If you are launching a U.S. startup and applying for the E-2 visa, it is important to understand how investment requirements apply to early-stage ventures. The law does not treat startups differently, but founders must still meet the same investment standards used for all E-2 visa applications. The key requirement is a substantial investment, which means your funding must be large enough in relation to the total cost of launching and operating your startup.
U.S. officials apply a proportionality test, looking at whether your investment matches the real startup costs. The lower the cost of the startup, the higher the percentage you must personally invest. For startups, this often includes spending on software, branding, website development, business formation, and professional services. Your investment must be at risk and already committed, not just planned or held in a personal account. You should be able to show contracts, receipts, or financial obligations tied to your startup’s operations. Even though your startup may not yet generate income, it must be a real and active business with the capacity to grow. It cannot be marginal or speculative. You will need to show that it can support more than just the investor within five years.
In short, E-2 visa rules apply to all businesses, but startup founders must carefully document a substantial, committed investment aligned with actual startup costs and a real path to revenue