E2 Visa Franchise
Investing in an E2 Visa Franchise is a great option for investors who want to move to the United States. This non-immigrant visa program is designed for foreign nationals from countries that maintain treaty agreements with the United States to invest in a business and become permanent residents of the country. The USCIS defines an eligible investment as one that is at least $100,000 or more in a new or existing business enterprise.
In addition to this minimum investment, it is required that the business creates at least 10 full-time jobs for US workers. Franchise businesses are especially well suited for this type of E2 Visa Franchise investment as they generally have highly developed, tried and true systems that make them well-suited to the requirements of the visa.
Another advantage of investing in a franchise is that it will often be more favorably received by visa officers than a new or unknown start-up business. A nationally recognized franchise brand will be viewed more favorably because of its reputation and history. The investor will also have the ability to immediately provide much of the required E-2 visa process paperwork including business plans, forecasts and operational manuals which will save time and money. This can be a critical component for proving that the investment will meet the minimum requirement of substantial capital in relation to the total cost of the business.
What is an E2 Visa Franchise?
The fact that a franchise is already operating will also be seen as favorable by the visa officer, since the business must be “substantially” invested to qualify for the E2 Visa. In addition, the fact that most franchises have training and support programs provides a solid argument to show that the investment will likely be successful.
Lastly, franchises often require significant upfront investments which will satisfy the E2 visa program requirements that the investor must have control over and direct the investment of the business. This will demonstrate to the visa officer that the investor is not just looking for a quick return on their investment, but is planning for the long term success of the business.
It is recommended that prospective investors work with a specialist franchise consultant to help them research and evaluate franchise opportunities. This will ensure that the best opportunity is identified and will be in line with the visa application process. A specialist company will have a database of established franchises and have relationships with both immigration and business attorneys to assist with the preparation of the visa application.
A specialist company will also be able to reduce the time it takes to find and analyze a franchise by several months due to its accumulated data and industry experience. This is an important consideration for those who have limited time to invest in a business. The experts at Niren & Associates are available to discuss this in more detail and help you determine the best path to your new life in the USA.
