To qualify for E-2 classification, the treaty investor must:

I.    First Requirement. Be a national of a country with which the United States has international treaty. The first thing you have to do is to check whether your home country has an E2 treaty with the U.S. List of Countries with which the U.S. maintains a treaty you can find below:

II.    Second Requirement. Have invested or be actively in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital in a bona fide enterprise in the U.S.

The applicant has to demonstrate that he has already invested money into the business or is in active process of investing into the business. The investor must be close enough to start actual business operations. Mere possession of investment on your bank account and signing lease agreement (which may be broken) will not meet second requirement. In other words, it is insufficient to merely form intent to start a business. Here, you will be required to demonstrate that you have committed yourself as far as possible to satisfy the activities and operations while in the process of investment requirement.

Also, you must demonstrate that the capital you are investing is substantial. USCIS defines an E-2 investment as the investor’s placing of capital, including funds and other assets, at risk in the commercial sense with the objective of generating a profit. The investment must be at risk, meaning that capital must be subject to partial or total loss in the event that the entity fails.

• There is no legal minimum.
• Must be putting capital at risk.
• The amount must be substantial relative to the type of business.

You must show a clear and legitimate path regarding the source of the capital you will be investing. You must also demonstrate that the funds you are investing have been obtained through legal means.

Your investment must be in a bona fide enterprise and may not be marginal. A bona fide enterprise is one that has the present or future capacity to generate more than adequate living expenses for a treaty investor and his or her family. If the enterprise cannot generate more than adequate living expenses immediately, it must have the capacity to generate such income within five years from the date that the treaty investor’s E2 classification is granted. If this is not the case, the investment is deemed to be a “marginal enterprise” and your application for E2 visa will be denied.

III.    Third Requirement. Be seeking to enter the United States solely to develop and direct the investment enterprise.

For example, solo practitioner who is the majority owner of the U.S. company, sends an employee to run the U.S. company, solo practitioner must demonstrate that he or she personally develops and directs the enterprise. Likewise, if a foreign corporation owns at least 50 percent of a U.S. enterprise, and wishes its employee to enter the U.S. as an employee of the parent corporation, or as an employee of the U.S. business, the foreign corporation must demonstrate it develops and directs the U.S. enterprise.

Treaty investors may be accompanied or followed by spouses and unmarried children who are under 21 years of age. Their nationalities need not be the same as the treaty investor. These family members may seek E-2 nonimmigrant classification as dependents and, if approved, generally will be granted the same period of stay as the treaty investor.

Spouses of E1 investors may apply for work authorization and pursue career opportunity in the U.S. Legislation doesn’t impose any specific restriction on spouse as to where she or he may work. However, the spouse's right to work will persist as long as the principal E2 visa holder remains in status.

E1 visa doesn’t grant you an opportunity to apply for a green card. While the E1 visa is a great first step toward your immigration to the U.S., it’s not a permanent solution. There are many options available for you in order to get a green card. Also, in the light of coming Immigration Reform 2015 that affects business immigration there can be more possibilities for investors to settle down in the U.S.