E-2 Visa for Citizens of India, China, and Other Non-Treaty Countries (2026)
Updated September 2026 · Reviewed by Talia Harari, Attorney
Citizens of India, China, Brazil, Vietnam, and Russia cannot apply for the E-2 directly, because their countries have no E-2 treaty with the U.S. The established workaround is a two-step: obtain citizenship in a treaty country, most commonly Grenada or Turkey, then apply for the E-2 as that citizen.
How the two-step route works
The E-2 follows your citizenship, not your residence. Several treaty countries offer citizenship by investment: Grenada’s program runs through a donation or approved real estate, and Turkey’s through real estate purchase. Processing to a second passport commonly takes 6 to 12 months, after which you apply for the E-2 like any other treaty national, same requirements, same business rules. The full treaty country list shows every eligible nationality.
What to check before committing
Three diligence points. First, program legitimacy: work only with licensed agents of the official programs. Second, total math: the second citizenship plus the E-2 investment together still usually cost far less than an EB-5. Third, dual citizenship rules at home: India, for example, does not permit dual citizenship, which makes this route a much bigger decision for Indian nationals than for most others. This is exactly the case profile where the visa attorney and the citizenship consultant must talk to each other.
From a non-treaty country and weighing your options?
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Frequently asked questions
Which treaty country passport is fastest for the E-2 route?
Grenada and Turkey are the most used because of cost, speed, and their treaty status. The right pick depends on your budget, family, and home-country dual citizenship rules.
Is there any direct option without a second citizenship?
Not for the E-2. Alternatives worth comparing are the EB-5 green card, the O-1 for extraordinary ability, and the L-1 for transferring executives of an existing company.
Keep reading: the E-2 treaty country list, E-2 vs EB-5, and the complete E-2 guide.
IAVRS is an immigration attorney matching service, not a law firm. This is general information, not legal advice. For advice on your case, we will match you with a licensed U.S. immigration attorney.