How much do you need to invest for an E-2 visa?
When people ask what an E-2 “costs,” they almost always mean one thing: how much do I have to invest? That’s the capital you put into your own U.S. business — separate from government filing fees and from legal fees. This page is about that investment.
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What “cost” really means for an E-2.
The investment is money you commit to your own business — not a payment to the government or to us. Government and professional fees are separate, and far smaller.
Capital you put into your business
To qualify you must make a substantial investment in a U.S. business you’ll direct. No statutory minimum; often the low-to-mid six figures, scaling with the business. This money funds your own company — it is not a fee.
Investment is separate from fees
A common mix-up: the investment is capital committed to the business, while attorneys’ fees and a business plan are separate professional costs. The six-figure figure refers to the investment, not legal fees.
Government & professional fees
The E-visa application (MRV) fee is currently around $315, plus any reciprocity fee (or I-129 fees if changing status in the U.S.), plus legal and business-plan costs — modest next to the investment itself.
Proportion beats a magic number.
Officers don’t apply a fixed dollar threshold. They ask whether your investment is substantial in proportion to the total cost of the business, and whether it’s enough to make the business operational rather than marginal. A $120,000 investment can be substantial for a service business; the same sum may be too little for a capital-heavy one.
That’s why two applicants can both be approved at very different numbers. The right figure for you depends on what you’re buying or building — and on documenting that the funds are genuinely committed and at risk.
Where the money goes
Investment vs. cost — clearing up the confusion.
Does “E-2 cost” mean the investment or the legal fees?
Usually the investment — the substantial capital you put into a U.S. business you direct. Legal fees, business-plan costs, and government fees are separate and much smaller. This page is about the investment you need to make.
How much do I need to invest?
There is no fixed statutory minimum. It must be substantial relative to the cost of the business and enough to make it operational — often the low-to-mid six figures, though it depends entirely on the business.
Is the investment a fee — do I lose it?
No. It is capital you put into and own through your own business (premises, equipment, inventory, payroll). It must be at risk like any business, but it funds your enterprise — not a payment to the government or the firm.
Can start-up costs count toward the investment?
Often yes — funds already spent or irrevocably committed to launching the business (lease, build-out, equipment, inventory) can count when properly documented.
Related E-2 resources
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Book Your ConsultationOfficial government resources: USCIS: E-2 Treaty Investors
Related guides: Buying an existing U.S. business on an E-2