What do attorney fees look like for an E-2 visa?
Legal fees are not the investment, and they are not the government’s filing fees. They are what you pay counsel to build and run the case. Here is how those fees are normally structured, what a proper quote should cover, and the questions worth asking before you engage anyone.
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Legal fees are only one of three numbers.
An E-2 involves the investment you make in your business, the fees you pay the government, and the fees you pay counsel. They are paid to different people and behave differently. Confusing them is the most common reason applicants misjudge the budget.
The usual structure
Most E-2 work is quoted as a flat fee for a defined scope, so you know the cost before you start. Flat pricing suits E-2 because the work is predictable: build the record, prepare the filing, prepare you for the interview.
Scope matters more than the number
A fee only means something alongside its scope. Ask what is included — strategy, document review, drafting, the filing itself, RFE or 221(g) responses, interview preparation, and dependants.
Third-party costs are separate
Government fees, business-plan preparation, translations, and any accountant or valuation work are normally billed separately because they are paid to someone else.
Are E-2 attorney fees usually flat or hourly?
Most firms quote E-2 work as a flat fee for a defined scope, because the work involved is fairly predictable. Hourly billing is more common where a case is unusually complex or where litigation is involved.
Do attorney fees count toward the E-2 investment?
No. Professional fees are a cost of obtaining the visa, not capital invested in the business, and are not counted toward the substantiality of your investment.
What should an E-2 fee quote include?
At minimum it should state the scope of work, whether responses to a request for evidence or a 221(g) are covered, whether dependants are included, and what third-party costs sit outside the fee.
Are renewals charged separately?
Usually yes. An E-2 renewal is a separate matter with its own scope, though it is generally lighter than the initial case because much of the record already exists.