It’s very important to be clear that investing in property doesn’t give you the right to apply for the E-2 in principle. However, there are some exceptions. It all depends on the case.
What Are the Requirements that Allow a Person to Qualify for an E-2 Visa Through a Real Estate Investment?
The law says that to qualify for E-2 investment visa, you have to create or purchase a real and active business.
When a Real Estate Investment Doesn’t Qualify for the E-2 Visa:
If you decide to make an investment in a house or condo, because you have the money to do it and you like spending time in the United States, this won’t make you qualify for an E-2 visa. This type of investment doesn’t apply. It doesn’t apply either when you decide to buy several apartments as a way to add value to your money.
When a Real Estate Investment Qualifies for the E-2 Visa:
- It’s a real business, not a mere investment.
- The person requesting the E-2 conducts the business.
- The business has a positive impact on the economy of the United States.
But back to the example of the person buying several apartments in the United States, if he or she does it (for an amount higher than $ 300 000) and decides to rent them, favoring the U.S. economy by providing jobs (security or cleaning personnel), this is taken into account as a possible qualification for the E-2 visa.
Important:
Not all foreigners can apply for this type of visa. You must be a citizen of a country that has signed a bilateral investment visas agreement with the United States.
If you don’t have the citizenship of a country included on the list, you should forget about the E-2 and examine other possible options such as a Green Card through investment or the L-1.