“Tukki made a fairly unfamiliar process for me as a foreigner more reassuring.”
🇬🇧 Virginia Szepietowski
Co-founder and CEO of Nyad
“Tukki's lawyers and tech guided me all the way through the complex criteria and documentation required, all the way to EB-1A visa approval.”
🇨🇴 Samuel Urquijo
Founder of Keybe
“Overall, the experience was great. I liked very much all the paralegal team; they were super available.”
🇮🇹 Andrea Sguazzi
Head of Venture Builder & Startup Programs
“Tukki's flows make it impossible to upload information with inconsistencies, which I absolutely loved.”
🇦🇷 Guido Tagliavini
Software engineer at Google
“I've been through many immigration processes. Tukki's team was supportive, responsive, and made everything easier.”
🇨🇴 Daniel Baiz
CEO of OneAxiom
“I think everything about the Tukki experience brings a lot of transparency into the problem and into the execution of the process. So that is very, very important. And I would suggest everybody to look for that, because it brings you peace into your everyday.”
🇦🇷 Michelle Shocron
Co-Founder & CEO at Parsed
“Tukki gave us both the structure and the support we needed to make our U.S. move possible.”
🇭🇹 Clifford Nau & Anne-Marie Desormeaux
Co-founder of Kura Technologies | Public Health Specialist
“They explained every step clearly and gave me peace of mind knowing my case was in good hands.”
🇲🇽 Viridiana Aguilar
Founder and CEO of Vivantra
“I had spoken with some lawyers and firms before, and everything felt confusing, like a maze. With Tukki, I could visualize the entire process clearly.”
🇪🇸 Felipe de Sande Palma
Founder of Amrap
“I think this is never going to be an easy process, but you guys make it seem easier.”
🇨🇱 Andres Garbarini
Co-founder and CEO of Finvix
“They were honest from day one. That honesty is what got me approved without an RFE.”
🇮🇳 Shagun Kalra
Architect & Real Estate Developer
“The biggest difference was having everything organized. It turned a long process into something much easier to manage.”
🇪🇸 Pilar Baldominos
Cancer Researcher
“The Tukki team understands each candidate's profile and builds the strategy that works best for them.”
🇮🇳 Tharak Vangalapat
Senior Principal Data Scientist
TUKKI’S VISA ATTORNEYS
Why Tukki’s E-2 visalawyers are different
| TUKKI | Traditional law firms | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality control | Tech-enabled with quality checks | Manual and informal |
| Speed | Fast turnaround | Delayed review process |
| Visibility | Transparent by design | No real-time updates |
| Communication | In-app chat with a touchpoint at each case stage | Mostly delayed emails |
| Interface | All-in-one platform | Scattered tools and emails |
| Guidance | Step-by-step with in-app help | Generic checklist |
| When work starts | After 1 document is uploaded | After everything is uploaded |
| Attorney involvement | More attorney time on the legal argument | Attorney time absorbed by paperwork |
E-2 VISA PROCESS
How do our E-2 lawyers work?
STEP 01 OF 06
Before you commit
You start with our free E-2 visa guide, the Visa Match assessment and the E-2 course, so you arrive at the first call with your E-2 visa lawyer already informed.
STEP 01 OF 06
Before you commit
You start with our free E-2 visa guide, the Visa Match assessment and the E-2 course, so you arrive at the first call with your E-2 visa lawyer already informed.
STEP 02 OF 06
Free assessment
A licensed immigration attorney checks your nationality against the treaty list, looks at the business and the amount you plan to invest, and tells you honestly whether the E-2 is the right path.
STEP 03 OF 06
Kick off
You sign, get platform access, and settle the structure with your E-2 attorney: the entity, the ownership split and whether you apply at a consulate or change status in the U.S.
STEP 04 OF 06
Investment and evidence
You upload the transfers, the lease, the purchase agreements and your source of funds, and your attorney builds the trail that shows the money is lawful, committed and at risk.
STEP 05 OF 06
Case assembly
Your E-2 immigration lawyer writes the legal brief tying the investment, the business and the treaty together, and the platform assembles the full package for your approval.
STEP 06 OF 06
Filing and interview
We file the DS-160 and the consular package, or the I-129 with USCIS for a change of status. For consular cases we prepare you for the interview question by question.
VISA PRICING
E-2 visa attorney fees
One flat fee covers your E-2 case from the first strategy session to the interview. From day one you know exactly what you are paying, and that number does not change.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Treaty eligibility and ownership structure review
- Source of funds documentation and the investment trail
- Legal brief covering substantiality, marginality and develop-and-direct
- Full consular package or I-129 change of status filing
- E-2 visas for your spouse and children on the same case
- Live case tracking in the platform, and government filing fees quoted upfront before you start
FAQS
Need more clarity?
Find quick answers from our E-2 visa lawyers to common E-2 questions.
Which work visas do not require an employer sponsor?
Among green cards, the EB-1A (extraordinary ability) and EB-2 NIW (national interest waiver) allow self-petition, so the individual files without an employer or a PERM labor certification. The E-2 doesn't use a traditional employer either, since it's based on the applicant's own investment.
Every other major work visa, including the H-1B, L-1A, O-1, TN, and the standard EB-2 and EB-3 green cards, requires an employer or a job offer.
Can I get an E-2 visa if my country isn't on the treaty list?
No, you must be a citizen of a treaty country to qualify for the E-2 visa.
If your country does not have a qualifying treaty with the United States, consider alternatives like the H-1B, L-1A, O-1A, or EB-5 depending on your qualifications.
How much do I need to invest for an E-2 visa?
There is no official minimum. The investment must be substantial relative to the type of business, meaning enough to ensure the enterprise has a fair chance of success. In practice, most consulates view an initial investment of around $100,000 as a reasonable starting point, though lower amounts can work for low-overhead businesses with a strong plan.
See our E-2 investment requirements guide for details.
Can I bring employees on an E-2 visa?
Yes, if they hold the same treaty nationality as the investor and work in an executive, supervisory or essential-skills role.
The E-2 employee visa runs off the same company registration as yours.
How many employment-based work visa categories are there?
U.S. immigration groups employment-based green cards into five preference categories, EB-1 through EB-5, though most professional hiring runs through EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3. On the temporary side, the main employment-based visa types include the H-1B, L-1A, O-1, TN, and E-2.
So the practical answer is a handful of temporary categories plus three or four green card categories that cover the vast majority of cases.
Can I get a green card on an E-2 visa?
Not directly, and the E-2 does not allow dual intent, so a pending green card case can be raised against you at the consulate.
The usual routes out are the EB-5, the EB-1C once the company supports a managerial structure, or an O-1A. Your attorney should plan that before it becomes urgent.
FREE CALL
Talk to an E-2 immigration attorney
Schedule a free call:
- Free consultation with an experienced E-2 immigration lawyer
- Honest assessment of your nationality, your business and the investment
- Clear timeline and cost estimate for your case
- Walk away with an action plan: whether you proceed with us, restructure the investment, or look at another route.