E-2 visa · Switzerland
The E-2 visa for Swiss citizens: what your passport changes
The Swiss passport opens the E-2 visa through one of the oldest friendship treaties still in force with the United States: it dates back to 1855. In practice, you can invest in an American business and move there to run it (a startup, a franchise or a takeover), with your family, no lottery, no quota.
Treaty in force
since 1855
Where cases are filed
U.S. Embassy Bern
Your spouse
authorized to work in the US
Legal minimum investment
none (“substantial”)
E-2 cases from Switzerland are handled by the U.S. Embassy in Bern.
In practice, from Switzerland
Your case is filed at the U.S. Embassy in Bern, which handles E visas for all of Switzerland. The file is written in English, whatever your canton.
The typical path: a structured project with committed funds (Swiss traceability, bank statements, pension pillars where relevant, sale deeds, documents very well), a complete file, DS-160 and DS-156E, then the interview in Bern.
Swiss applicants often arrive with solid capital and a budget precise to the franc: the real vigilance lies elsewhere: proving the investment is genuinely committed before the interview, not merely sitting in an account. That is the step we help you clear cleanly.
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.