There are different visas that allow individuals to live and work in the U.S.A. However, obtaining a visa may be quite challenging either due to the requirements or the long waiting period. The E-2 visa is one of the most straightforward ways of obtaining residency in the U.S.A.
Also known as the Investor Visa, the E-2 visa is obtained through an investment made in a U.S. business that allows the applicant to work in the country. The E-2 visa is available for those who are a citizen of a treaty country and Turkey is one of the treaty countries. In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about the E-2 visa. Let us take a look.
The Requirements of Obtaining the E-2 Visa
If you want to apply for the E-2 visa, there are general qualifications you must meet:
Being a citizen of a treaty country.
Investing a substantial amount of money in a business in the U.S.A.
Having at least 50% ownership of the business or the operational control.
Even though the amount of money you should invest is not clarified, it is bound by certain conditions. However, an investment worth at least $150,000 is usually approved due to being considered a risky investment.
The Advantages of Having the E-2 Visa
When you are qualified to obtain an E-2 visa, you are given a maximum stay of two years initially. You can request an extension up to two years, and the number of requesting an extension is limitless. Therefore, once you are qualified, you can request a limitless number of extensions while maintaining the intention of leaving the U.S.A. when your status is expired or terminated.
Different from the period of stay, the validity period of the E-2 visa is different for each country. Turkey is among the countries that may benefit from a 5-year validity period.
The applicants who have a family are allowed to bring their spouse and their unmarried children under the age of 21. The important part is that the family does not have to share the nationality of the investor. Spouses can work in the country with no restrictions. The family members can also apply for the E-2 visa if they wish.
E-2 visa applications usually result in 6 to 8 weeks which is quite fast compared to some other visas.
Immigrant investors who have an E-2 visa can be eligible to apply for a Green Card. If you have invested or are in the process of investing $1 million in a business or $500,000 in targeted employment areas that will provide 10 full-time positions, you will be considered to be eligible for a Green Card as an EB-5 immigrant investor.
