The E-2 visa has no employee quota and no hiring deadline. What it has is the marginality rule. How many employees attorneys actually plan for, why W-2 beats 1099, and what happens at renewal if you have not hired.
How E-2 visa renewal really works: I-129 extensions vs consular renewal, the documents officers check, the marginality test behind “as long as the business operates,” employees, and what happens if the business underperformed.
The best businesses for the E-2 visa in 2026: franchises, service trades, food service, trucking and more, with typical investment ranges, buy vs build advice, and the business types that get denied.
Choosing the right E-2 visa attorney can make or break your case. Here are the five most common mistakes investors make when picking a lawyer, and how to find a firm that actually wins E-2s.
A clear, one-page E-2 treaty investor visa guide: who qualifies, how much to invest, how to apply, timelines, your family, renewals, and the mistakes that get cases denied.
E-2 vs EB-5 compared side by side: investment amounts ($50k+ vs $800k+), green card vs temporary status, who can apply, speed, and which investor visa is right for you.
The full list of E-2 treaty countries for 2026, the major countries that do not qualify (India, China, Brazil, Russia, Vietnam), and what to do if your country has no treaty.
E-2 visa approval rate in 2026: around 90%, with the latest U.S. State Department data, issuances by fiscal year, top countries, and the main reasons cases get denied.
E-2 visa processing time in 2026: consular timelines (2 weeks to 4 months), change of status, premium processing (15 business days), and how to speed up your case.
E-2 visa cost in 2026: how much you need to invest, government fees (the $315 visa fee), attorney fees, a sample total budget, and renewal costs.
