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Follow the Money (E-2)
Before You File
Visa Alphabet Soup
Green Card Roads
Status & Spouses
100
E-2 investment funds must move from the investor's personal account into this account to create a clean, traceable trail.
What is the business bank account?
100
The business bank account can only be opened after the LLC receives this 9-digit IRS number.
What is an EIN?
100
This "treaty investor" visa is our firm's bread and butter.
What is the E-2?
100
The process for getting a green card without leaving the U.S.
What is Adjustment of Status (AOS)?
100
The spouse of an E-2 principal gets this kind of permission to work for any U.S. employer.
What is an open work permit (work authorization)?
200
There's no fixed minimum, but consulates typically expect at least this round dollar amount for an E-2 investment.
What is $100,000?
200

We require at least one of these hires before the E-2 is submitted, to show the business can run without the investor.

What is a W-2 employee?

200
Many Canadian professionals use this USMCA visa if their job is on the list of qualifying professions.
What is the TN?
200
The process of getting an immigrant visa through a U.S. consulate abroad.
What is consular processing?
200
This record's expiration date tells you when a person's authorized stay in the U.S. ends.
What is the I-94?
300
Besides the purchase price, renovations and legal setup fees, these payroll costs can also count toward the E-2 investment total.
What are W-2 employee salaries?
300
Until the E-2 is approved, the investor may observe and shadow the business, but cannot do this.
What is hands-on work?
300
This intracompany transferee visa lets a multinational company move an executive or manager from its foreign office to a related U.S. company.
What is the L-1A?
300
After entering the U.S. as a visitor, our firm advises waiting at least this many days before filing for AOS.
What is 90 days?
300
When a client is already out of status, leaving the U.S. promptly stops this from piling up.
What is unlawful presence?
400
When buying shares from existing owners, the price must equal this, confirmed by a U.S.-based appraisal.
What is fair market value?
400
This online nonimmigrant visa application is the very first item in every firm E-2 package.
What is the DS-160?
400

This extraordinary-ability nonimmigrant visa is a poor fit for the self-employed because it needs a U.S. employer or agent to petition.

What is the O-1A?

400
A U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative files this form to start a family-based green card case.
What is Form I-130?
400
A consular E-2 often comes with a 5-year multiple-entry visa, versus about this much time from a USCIS change of status.
What is 2 years?
500
Consulates may see the bank, not the applicant, as the real investor when the E-2 investment is this kind of asset.
What is mortgaged real estate (like an Airbnb rental)?
500
This State Department form, the Treaty Trader/Investor application, follows the G-28 in our E-2 package.
What is the DS-156E?
500
This self-petitioned extraordinary-ability green card can be built up while the client runs their business on an E-2.
What is the EB-1A?
500
U.S. consulates presume most temporary visa applicants have this until they prove otherwise, which is why strong ties to their home country matter.
What is immigrant intent?
500
If the E-2 principal passes away, the dependent spouse can change status to this to buy time to become a new principal investor.
What is B-2 visitor status?