Your Immigration Counsel

E-2 Visa Lawyer Seattle

Ankeny Law is a Veteran-Owned Small Business led by Jason Ankeny, a U.S. Army Military Police Corps veteran with more than 15 years as a federal officer in immigration and customs enforcement, plus 30 years of combined work in that field and international trade. Every matter benefits from his firsthand knowledge of how consular officers and USCIS adjudicators actually evaluate an application.

Navigating U.S. immigration law requires more than filling out forms. It demands specialized legal expertise, strategic insight, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges that cross-border entrepreneurs face. At Ankeny Law, our experienced attorneys in Seattle, WA are dedicated to providing personalized, results-driven legal services tailored to foreign nationals looking to invest in or establish a company in the U.S..

Whether you are an individual investor pursuing a new entrepreneurial venture or a corporation expanding its footprint across the border, our visa attorney team understands what it takes to build a compelling, compliant, and successful visa application. We specialize in cross-border immigration matters, making us uniquely positioned to serve clients navigating both U.S. and Canadian immigration systems from our Pacific Northwest base.

E-2 visa lawyer advising a treaty investor
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Your E-2 investor visa attorney at Ankeny Law

Your Seattle E2 Investor Visa Lawyers

Understanding the E-2 Visa: Your Gateway to Business Opportunities

This visa is a nonimmigrant visa category designed for foreign nationals from treaty countries who wish to invest a substantial amount of capital into a U.S. company. Also known as the treaty investor classification, it is intended for an investor from certain countries who wants to develop and direct a U.S. enterprise. These visas typically last two to five years and may be renewed indefinitely if the company remains compliant.

To be eligible, applicants must meet several key criteria:

  • Nationality: The applicant must be a citizen of a country that maintains a qualifying treaty of commerce and navigation with the U.S. Canada is among the eligible treaty country partners, making this visa particularly relevant to our cross-border client base.
  • Substantial Investment: The investment must be substantial relative to the total cost of establishing or purchasing the company. There is no fixed minimum investment for this category. The funds must be irrevocably committed, at risk, and subject to loss rather than simply sitting in a bank account.
  • Active Commercial Operation: The business must be a bona fide enterprise engaged in active commercial activity, not a passive investment or a marginal operation that only supports the investor’s livelihood. It must generate income beyond what is needed to support the investor and their family.
  • Controlling Interest: The principal investor must own at least 50% of the business or hold an executive or supervisory role that gives them operational control, with direct involvement in active management of the company.

Applicants may qualify by investing in a new business or an existing company.

Holders can live and work legally in the U.S., travel in and out of the country with relative ease, and bring immediate family members to the U.S. in derivative E status, including a spouse and unmarried children under 21 of the principal applicant or primary visa holder. Spouses may also apply for work authorization by filing Form I-765, allowing them to work for any employer. Children may attend school without a separate student visa, but they cannot work.

Why Work With an E2 Visa Lawyer at Ankeny Law?

Depth and specialization make all the difference in investor immigration matters. Ankeny Law’s lead attorney, Jason Ankeny, brings extensive knowledge of both U.S. and Canadian immigration systems, a distinct advantage for cross-border work. As a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer, he understands how consular officers and USCIS adjudicators evaluate these applications, and he uses that insight to build cases that are thorough, well-documented, and positioned for approval. Experienced immigration attorneys should also provide a realistic assessment of approval odds rather than guarantee results.

What sets Ankeny Law apart is the commitment to personalized legal service. We take the time to understand each client’s operating model, investment structure, and long-term goals before crafting a tailored legal strategy. Our attorneys provide individualized guidance that reflects the specific circumstances of every matter, not generic, off-the-shelf solutions. That includes a focused investor-immigration practice, direct experience with investor immigration matters at the U.S.-Canadian border, and hands-on skill with source-of-funds documentation and business plan development.

Our cross-border team is well-versed in the nuances of consular processing and USCIS standards, ensuring that every application we submit is accurate and complete.

Jason Ankeny’s dual licensure in Washington State and British Columbia also makes Ankeny Law a particularly strong choice for Canadian applicants pursuing investor visas. Canadian nationals are among the most active applicants for these visas, and having a visa attorney who understands both immigration systems, and who has direct experience at the U.S.-Canadian border, gives applicants a meaningful advantage when navigating consular processing in Vancouver or Calgary. The firm also advises on investor-focused visa categories when evaluating the best strategy.

Step by step guidance through the visa application process
The E-2 visa application process

The E2 Visa Application Process: Step-by-Step Guidance

The application process includes securing and committing your investment, preparing a comprehensive business plan, filing the petition, and attending the interview. The filing path depends on whether you apply through consular processing abroad or through USCIS while in valid status. Our team guides applicants through every phase:

We begin with a thorough assessment of your eligibility, investment plans, and ownership structure to determine the strongest possible path forward.

A well-prepared business plan is a cornerstone of any successful visa application. Our team works closely with applicants to develop or review that plan, ensuring it clearly demonstrates the viability and scope of the enterprise in alignment with visa standards through solid market analysis, financial projections, job creation expectations, and the applicant’s role in directing the company, while also showing the venture can have a significant economic impact beyond supporting only the investor.

We assist applicants in compiling all required supporting documentation, including evidence of the substantial investment, proof of treaty country citizenship, company registration documents, and financial projections.

