Visto E-2 Stati Uniti. Domande frequenti

Cosa Valutano i Funzionari Consolari nelle Domande del Colloquio per il Visto E-2

Le domande del colloquio per il visto E-2 aiutano i funzionari consolari a determinare se il tuo investimento e la tua attività soddisfano i requisiti del visto di investitore E-2. I funzionari esaminano spesso informazioni sull’importo dell’investimento, la fattibilità dell’attività e l’intento di non immigrare. Queste domande aiutano a confermare che l’impresa è legittima e che il richiedente intende dirigere e sviluppare la società.

I funzionari consolari possono anche chiedere della fonte dei fondi, del funzionamento dell’attività e delle tue responsabilità nella gestione dell’impresa. Possono esaminare dettagli sulla sede dell’attività, i piani di assunzione e la tua esperienza professionale.

Aree di Indagine nelle Domande del Colloquio per il Visto E-2

• Dettagli sull’investimento: l’importo esatto, come sono stati spesi i fondi e la documentazione della fonte lecita dei fondi.

• Operazioni aziendali: fattibilità dell’attività, cosa fa, dove opera e prove che sia reale e attiva.

• Ruolo nella direzione dell’azienda: come dirigerai e svilupperai l’impresa.

• Dipendenti e piani di assunzione: numero di dipendenti statunitensi attuali o futuri.

• Intento di non immigrare: piani per mantenere lo status di non immigrante e tornare nel tuo paese d’origine.

Domande Frequenti al Colloquio per il Visto E-2

Domande sull’investimento e la finanza

• Quanto denaro hai investito?

• Qual e’ la fonte dei tuoi fondi?

• Come hai speso i fondi dell’investimento?

• L’investimento e’ a rischio?

Operazioni aziendali e fattibilita’

• Cosa fa la tua attivita’?

• E’ un’attivita’ nuova o una gia’ esistente che hai acquistato?

• Dove si trova l’attivita’ e perche’ hai scelto quella sede?

• Quali sono i tuoi obiettivi aziendali o piani a lungo termine?

Piani di assunzione e marginalita’

• Quanti dipendenti hai intenzione di assumere?

• Quando inizierai ad assumere dipendenti?

• Quali ruoli svolgeranno i tuoi dipendenti?

Ruolo e qualifiche dell’investitore

• Perche’ sei qualificato per gestire questa attivita’?

• Quali saranno le tue responsabilita’ quotidiane?

• Perche’ hai scelto questo settore?

Intenzioni e background

• Cosa farai se l’attivita’ non avra’ successo?

• Quali sono i tuoi piani dopo la scadenza del visto?

• Hai intenzione di portare con te i familiari?

Come Prepararsi alle Domande del Colloquio per il Visto E-2

• Comprendi la tua domanda: esamina il tuo piano aziendale, i documenti di investimento e le proiezioni finanziarie.

• Mantieni le risposte chiare e coerenti: assicurati che le risposte siano allineate con la tua domanda presentata.

• Prepara una breve panoramica aziendale: descrivi brevemente la tua attivita’, l’investimento e gli obiettivi.

• Sottolinea il tuo ruolo manageriale: spiega come dirigerai e svilupperai l’attivita’.

• Organizza i documenti di supporto: tieni in ordine i registri finanziari e la documentazione dell’investimento.

• Rispondi onestamente e con fiducia: fornisci risposte veritiere e spiega chiaramente i tuoi piani.

What is meant by “substantial investment”?

There is no minimum investment amount required to qualify for the E-2 visa. The only requirement is that the amount invested must be “substantial.” Typically, an investment is considered substantial when it is (i) proportionate to the total cost of purchasing an existing business or establishing a new business and (ii) capable of making the business profitable within a certain period of time from its establishment.

While there is no minimum amount set, at least $80,000 is recommended (read E-2 Visa Investment Requirements ). 

Can you invest assets instead of cash?

Yes, you can invest, in addition to cash, any tangible or intangible asset that is functional to the business. Tangible assets include, for example, equipment, while intangible assets generally include intellectual property rights.

What are the requirements for an E-2 visa beneficiary?

First, the beneficiary must be a citizen of a country that has an E-2 visa treaty with the United States. Second, they must demonstrate control over the U.S. company, holding at least 50% of the shares or holding a managerial position within it. Control means the power to make binding decisions on behalf of the company, alone or together with an equal partner. In the case of the manager, the latter must: (i) have the same nationality as the investor and (ii) be employed by the U.S. company in a managerial or executive capacity, or be employed in a position requiring special skills and qualifications. See more details in our article ” Subjective Requirements for the E-2 Visa .”

