Established by a UK national, Global Immigration Partners PLLC boasts an unmatched understanding of the UK market. Our UK team, located in London, collaborates with the US consulates in London and Belfast to obtain E2 visas for our clients throughout the United Kingdom. The Lawyers at Global Immigration Partners PLLC are consistently acknowledged as some of the world’s leading E2 visa attorneys. Although we take pride in our unrivalled track record of success, we are most renowned for our innovative approach and ability to resolve “impossible cases”.
An E-2 visa, also referred to as a US Business Visa or start-up business visa, is a non-immigrant visa that permits the bearer to enter the United States with the intention of establishing or purchasing and managing a U.S. business. The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa is exclusively available to individuals from nations that have a pertinent treaty with the United States. The United Kingdom possesses the most ancient of such treaties, which date back 200 years. The E2 visa is a non-immigrant visa.
It’s important to note that a holder of a US E-2 visa is only permitted to work for the E-2 enterprise that the visa was issued for. They are not permitted to pursue formal studies unrelated to their E-2 work or work for unrelated organizations. Why not reach out to us for a complimentary consultation with an E2 Visa Immigration Lawyer? We are a top 25-rated, award-winning Immigration Law firm. Our Immigration Lawyers boast a 100% success rate.
Indeed, it is permissible to bring your spouse and offspring under the age of 21 to the United States as holders of E-2 derivative visas.
In contrast to the main USA E-2 visa holder, an E-2 derivative visa holder can secure general work permission and be employed by any company or pursue a study program. This usually necessitates careful strategizing when deciding which partner should primarily apply for the E-2 visa.
There is no limit on the cumulative number of years a UK National can possess an E2 visa. E2 visas are granted to UK nationals in periods of up to five years.
Even though other firms have reported quicker approval periods, except for one, all of our company’s U.K. E-2 visa applicants have received an initial E-2 visa term of five (5) years. The sole exception was a case submitted for a tiny business at a US consulate in Australia, where a U.K. National was given an E-2 visa for an initial period of two (2) years.
The conditions under which a citizen of any country can secure an E-2 visa are determined by the terms of a treaty between the respective country and the United States.
The agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom includes a clause that establishes a requirement for the petitioner to be a resident of the United Kingdom. As a result, this raises a concern about UK passport holders who are not living in the United Kingdom.
Our company has pursued E-2 visas for UK Nationals living worldwide, but the strict terms of the U.K./U.S. treaty prevent the issuance of an E-2 visa to individuals residing outside the United Kingdom. From our viewpoint, U.S. consulates seem to interpret this provision as requiring prior residency in the UK, coupled with an intention to return to their UK residence and the legal right to live in the UK. It’s clear that British Citizens overseas and others possessing UK Passports without the right to live in the UK are not qualified for E-2 visas.
A UK National needs a valid visa to enter the United States for work or business operations.
A “status change” from another visa status to E-2 “status” can be done within the United States. For example, a candidate who arrives in the United States with a B-1 visa for business investigation might subsequently be eligible to “alter their status” to E-2 status and lawfully operate a business that has been set up.
The “visa waiver” program, being NOT a visa, does NOT allow for a transition from an ESTA to an E-2 status while in the United States. This is the reason a lot of UK citizens obtain a B1/B2 visa before they travel to the United States, rather than relying on the ESTA/visa waiver program. Even though “altering status” to E-2 status grants the same benefits as those who enter the United States with an E-2 visa, it doesn’t mean they have been granted an E-2 visa. Once you leave the United States, your E-2 “status” will be lost and you will require an E-2 visa to re-enter the United States.
Occasionally, British citizens remain in the United States on an E-2 visa without ever exiting the country. However, most individuals with E-2 “status” eventually travel outside the US and apply for an E-2 visa at a US consulate to ensure they can return to the country.
Obtaining a US E2 visa involves several expenses:
The price of an E2 Visa business plan
For a budding enterprise, the costs could tally up to USD 12,000 or higher, encompassing an E2 business strategy.
E2 visa applications can be submitted at the embassy or consulate in the United Kingdom, specifically at the Consular Section of the US Embassy in Nine Elms, London and the US consulate in Belfast.
It may be beneficial for eligible applicants to apply for their E2 visa at either of these locations. The suitability of applying for a US business visa at these locations should be consulted with an E2 immigration attorney.
Our E-2 visa team, based in Washington DC and London, has extensive experience in assisting UK Nationals with their E-2 visa applications. Leveraging our global office network, we can manage the submission of E-2 visa applications at various consulates worldwide.
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