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The only US business-visa path for nationals without an E-2 treaty

US E-2 visa
via Grenada citizenship

E-2 has no legally fixed minimum — the amount is set by the scale of the business, not a fixed threshold. It is the only US business visa available to nationals of countries without their own E-2 treaty — but only through a second citizenship.

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Investment from
~$100,000
Time to status
4–8 mo.
Stay requirement
continuous while the business is active
Renewal
indefinite

Why go through Grenada

E-2 is available only to nationals of countries with an active treaty of commerce and navigation with the US — over 80 such countries exist, but most CIS states and Russia are not among them. Grenadian citizenship (itself a citizenship-by-investment programme) unlocks E-2 access that would not otherwise exist.

STAGE
AMOUNT
WHAT TO KNOW
Grenada citizenship (separate programme)
AMOUNTfrom $235,000
A separate citizenship-by-investment threshold — see Grenada’s own page in the index.
US business investment for E-2
AMOUNTno fixed minimum
In practice $80,000–300,000+ depending on the industry; the law requires the amount be "substantial" relative to the business scale, not a specific figure.

What the full cost consists of

There are few official government fees here — the main cost is the business investment itself and the legal structuring of the deal. The table below lists only the official consular fees.

COST ITEM
RATE
APPLIES TO
E-2 visa consular fee
RATE$205
per applicant
Reciprocity fee (by nationality, where applicable)
RATEvaries
applicants from certain countries
Business investment
RATEnot fixed, "substantial" relative to scale
per business, not per person
Legal structuring of the deal
RATEmarket rate, a significant sum
per family, depends on business complexity

How the process runs

01
Obtaining Grenadian citizenship
A separate 4–8 month process — see Grenada’s citizenship page. Without a second citizenship covered by an E-2 treaty, this route is not available.
02
Choosing and structuring the business
The business must be real, not a "passive" investment — it must operate and generally be expected to create jobs.
03
Investing at risk
Funds are committed to the business before filing — this must be a genuine, not symbolic, investment.
04
Filing for the E-2 visa
At the US consulate covering your residence, or through a status change within the US under certain conditions.
05
Renewals
The visa is issued for up to 5 years depending on the country and renews indefinitely as long as the business remains active and compliant.

A good fit if

Your nationality is not covered by a US E-2 treaty, but you are willing to obtain Grenadian citizenship separately.
You have a genuine, operating business or a clear plan to build one in the US — not just a deposit.
You want long-term but not permanent residence: E-2 renews indefinitely as long as the business is active.
Flexibility in investment scale matters to you: there is no mandatory threshold like EB-5.

A poor fit if

You specifically need a green card — E-2 is a non-immigrant visa and does not by itself lead to permanent residence or US citizenship.
The business would be "passive" (rental property with no active management) — such investments usually fail the "substantial" test.
You have no budget for the extra step of obtaining Grenadian citizenship — a separate, non-trivial cost on top of the US investment.
You need a fixed, predictable investment threshold for planning — the law deliberately gives no number.

Who runs this programme

Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.

No matching firms in the directory for this category yet — the list is curated by hand and grows over time.

This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.

Frequent questions

How much do you actually need to invest?

The law sets no fixed amount — the investment must be "substantial" relative to the scale and type of the business. In practice this is most often $80,000–300,000 or more, but the exact figure depends on the industry and is assessed individually by the consular officer.

Why through Grenada and not directly?

The US has E-2 treaties with over 80 countries, but most CIS states, including Russia, are not among them. Grenadian citizenship unlocks a treaty an applicant would not otherwise have access to.

Does E-2 lead to a green card?

No, it is a non-immigrant visa. It can form a basis for later moving to another immigration category, but does not itself grant permanent status.

What does "substantial investment" mean?

The amount must be enough to launch and operate that specific type of business — a coffee-shop chain and a tech startup have different "substantial" amounts. The law sets no absolute minimum.

Can you invest in rental real estate?

Generally no — that is considered a "passive" investment. The business must generate income through active operations, usually including hiring staff, not just holding an asset.

How many times can the visa be renewed?

Formally indefinitely — as long as the business remains active, compliant, and the applicant continues to run it. Each renewal is reassessed.

Sources

U.S. Department of State — official E-2 Treaty Investors programme page↗Global Citizen Solutions — breakdown of the Grenada-to-E-2 route↗

Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 26 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.