Recap
Dear friend, in my previous story From Zero to Entrepreneur: 541 days of Lessons Learned | №1, you learned about who I am and where I started my journey.
Moving across the globe and starting a business is an adventure, an enormous leap into the unknown. For many, this journey is fraught with challenges, uncertainty but at the same time a lot of joy and excitement. In my case, one of the most critical challenge was navigating the US visa process.
The visa process can be complex and overwhelming at first. My goal is to provide you with a practical guide to help you through the process.
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Are you ready to expand your horizons, build your own company while living and working in the U.S.?
If the answer is Yes!
— Well, then let’s get started!
I know from experience that navigating the U.S. visa process can be challenging and overwhelming. Especially, when you have limited financial means and want to start your own venture.
Exactly 550 days ago I have been where you are right now!
Where and how do I start to get a U.S. Visa while building my own venture?
Thinking back, I wish I would have had someone to talk to. Someone who has already been through that process and could share their experience and knowledge with me.
In the end a lot of times success or failure comes down to a few factors, one of them is having verified and actionable knowledge to enables you to make informed decisions.
Navigating the Visa Process
I did a lot of research in the beginning to map out what kind of visa would be a good match for me regarding my business idea and financial means.
Types of US Visas¹
The US visa system is complex, with various types catering to different needs and situations. There are visas for students, tourists, skilled workers, and entrepreneurs. Understanding which visa fits your purpose and means best is crucial.
Below you will find an overview of visa options for EU citizen who want to start a venture in the U.S.. I purposefully left out other available visas because they either require you to be sponsored by someone else or bank on chance as in winning the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery.
The goal is to provide you with information about the available options that you can chose from building a business on your own.
Work Visas ( O, P,):
- O: For individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement.
- P: For athletes, artists, and entertainers.
Investor Visas (E-1/E-2):
- For treaty traders and investors.
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program (EB-5):
- For foreign investors who are willing to make a significant financial investment in a U.S. business venture.
Choosing the Right Visa
As an aspiring entrepreneur, I needed a visa that would allow me to live, work and build a company in the US. Therefore, the at first best options were the E-1/E-2 Treaty Investor Visa, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Visa, and the O or P Visa for individuals with extraordinary abilities, artists, etc.. Each had its requirements and benefits.
After learning more about the requirements for each visa the choice for me was obvious
— the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa is the best one for me.
Why the E-2 and not the EB-5 or the O/P Visa?
The answer is pretty simple, I did not yet achieve anything that would be considered extraordinary by the O/P Visa standards nor did I have the financial means of investing $1 million (or $500,000 in targeted employment areas) in a new commercial enterprise to obtain an EB-5 Visa.
Let’s have a closer look at the E2 Visa, the requirements and process.
E-2 Visa: Treaty Investor Visa²
The E-2 visa allows nationals of treaty countries to enter the United States when investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business. Here are the key points:
Eligibility Requirements:
- Nationality: The applicant must be a national of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation.
- Investment: The applicant must have invested or be actively in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital in a bona fide enterprise in the United States. Note: The term “substantial” is not defined by a fixed dollar amount.
- Enterprise: The investment enterprise must be a real and operating commercial enterprise.
- Control and Development: The investor must come to the U.S. to develop and direct the enterprise. This typically requires at least 50% ownership of the enterprise or possession of operational control.
Duration and Extensions:
- The E-2 visa is typically issued for an initial period of up to two years. It can be extended indefinitely in increments of up to two years as long as the investment enterprise continues to operate and meet visa requirements.
The E-2 visa provides a flexible option for investors from treaty countries to live and work in the U.S., provided they maintain their investment and operational control over their U.S. enterprise.
The Application Process
Looking back, it was an intensive 6 + months for me. The application process involved coming up with the money, writing a sustainable business proposal, filling out forms, collecting documents, etc.. This required a lot of patience and precision. In all honesty, I was not the most patient person back then and also faced a very big challenge:
— Where do I get the substantial amount of capital from that was required for the visa and also pay for a lawyer and other service providers?
Forever grateful
Before we move on with the application process, I would like to take a moment to thank my mother. I would have not been able to get the visa process started as early as I did without her believing in me and my ability to start my own venture far away from home.
As I mentioned earlier, the E-2 Visa requires the applicant to invest a sustainable amount. Well, I did not have enough money in my bank account at that time to even make the cut for the minimum investment that was required. While I was looking into options for gathering enough money to make the cut, my mother offered to invest.