Where must the investment for the E-2 visa come from?

The funds making up the investment must have a legitimate source and therefore cannot originate from illicit activities. The funds may originate from personal savings, salaries, proceeds from sales, or even gifts or loans. Loans may be subject to increased scrutiny by the Consulate to verify whether the investment is actually at risk. To this end, the loan must be secured by collateral or a personal guarantee. Unsecured loans will most likely not be considered for the purposes of the E-2 visa.

Which businesses are eligible for the E-2 visa?

Any type of activity involving the trading of goods or services is considered an “active” investment and is eligible for the E-2 visa. Conversely, the purchase and/or resale of real estate, stock trading, etc., are considered passive investments and therefore are not eligible for the E-2 visa.

Do I need an E-2 visa office?

The answer ultimately depends on the type of business. Having a business premises from which to conduct operations was generally considered a prerequisite for an E-2 visa application, and it still is for many types of businesses. Indeed, it seems difficult to obtain an E-2 visa for a restaurant without demonstrating that it has rented premises for this purpose. For other types of businesses, such as consulting firms, working from home is considered perfectly acceptable in the post-COVID era. 

What are the benefits of the E-2 visa?

With an E-2 visa, you can live, reside, and work in the United States. Unlike most nonimmigrant visas (i.e., all visas except the green card), the E-2 visa is renewable indefinitely, as long as the business remains active and generates profit.

What are the limitations of the E-2 visa?

The principal investor and their employees can work exclusively for the business in which they invested, but they are not permitted to work for other companies. They can, however, hold shares in other US companies, but they will not be able to receive a salary from them (though they can receive expense reimbursements and dividends).

How long can you stay in the United States on an E-2 visa?

Although the E-2 visa for Italian citizens is valid for five years, you can stay in the United States for a maximum of two years per entry. Before the two-year period expires, you must leave the United States. To be eligible for a new two-year period, you only need to leave for a few days and then re-enter.

How long does the E-2 visa last and how many times can I renew it?

The E-2 visa is generally granted for periods ranging from three months to five years, depending on the country and the applicable treaty. As noted above, the E-2 visa can be renewed indefinitely as long as the business is active and generating profits. Read more here .

Are family members also eligible for the E-2 visa?

Yes, your spouse and your unmarried minor children will receive a derivative E-2 visa, whose effectiveness and duration are inextricably linked to that of the primary visa. If the primary visa is revoked, terminated, or expires, the derivative visas will automatically follow suit.

Can the lead investor bring his own trusted employees?

Yes, it is possible, as long as the employees hold a managerial or executive position or possess skills essential to the company’s success. 

Is it possible to travel in and out of the United States on the E-2 visa?

Yes, there are no travel restrictions to and from the United States with an E-2 visa. There is also no minimum length of stay in the United States (unlike, for example, a Green Card, which requires you to be actually present in the United States for at least six months per year). Different rules apply if you obtain an E-2 visa through change of status from the United States. Read more here .

How long does it take to obtain an E-2 visa?

Typically 3 months, however, now, in the post-COVID era, embassies are slower and E-2 visa applications are experiencing significant delays. As of this writing, processing times vary by consulate, from 9 to 999 days.

Is there a way to expedite the E-2 visa application process?

E-2 visa applications through the consular process cannot be expedited. A request for an expedited appointment can be made at the consulate only for justified reasons. If the application is submitted from the United States through a change of status, a response can be obtained within a couple of weeks by paying an additional fee of $2.50.

What can be done if the citizenship is not included in the E-2 visa country list?

In addition to considering other visa options (such as L1 or EB-5), there are also other options available, such as obtaining a passport from a treaty country. For more information, see our article: E-2 Visa for Indian, Russian, and Chinese Citizens .

Can you change your status to E-2 while in the United States?

Yes, you can apply for a change of status to an E-2 visa while in the United States, as long as you have another valid visa at the time of application. If you entered the United States without a visa or under the Visa Waiver Program (commonly known as ESTA), or your status has expired and you have accumulated periods of unlawful stay in the United States, change of status is not permitted.

Hai bisogno di aiuto con il tuo visto E-2?

Il processo per il visto E-2 puo’ prevedere diversi passaggi, tra cui la preparazione della documentazione dell’investimento, l’organizzazione dei registri aziendali e la risposta alle domande durante il colloquio consolare. Contatta un avvocato specializzato nel visto E-2 per discutere della tua situazione.