| » The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa The
Treaty Investor Visa permits citizens of certain countries to reside in the United States
through an investment in the U.S.A. The investor must come to manage or oversee the
investment.
The Treaty Trader visa is the same as the Treaty Investor visa except that it involves
qualifying trade between the US and the treaty country. Instead of investing the
qualifying activity is import/export of goods or services.
One may invest in virtually anything or trade in virtually anything. While some under
$200,000 investments are approved, its safe to say that the investment capital and
reserves should total at least $200,000 and the applicant must be prepared to demonstrate
that the business will employ at least 3 - 4 persons. Minimum annual trade should be at
least $500,000.
The investment funds and the applicant both must come from the
same Treaty Country. 50% or more of the U.S. investment must be owned by citizens of the
Treaty Country. «
View Treaty Country List »
» Who uses the Treaty Investor Visa?
- Large companies who establish manufacturing plants
- Real estate investors
- Small businessmen who purchase a franchise or small business
- Retirees who use the Treaty Investor visa as a means of getting US
status so they can retire in America
The Treaty Investor Visa includes the principal applicant and
children under 21. At the age of 21 children must either convert to an investor green card
by investing more capital or get married or attend a US University and then find job as an
H1B professional or make an investment themselves as a Treaty Investor.
The Treaty Investor visa lasts as long as one maintains the investment. That's good and
bad. If you sell the business you loose the visa unless the money is reinvested.
The E2 has tax advantages. Green card holders pay tax US income tax on world wide
income or they can loose their green card. This can be expensive for people with foreign
sources of income. E2 visa holders have ways to avoid world wide taxation. Green card
holders have no way out. For this reason many investors prefer the E2 visa to the green
card.
One may not apply for a treaty trader or treaty investor visa unless the funds are
committed to an investment or unless trade exists.
Traders must come to the US as business visitors to get things going before applying
for the Treaty Trader visa. Traders must produce evidence of existing trade such as
purchase orders and bills of lading to obtain the visa.
Investors must place their funds in the hands of a bank or closing agent who is
instructed to release the funds to the seller of the property or business upon visa
approval. Investors developing their own business must come to the US as business visitors
to get the business started before applying for the Treaty Investor visa.
Investors who want some service, but don't have $500,000 to invest in a regional
center. Many people don't want to manage a US investment, and or don't know how to find a
US investment.
We work with several outfits that supply turn key treaty investor opportunities. Turn
key means that the investor puts up capital, has the right to oversee the investment but
does not locate or manage the day to day affairs of the investment. The investor receives
an E2 visa, often convertible to a green card with a further investment, plus a return on
investment. |