Thank you, Mom, a thousand times over and over again!
I cannot tell you how much that has moved me back then and still does. Even while writing about this right now a tear of gratitude is leaving my eyes.
Preparing the application
When it comes to preparing the application and writing a sustainable business plan I recommend to get help from experts! I hired an immigration lawyer and also a service provider that was specialized in supporting entrepreneurs writing a business plan for visa applications.
Technically, you can do it on your own but looking back getting help was one of the best decisions that I have made. This is because the process, and paperwork is not the most straightforward and you want to make sure that you will be granted the visa the first time applying.
So what kind of documents and actions where needed?
- Business Plan
- Proof of investments
- Proof of you owning at least 50% of the U.S. business that you are investing in
- Translated University degrees
- All forms required for the application
- Proof of payment for the E-2 Visa
- Appointment for the interview with the U.S. Embassy
It took a while to gather and create all of these documents before my lawyer was in a position to submit the application on my behalf.
Finally, in March 2023 all was submitted and then the waiting game began. This period was filled with anxiety and anticipation. The uncertainty of the outcome made it a challenging time, but it was also an opportunity to prepare mentally and emotionally for the journey ahead. During that time I was flying in and out of the U.S. peparing to move here. Looking for a place to stay, network, learn more about life in NYC. After 3 months has passed by — I received a message from the U.S. Embassy inviting me to be interviewed in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. At that time I was in NYC, and for the first time in a long time could not wait to get back to Germany.
The Interview
I traveled about 3,831.58 mi (6,166.33 km) to get from NYC to Hannover. From there I took a car and drove another 162.72 mi (261.87 km) to the U.S. Embassy in Frankfurt am Main.
I arrived way too early and was incredibly nervous about the interview carrying a printed version of my application with me. When I made my way through the the line in front of the Embassy and registered for the interview I was waiting in a big hall surrounded by little windows. In each of the windows there was a person and handling different kinds of visa applications. Back then I imagined to be sitting in an office with an interviewer being ask a multitude of questions about my business, finances, projections etc. — I was so wrong about that!
The interview took about 8 minutes of me standing in front of one of these windows talking to a very kind person. It was more like a friendly conversation during a networking event than the kind of interview I expected to have.
Nevertheless, I was incredibly grateful for the interview being such an unexpected pleasant experience.
Midday end of July 2023, Frankfurt am Main at the U.S. Embassy — Good luck Ms Witt, your Visa is approved!
Once I heard that phrase, I knew there was no going back only forward on a pathway of 541, well today 550 Days of Lessons Learned. One crucial thing that I have learned from these past days is that I made a big mistake that has cost me a lot of time. I got so caught up and focused on this visa process that I did not use the time I had for building my brand.
To sum it up here are 5 lessons that I have learned:
- Lesson 1: Investing in help from experts is a wise move. You simply cannot know it all.
- Lesson 2: Being anxious or nervous is normal. However, do not let it block you from what you have to do and cloud your focus.
- Lesson 3: Do not loose focus. Money you can always regain, time on the other hand not.
- Lesson 4: Be grateful and appreciate a helping hand.
- Lesson 5: Celebrate your wins because you did it.
— I’d love to connect with you, hear your story, share lessons learned and find ways of supporting each other.
Leave a comment below ⬇ ️or let’s simply connect on X.
I am looking forward to connecting over a virtual coffee or tea! Remember, it’s not just about sipping your favorite brew; it’s a moment of connection and inspiration. ❤
FAQs E-2 Treaty Investor Visa²
Q1: What is the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa?
A: The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa allows entrepreneurs from treaty countries to enter and work in the US based on a substantial investment in a US business.
Q2: What documents are required for the E-2 Visa application?
A: Required documents include proof of nationality, source of investment funds, a detailed business plan, and evidence of intent to develop and direct the business.
Q3: How long does the E-2 Visa process take?
A: The processing time varies but typically takes several months — 6 in my case, including gathering documents, submitting the application, and waiting for approval.
Q4: Can I bring my family on an E-2 Visa?
A: Yes, E-2 Visa holders can bring their spouse and children under 21.
Sources
Hi, I am Liesa, the founder of Witt Collective, consultant and coach specialized in knowledge and process management.
I am an advocate for simple and innovative solutions that are driven by creativity, made for humans to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
You can connect and collaborate with me.
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