The most common question we get is also the one with the least satisfying answer: there is no fixed minimum investment amount for an E-2 visa.
USCIS and consular officers don't check your investment against a table. They judge it using a proportionality test — is the amount you're investing substantial relative to the total cost of establishing that particular type of business?
A $60,000 investment might be more than enough for a small consulting practice with minimal overhead. That same $60,000 could be judged insufficient for a restaurant or manufacturing business that realistically costs $400,000 to get running.
The two things officers actually look at
- Proportionality — your investment amount compared to what the business realistically costs to establish.
- "At risk" — the money has to be committed and irrevocable, not sitting untouched in a bank account you could withdraw from tomorrow.
What we help you document
Rather than guessing at a number, our builder walks you through:
- A realistic cost breakdown for your specific business type and location
- Evidence that your funds are already committed (lease deposits, equipment purchases, signed contracts)
- A clear proportionality narrative an officer can follow in under two minutes
That last part matters more than people expect. Officers review a lot of applications. The ones that get approved quickly are the ones where the investment case is obvious, not the ones with the biggest number attached.