E-2 program statistics — U.S. Department of State, 2024
Most Canadian investors pursuing the E-2 discover midway through that their immigration attorney doesn't handle business law. They're referred elsewhere for entity formation. Another firm for the purchase agreement. A third party for the escrow structure.
The result is a fragmented application at exactly the moment coherence matters most. A consular officer sees your business structure, investment documentation, and visa filing as one integrated picture. If different teams assembled the pieces, it shows.
The E-2 requires your business structure, your investment, and your visa application to tell one coherent story. When one attorney oversees all three, that story holds. When three firms each handle a piece, the gaps between them become the vulnerabilities in your application.
Spending $100,000–$200,000 — often home equity — and then receiving a denial is the risk every E-2 investor carries. Most firms move on after filing. We don't.
We assess every case rigorously before we file. If we don't believe you have a strong application, we will tell you in the first call — before you incur any filing costs.
No attorney can promise outcomes — the consular officer has final authority. What we commit to is standing behind our work if something goes wrong.
The E-2 is a strong fit for some situations and not others. Here is what our engagements typically look like.
These are documented examples from across the E-2 program — not cases handled by this firm. We share them to illustrate what a well-structured application looks like in practice, and specifically how business structuring drove each outcome.
Approved Toronto consulate. Within two years: three franchise locations, 14 employees, $1.2M+ revenue. Entity and franchise agreement documented as part of the visa package.
Approved. Purchase agreement and operating documentation were central to demonstrating the investment was at risk and the enterprise commercially viable.
Approved as investor directing U.S. enterprise. Cross-border structure established prior to filing. Spouse received work authorization concurrent with approval.
Approved. Investment placed in escrow prior to filing, contingent on visa approval — satisfying the 'at-risk' requirement while protecting capital. Escrow structuring was the pivotal element.
Most denials come down to the same issues. Here is what we scrutinize before we file anything.
Funds in a bank account don't qualify. The investment must be irrevocably committed to the enterprise — through a purchase agreement, escrow, or documented expenditures. We structure this correctly from day one.
The enterprise must have genuine economic capacity beyond supporting the investor. We assess this honestly before advising you to proceed — and will tell you if a business doesn't meet the bar.
Canadian investors most commonly use home equity, business proceeds, or RRSP drawdown. Each requires specific documentation. The Toronto consulate enforces a strict 50-page application limit — preparation discipline matters.
A consular officer is asking one question: will this business actually work? We prepare plans with financial projections, market analysis, and operational specificity — not boilerplate.
I didn't just study immigration law — I lived the immigrant experience. My father came to the United States and built a business from the ground up, and I had a front row seat to everything it takes to launch and grow a company in a new country.
That early exposure shaped my career. For over a decade, I've worked with immigrant founders and business owners who hired me to help create, structure, or scale their businesses. From trucking and hospitality to software, retail, childcare, and real estate — I've been involved in building real companies across a wide range of industries.
That business-first experience is what I now bring into my immigration practice. I help foreign entrepreneurs and investors pursue the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa with a clear focus on both the legal process and the business behind it.
What makes Eman and Associates different? We don't just prepare and file your visa petition. We handle the full business side of the process. Whether you are acquiring an existing company, launching a new venture, or structuring an investment, we guide you through each step — from entity formation and asset transfers to operational setup and compliance.
When you work with us, you get more than legal support. You get an attorney who understands how businesses are actually built and grown.
I also bring a global perspective to my work. I've lived in France, played club soccer in Romania and Belgium, and I speak fluent French. I've seen firsthand how immigrants contribute to this country, and I respect the drive it takes to build something new in an unfamiliar place.
If you are ready to invest in your future in the United States, I'd be glad to help you move forward.
The E-2 process takes 4 to 8 months from engagement to U.S. entry. Entity formation, business acquisition, and visa filing all happen in sequence — each step has a timeline. If you have a target date, the time to start is now.
We'll assess your case, map out the legal steps, and give you a clear picture of what a full-service engagement involves. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you that too.