[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/frearlaw.com\/e-2-visa-for-under-100000\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/frearlaw.com\/e-2-visa-for-under-100000\/","headline":"Can You Get an E-2 Visa for Under 100000? Myths & Facts","name":"Can You Get an E-2 Visa for Under 100000? Myths & Facts","description":"Navigating the complexities of the E2 visa can be daunting, especially when questions about investment amounts arise. Is it possible to secure an E2 visa with an investment of less than $100,000? Many prospective entrepreneurs are concerned because their business costs fall below this threshold. In this post, immigration lawyer Ben Frear delves into the myths and facts surrounding the E2 visa, clarifying how the Foreign Affairs Manual's guidelines and the proportionality test can influence your chances of approval. Discover why some believe in the $100,000 minimum and learn how even low-cost businesses can meet the visa's requirements.\n\n","datePublished":"2024-06-26","dateModified":"2025-11-03","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/frearlaw.com\/author\/bbfrear\/#Person","name":"Ben Frear","url":"https:\/\/frearlaw.com\/author\/bbfrear\/","identifier":1,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3beb65a17ac0c10e01a8d5e48e4f7ed366ad8190c0993f0f182618cc3fe4dbd8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3beb65a17ac0c10e01a8d5e48e4f7ed366ad8190c0993f0f182618cc3fe4dbd8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Frear Law","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/frearlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-FREAR-LAW-180-\u00d7-60-px.svg","url":"https:\/\/frearlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-FREAR-LAW-180-\u00d7-60-px.svg","width":180,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/frearlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Copy-of-e2-visa-under-100000-blog-IMAGE.jpg","url":"https:\/\/frearlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Copy-of-e2-visa-under-100000-blog-IMAGE.jpg","height":1080,"width":1920},"url":"https:\/\/frearlaw.com\/e-2-visa-for-under-100000\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lQywpNeXn6k#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lQywpNeXn6k","name":"Can You Get an E2 Visa for Under $100,000? | Myths & Facts Explained","description":"Are you wondering if you can secure an E2 visa with an investment of less than $100,000? Join immigration lawyer Ben Frear as he breaks down the myths and facts surrounding the E2 visa investment, and explores the nuances of the Foreign Affairs Manual. Learn about the proportionality test, the impact of business types on your investment, and why some consular posts might insist on higher amounts. This video is packed with insights for entrepreneurs looking to start their business in the U.S.\n\nDisclaimer: The information provided in this video is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice. For specific guidance related to your situation, please consult with a qualified immigration attorney.","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lQywpNeXn6k\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lQywpNeXn6k\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lQywpNeXn6k\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lQywpNeXn6k\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lQywpNeXn6k\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2024-06-25T14:00:45+00:00","duration":"PT4M35S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lQywpNeXn6k","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCZgH-DDjbICoI6uMulh9Psw#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCZgH-DDjbICoI6uMulh9Psw","name":"Frear Law","description":"Immigration Lawyer for Entrepreneurs \n\nThis channel provides general immigration information for talented foreign nationals who want to live, work and thrive in the United States. \n\nI hope that you find it helpful!","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/ytc\/AIdro_n_kXN2KxXcImITWJhnAIcA4FNtouokx7intx3pFXa0hA=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lQywpNeXn6k#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lQywpNeXn6k#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lQywpNeXn6k&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lQywpNeXn6k#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":270}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lQywpNeXn6k#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":13}]},"about":["E2 Visa"],"wordCount":732,"keywords":["e-2 visa","e-2 visa attorney","e-2 visa lawyer","E2 Visa","e2 visa 100000","e2 visa attorney","e2 visa for under 100000","E2 Visa Lawyer","e2 visa under 100000"],"articleBody":"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHi, my name is Ben Frear, and I\u2019m an immigration lawyer focused on helping entrepreneurs. Today, I want to address a common question: Is it possible to obtain an E2 visa for under $100,000?This question comes up frequently in my practice. Prospective clients often explain their business concept and express concern because their business will cost less than $100,000 to start. They\u2019ve heard from other lawyers or entrepreneurs that you need to spend at least $100,000 to have a chance at an E2 visa. So, is this true? Let’s dive in and find out.Understanding the $100,000 FigureWhen you look at the Foreign Affairs Manual, which provides guidance to U.S. consular officers, you won\u2019t see a specified minimum investment. In fact, the manual contains language suggesting that business models requiring lower investments should be given a fair chance. This is encouraging, especially for those starting consulting companies or other low-cost service businesses.The key to understanding whether an investment meets the requirement of substantiality is the proportionality test. This test determines if an investment is substantial by weighing the amount of qualifying funds invested against the cost of the business. Simply put, the lower the cost of the business, the higher the percentage of investment required.Proportionality Test ExplainedThe manual explains that the value (cost) of the business depends on its nature. For example, a manufacturing business might cost millions of dollars to establish, while a service business like a consulting firm might be relatively low-cost. As long as all other requirements for the E2 visa are met, the cost of the business alone shouldn’t be a deciding factor.This suggests that low-cost businesses like IT consulting companies, law firms, and marketing agencies can indeed qualify for the E2 visa.Why the $100,000 Myth PersistsSo why do so many people believe you always need to invest $100,000? There are two main reasons for this misconception:Example in the Foreign Affairs Manual:The manual provides an example using the $100,000 figure. It states that investments constituting 100 percent of the total cost would normally qualify for a business requiring a startup cost of $100,000. This example is provided to illustrate how the proportionality rule works.\u00a0This section of the foreign affairs manual is helpful when the investment is over 100,000 and the investment meets or exceeds 100% of the cost of the business.However, by offering this example, the manual is not saying that businesses with lower investment costs can\u2019t qualify. But, in practice, they are generally more likely to receive additional scrutiny.Consular Post Practices:There are rumors that some consular posts simply won\u2019t approve E2 visa applications with investments below $100,000 or even $150,000. The rationale for such refusals is the assumption that businesses with low startup costs are unlikely to create jobs. Although this reasoning is flawed\u2014since service businesses can start with minimal investment and still create jobs\u2014these posts may deny lower investment cases by finding the business marginal, meaning it\u2019s unlikely to create jobs for U.S. workers.The Ultimate Question: The E2 Visa for Under 100000?To answer the ultimate question: Can you get an E2 visa for under $100,000? Absolutely. However, it\u2019s important to understand that the lower the investment, the higher the risk of refusal. Before deciding to invest, it\u2019s wise to seek guidance from someone with recent experience in similar low investment cases (filed through the same consular post which you are applying) to gauge potential problems based on investment size alone.Also, it is important to understand that $100,000 might not be enough in many cases. The required investment depends on the cost of the business. For example, if you invest $100,000 but the business costs $800,000, you may face difficulties because you\u2019ve only invested one-eighth of the total cost.ConclusionI hope this information was helpful. The topic of E2 visas is complex, so please don\u2019t take this as legal advice\u2014it’s meant to be a general discussion to help you understand the issue. The likelihood of success depends on many factors, best discussed with one of the many qualified U.S. immigration lawyers available globally. Thanks for reading, and best of luck as you explore the E2 visa!Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice. For specific guidance related to your situation, please consult with a qualified immigration attorney.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Can You Get an E-2 Visa for Under 100000? Myths & Facts","item":"https:\/\/frearlaw.com\/e-2-visa-for-under-100000\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]