Foreign nationals who hold a majority stake in a business in California or any other U.S. state may be eligible to receive an E-2 Treaty Investor visa. The business concerned must be a U.S. company, and the investor must be a citizen of a country that has signed a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States. Investments in startup companies must be sufficient to cover the costs of getting the business up and running, and investors are able to renew their E-2 visas every two years for an indefinite period.
American economic success is driven by enterprise, and E-2 Treaty Investor visas encourage foreign entrepreneurs to engage in commerce and create jobs in the United States. States like California and Florida have been particularly popular destinations for these investments, and a French company announced in July 2016 that its expansion in Florida would pump $20 million into the state’s economy and create 500 new jobs in Melbourne and Orlando.
Many U.K citizens visit Disney World and other attractions in that area, and this has led to E-2 Investor applications being submitted by British nationals hoping to set up new businesses in Central Florida. This type of investment has contributed to an economic renaissance in the area and many new private sector jobs, and many of these positions are in the high-paying technology and aerospace sectors.
Immigration initiatives like the E-2 Treaty Investor visa program are designed to stimulate economic growth, create jobs and generate revenue, but most of those who dream of living and working legally in America lack the funds necessary to make the substantial investments required. Experienced immigration attorneys could explain to foreign nationals the steps involved in seeking other immigrant visas that are available.
Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, “E-2 Treaty Investors”, Jan. 14, 2014