E-2 visa · France
The E-2 visa for French citizens: what your passport changes
Good news if you hold a French passport: France is an E-2 treaty country, with a treaty in force since 1960. In practice, you can live in the United States running the business you invest in (a restaurant, a service company, e-commerce, or the takeover of an existing business), with no lottery, no quota, and none of the multi-year waits of a green card.
Treaty in force
since 1960
Where cases are filed
U.S. Embassy Paris
Your spouse
authorized to work in the US
Legal minimum investment
none (“substantial”)
Every E-2 case from France goes through the U.S. Embassy in Paris, avenue Gabriel.
In practice, from France
Your case is filed and defended at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, the only post in France that adjudicates E-2 visas. The interview can happen in French, but the file itself (business plan, proof of investment, cover letter) must be written in English.
The typical path for a French case: structure the project and commit the funds, build the documentary file (source of funds included: property sale, savings, assurance-vie or family gift, everything must be traceable), complete the DS-160 and DS-156E, then get your interview date in Paris.
French nationals are one of the largest E-visa contingents in the world every year: Paris officers know French entrepreneur profiles inside out, from food-business founders to service-company buyers. A well-built file plays at home.
Visa validity depends on your country's official reciprocity schedule (U.S. Department of State). It changes over time; check travel.state.gov when you file.
The questions we get asked
What is the minimum investment amount?
The law sets no minimum amount. The test is that your investment is “substantial” relative to the real cost of your business, and already committed when you file. Solid cases exist from $50,000-$100,000 depending on the activity. Coherence matters, not a magic threshold.
Can my spouse and children come with me?
Yes. Your spouse and children under 21 receive derivative E-2 status. Your spouse is authorized to work in the United States for any employer, and children can attend school normally.
How long is the E-2 visa valid?
Validity depends on the reciprocity schedule between the US and your country of nationality, published by the Department of State, and the visa is renewable indefinitely as long as the business genuinely operates. Each entry admits you for two years.
Do I need a lawyer to file an E-2 case?
No, nothing requires one. An E-2 case is a documentary case: you sign and file it yourself. VisaCrafter helps you structure it and prepare every document (business plan included), without legal advice: we are not lawyers, and thousands of cases are filed every year without one.
Where to start?
The free guide breaks down a real $15,000 attorney fee agreement and shows how to self-file. Rather talk it through? 15 minutes with Anthony, free.
VisaCrafter helps you structure and prepare the documents of your E-2 case. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice.