To qualify for an E-2 visa, the Canadian citizen investor must either purchase an existing business, or start a brand new business. More specifically, it must be an active commercial enterprise, which means that the business must be offering a tangible good, product, or service. The business in question cannot be passive, idle, or speculative. This means that real estate investment, such as buying and flipping real estate; or financial investment, such as buying and selling stocks, do not qualify.
Examples of an E-2 applicable business include:
- Restaurant
- Retail or convenience store
- Gas station
- Dental or medical clinic
- Nail or beauty salon
There are a few more stipulations in the law that applies for Canadians seeking this type of visa, such as:
- The Canadian applicant needs to have at least 50% ownership of the business
- The investor must have already spent the money towards the startup or purchase of a U.S. business (the financial investment must be made before applying)
- The applicant must make a “substantial investment” by way of the business, an amount which varies depending on the nature of the business
Each Canadian E-2 applicant case is treated individually, and can be positioned very positively with the help of an experienced E-2 visa attorney. If you are considering moving South from Canada and would like to explore the E-2 visa as your means of entering the U.S., contact a LOIGICA immigration attorney today for a free consultation.
