How Much Does an E-2 Visa Cost? Complete Fee Breakdown for 2026

Last updated: February 2026

When planning your E-2 visa application, it’s important to understand what the process itself will cost—separate from the money you’re investing in your U.S. business. This guide breaks down all the fees you’ll encounter when applying for an E-2 treaty investor visa.

Understanding the Difference: Process Costs vs. Business Investment

Before we dive into the numbers, let’s clarify something important: the costs in this article are what you’ll pay to complete the E-2 visa application process. These are separate from your actual investment in the business, which typically ranges from $50,000 to $200,000 or more depending on the type of business you’re acquiring or starting.

Attorney Fees

Most E-2 applicants work with an immigration attorney to prepare their application, since the process is important and the investor can add this fee to their investment total. All firms are different, but to give you an example, here’s how it looks with my practice:

Standard E-2 representation: $6,500 Expedited attorney service: Additional $2,000

[Link to our complete fee schedule]

Attorney fees typically cover preparation of the cover letter, review of investment documentation, guidance on the business plan, form creation, organization according to the consular post’s instructions, and support throughout the consular processing. The process looks slightly different with change of status, but still involves form creation, letter in support, organization, and guidance. No interview prep is needed for change of status cases.

Across the market, you can expect attorney fees to range from roughly $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the complexity of your case and the firm you work with. This is really just my best guess. I haven’t done a formal market study, and I’ve certainly heard of lawyers charging more, which doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t worth it. Non-attorney immigration consultants may offer slightly lower rates.

Government Filing Fees

The government fees you’ll pay depend on whether you’re applying from outside the U.S. (consular processing) or changing status from within the U.S.

For Consular Processing (applying from abroad):

DS-160 / Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee: $315 per applicant Visa Integrity Fee: $250 per applicant

Note: These fees apply to each family member applying for an E-2 visa (primary applicant, spouse, and children).

For Change of Status (applying from within the U.S.):

Form I-129 filing fee (standard): $1,615

Base filing fee: $1,015
Asylum Program Fee: $600

Form I-129 filing fee (small employer): $810

Base filing fee: $510
Small Employer fee: $300

Note that most change of status applicants fall into the small employer bucket, since their business is typically brand new.

Form I-539 for dependents: $470 (covers spouse and children filing together)

Premium Processing (optional expedite): $2,805

Reciprocity Fees

Reciprocity fees vary by country and are based on bilateral agreements between the United States and your home country. These fees are required after approval, not at the time of visa application submission. These fees can change fairly frequently, so you’ll need to check the State Department’s reciprocity schedule for your specific nationality.

Examples of reciprocity fees for common E-2 countries:

Canada: $0
UK: $0
Netherlands: $2,118
Australia: $5,592

Always verify the current reciprocity fee for your country before budgeting. These fees apply per applicant.

Business Plan and Supporting Costs

While not a government requirement to hire outside help, most E-2 applicants work with professionals to strengthen their applications:

Business plan writer: $1,500 – $3,000 Business lawyer for formation or acquisition: $2,000 – $5,000+ Online formation services (Doola, ZenBusiness, etc.): $500 – $1,500 CPA for international tax planning: Many E-2 investors also work with CPAs who specialize in international tax planning to structure their U.S. business operations efficiently from a tax perspective and understand what to expect for personal tax treatment.

Total Estimated Process Costs

Here’s what you’re looking at for typical scenarios:

Consular Processing (from abroad) – Family of 3:

Attorney fees: $5,000 – $10,000
Government fees: $1,695 (3 applicants × $565) + reciprocity fees
Business plan: $1,500 – $3,000
Business formation: $500 – $5,000
Total range: $8,695 – $19,695+

Change of Status (from within U.S.):

Attorney fees: $5,000 – $10,000
USCIS fees: $810 – $1,280 (small employer rate, with dependents)
Premium processing (optional): $2,805
Business plan: $1,500 – $3,000
Business formation: $500 – $5,000
Total range: $7,810 – $20,085+

Remember: These Costs Are Separate from Your Business Investment

The fees outlined above are what it costs to complete the E-2 visa application process. Your actual investment in the U.S. business—the substantial investment required for E-2 classification—is a separate matter entirely. That investment typically ranges from $50,000 to $200,000 or more, depending on your business type and industry.

Conclusion

Understanding the full cost breakdown helps you budget appropriately for your E-2 visa application. While the process fees may seem significant, remember that attorney fees, business plan costs, and formation expenses can all be counted as part of your qualifying investment. As you plan your move to the U.S., factor these costs into your overall financial preparation alongside your business investment. Government fees change periodically, so always verify current rates before submitting your application.