Once all materials are complete, our visa attorney prepares and submits the application to the appropriate U.S. consulate or embassy, most often in the applicant’s home country. If the applicant is already inside the U.S. in valid nonimmigrant status, we file directly with USCIS instead. Consular filing results in a visa stamp, while USCIS processing grants status in the U.S. but not a visa stamp for travel. The processing time varies by post, with some consular cases decided in a few weeks.

We provide comprehensive preparation for the interview, helping applicants approach the required consular interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, for those filing through consular processing, with confidence and clarity by clearly explaining their operating knowledge, business plan, and investment details before the consular officer.

We remain engaged throughout the review process, responding to any requests for additional evidence and keeping applicants informed at every step. Ongoing support also helps clients maintain valid status and avoid disruptions to company operations if questions arise after filing or approval.

Tailored Strategies for Unique Business Ventures

No two businesses are alike, and neither are the legal strategies required to support them. Ankeny Law’s visa lawyers take a customized approach to every case, carefully evaluating operating plans, investment structures, and compliance considerations to build applications that are both compelling and complete.

Whether you are launching a startup in the region’s thriving tech industry, acquiring an existing franchise, purchasing an existing company, or expanding a Canadian enterprise through a new venture in the U.S. market, our visa attorney develops strategies that highlight the strengths of your investment and align with all applicable visa standards.

Common scenarios our visa lawyers handle include franchise acquisitions where the franchisor documentation must align with USCIS standards, startup investments where demonstrating a non-marginal enterprise requires forward-looking financial projections, and intracompany expansions where the investor is relocating from Canada to manage a new U.S. subsidiary. Strategic case design also matters because if the business fails, the investor’s status can be affected. Each of these situations presents distinct legal and documentation challenges, and Ankeny Law has the depth to navigate them effectively.

We also assist clients who have received a Request for Evidence on a prior application or who were denied at the consular stage and are seeking a path forward. Our visa lawyers review the record carefully, identify the issues that led to the adverse decision, and develop a response or reapplication strategy designed to address those concerns directly.

Serving Individual Investors and Corporate Clients

Ankeny Law serves a wide range of clients, from individual entrepreneurs making their first foray into the U.S. market to multinational corporations establishing or expanding their American operations. Our visa lawyers handle cases of varying complexity and scale.

For individual investors, we provide hands-on legal support throughout the entire process. For corporate clients, we offer strategic counsel that addresses both immigration compliance and broader commercial objectives. These matters may involve a parent company and U.S. subsidiary structure, which can affect how the case is documented and managed. We also advise on filings for essential employees whose specialized knowledge is critical to company operations, including team members with essential skills. We are also proud to serve the cross-border community connecting Seattle with Canadian cities, offering a unique perspective on binational expansion that few law firms in the region can match. The city’s position as a Pacific Northwest gateway makes it one of the most active corridors for Canadian applicants entering the U.S. market, and Ankeny Law is built to serve that community with the depth of legal knowledge it requires.

Serving individual investors pursuing E-2 visas

Frequently Asked Questions

Immigration attorney fees in Seattle vary based on the visa category, matter complexity, and whether the work involves cross-border coordination with Canada. At Ankeny Law, every engagement begins with a consultation where we walk through the scope of your case and provide a clear breakdown of anticipated costs, including government filing fees and any third-party expenses, before any work begins, so you know what to expect before you commit.

Applicants must be nationals of a treaty country with a qualifying commercial treaty with the U.S. Canada is an eligible treaty country, along with many others. Visa validity also depends on treaty nationality and the reciprocal agreement between the two governments, so some nationals may receive 5-year multi-entry visas while others are subject to shorter reciprocity periods. Our visa attorney can confirm your country’s eligibility during your initial consultation and explain that, while validity periods vary by country, the visa can still be renewed indefinitely as long as the company remains operational and the investor continues to qualify.

There is no fixed minimum, but the investment must be substantial relative to the total cost of the business. It must also be at risk and committed to the enterprise — not simply held in a bank account.

The initial validity period varies by treaty country but can be issued for up to five years. The visa is renewable indefinitely as long as the business remains operational and the investor maintains qualifying status.

Yes. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of the principal investor may accompany them to the U.S. under derivative E status. Spouses may also seek work authorization, while children may attend school but are not authorized to work.

These visas are nonimmigrant in nature and do not directly provide lawful permanent residence. However, some applicants later pursue permanent residency through EB-5, employment-based sponsorship, or spousal sponsorship. These strategies require careful planning because holders must maintain qualifying intent and valid E status while seeking a green card.

Yes. Purchasing or investing in an existing business can qualify, provided the investment is substantial, the operation is a real commercial enterprise, and it generates income beyond supporting only the investor’s livelihood.

E-2 Visa Guides and Answers

From investment thresholds to renewals to the treaty country list, these guides answer the questions applicants bring to our Seattle and Vancouver offices.

Contact Ankeny Law Today

If you are ready to take the next step toward securing your visa and establishing your company in Seattle, the attorneys at Ankeny Law are here to help. Reach out today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can build a winning strategy tailored specifically to your needs.

Seattle Office 506 2nd Ave, Suite 1400 | Seattle, WA 98104

Vancouver  Office  666 Burrard St Ste 500, Vancouver, BC V6C 2X8
604-314-1848

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