subject: E-2 Visas: Thailand [print this page] The information contained in this article is intended for those who are researching the E-2 visa process for the first time. Those reading this piece should view it as a primer and not a definitive resource on the subject.
For those who are unfamiliar with the travel document formally referred to as an E-2 visa, this visa is generally utilized by non-United States Citizens who wish to travel to the USA for the purpose of conducting business and investing in an enterprise within the American economy.
There are those who do not understand the difference between the E2 visa and the EB5 Immigrant Investor visa. The EB-5 visa was designed for those foreign nationals who are willing to invest in certain programs which have been approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. Unlike the E-2 visa, the EB-5 visa holder enters the country in lawful permanent resident status upon lawful admission by the United States Customs and Border Protection Service (USCBP) at an American Port of Entry. E-2 visa holders are not accorded lawful permanent residence in the United States and therefore remain non-immigrants unless an adjustment of status is approved. The EB-5 visa rules require a substantial investment. Generally, the minimum investment for those wishing to obtain an EB-5 visa is five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). Some so-called "un-targeted" programs may demand a minimum investment of a million dollars ($1,000,000) in order for the alien national to be permitted to seek EB-5 immigration benefits.
The E2 visa rules do not delineate minimum investment criteria, but it is generally agreed that the monetary investment underlying an E2 visa application should still be substantial. E-2 visa holders may be able to obtain derivative visa benefits for family members wishing to travel to the USA. In many ways, the E-2 visa is an ideal travel document for those with an investment or business in the USA, but, as stated above, the E-2 visa is not an immediate path to United States Permanent Residence. One facet of the E2 visa process which is unique compared to, say, the L1 visa process is the fact that the prospective E-2 visa beneficiary residing outside of the USA is not required to process an initial petition through the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Service). Those hoping to change status to that of an E2 visa holder in the United States will likely be compelled to process such a petition through the USCIS.
Those contemplating submitting a petition for an American visa are wise to conduct thorough research into United States immigration matters generally with a particular focus on the visa category which most closely matches one's intentions. It should be noted that some individuals and businesses opt to retain the services of a professional to assist with matters pertaining to US Immigration. Anyone claiming expertise in American immigration should be asked to produce credentials as only a licensed American attorney is permitted to practice United States immigration law.
