E2 Visa for UK Entrepreneurs
The executive orders are coming thick and fast from the US Trump administration. If you are a UK entrepreneur, you may not agree with all the decisions, but you are bound to be impressed by the speed of decision making.
It's that political and economic energy in the US that’s seen an increase in requests for E2 Visas from UK entrepreneurs. In this article, our US Immigration Lawyers explain how a UK entrepreneur can secure their E2 Visa and get their business moving in the US.
US E2 Visa Lawyer London
Appointments for US immigration advice are available by phone, Zoom or Skype consultations or at our offices in London.
For expert E2 Visa advice, contact our US Immigration Lawyers in London.
Why the E2 Visa suits UK entrepreneurs
When a US Immigration Lawyer in the UK talks to would-be US visa applicants about the simplicity and flexibility of the E2 Visa, there's surprise expressed that the UK doesn’t have a similar Investor or Entrepreneur Visa. It doesn’t, but that’s why both UK investors and entrepreneurs across the globe are looking at their US visa and business opportunities with great interest.
Here is why the E2 Visa may suit you:
- You can start a new business venture in the US or buy into an existing US-based business
- Whilst there is a requirement to invest, there is no minimum investment figure
- The E2 Visa can be renewed, making it a long-term option
- You can be accompanied by family members if they meet the visa criteria
Unlike some of the UK Business and Work Visa options, you don’t need to have your entrepreneurial ideas approved by an independent endorsing body or be placed under the supervision of an endorsing body whilst you get your business in the US off the ground. It is that simplicity and flexibility that appeals to so many people who have a business idea and want to pursue their plans in a country that will encourage them to ‘go for it’ without putting too many obstacles in the way.
If the E2 Visa sounds interesting, our US Visa Lawyers in London can talk you through the detailed eligibility criteria and then guide you through the application process.
The UK is a treaty country for E2 Visa applications
One impediment to securing an E2 Visa is that you must be eligible to apply. The visa is limited to nationals from a country signed up to the E2 treaty with the US. Happily, the UK is on the list. Notable exceptions are Russia, India and China. If you are living in the UK but you are not a British citizen, speak to an experienced US immigration attorney to see if you qualify. It's best to get the latest updated advice as US immigration law firms anticipate that under the Trump administration, there will be many immigration policy changes. We are not expecting all the changes to be bad, as with the likes of Elon Musk in the US government, there is a clear appetite to attract the ‘brightest and best’ to the US, including UK entrepreneurs.
Set up a business or buy into an established business
The E2 Visa is flexible enough to allow UK entrepreneurs to go to the States with plans to progress their business in the US or to buy into an existing company. Whilst there is a great deal of freedom to allow entrepreneurs to get on with making money, there are rules on the type of business and the investment required.
The positive is that the E2 Visa isn’t limited to a specific sector or to STEM or AI businesses. However, your business can't be ‘passive.’ That rules out those planning to set up a company to manage their own financial investments or those looking to buy a couple of cheap properties and say they are running a property management company. If you are concerned that your business plans don’t involve traditional product manufacture or the delivery of a service, then it's best to take early immigration and US visa advice from a US immigration law firm.
Investing in the US for an E2 Visa
US Immigration Lawyers in the UK are asked a lot of questions about what is a sufficient investment for an E2 Visa. That’s understandable, as no entrepreneur wants to throw unwarranted money at a business idea when a visa isn’t guaranteed. The best advice our experienced Immigration Attorneys can give you is to check out the rules and work within them. They aren’t that onerous and provided you have a genuine business and can stick to the USCIS investment rules, you should get your US visa.
The investment rules require your investment to be:
- Substantial
- At risk
- Committed
Those three rules can be off-putting to your average UK entrepreneur, but that’s why you need to speak to a US Visa Lawyer in London to work out what the rules mean to your business. The great thing with the E2 Visa is that many business owners don’t see the investment rules as a deal breaker after they have had legal advice and worked out, with their accountancy and business advisors, how the business can meet the visa rules and benefit from them.
What is a substantial investment for the E2 Visa?
Mention the need for a substantial amount of money, and many entrepreneurs will rule themselves out as suitable E2 Visa applicants. That shouldn’t be the case. Substantial is subjective when it comes to an E2 Visa application. That’s because:
- The rules don’t set a minimum investment figure
- The amount of the investment must be considered against the size of the business or the investment it needs
- The funds don’t have to be committed and paid until you have secured your visa, but you do have to commit to investing and follow through with the money. The investment must be at risk rather than safeguarded in a deposit account
- The investment can be raised through commercial lending
Our US Immigration Solicitors in London can put you in touch with the business advisors you need to advise on the likely investment needed in conjunction with your business plans.
As experienced US immigration attorneys, we will advise you on the need for a business plan to accompany your E2 Visa application, together with the documents needed to establish that you are a genuine entrepreneur who is looking to do business in the US and help the US economy.
Contact our E2 Visa Lawyers in London
For E2 Visa advice, email us for a phone, Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams or Cisco WebEx consultation or call us for an appointment at our offices in London.
For expert help, contact our US Immigration Lawyers in London.
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