An investor, whether an individual or company, must possess the nationality of a treaty country. If you are a citizen of one of the over 70 countries possessing a qualifying treaty of trade and commerce with the United States, then you have the requisite nationality for an E-2 visa.

An investor must make a substantial investment to qualify for E-2 visa status. While there is no minimum amount, an investment of less than $100,000 to $150,000 will face close scrutiny. In general, the larger the investment, the greater the credibility the application has. For small businesses, you will be expected to have invested the great majority of the purchase price in cash.