This article will attempt to provide some brief insight into the E2 visa process and how it interacts with the process of incorporating an LLC in the United States of America.
The E2 visa is an employment based visa that provides the bearer with the opportunity to live and work in the United States in order to oversee and administer an investment in a trade or business enterprise. Those seeking an E2 visa are well advised to research the category thoroughly before making irrevocable decisions as the E2 visa’s issuance is predicated upon statutory language as well as various executive regulations and policies. Denial of an E2 visa application could prove costly in terms of time as well as resources.
Many who consider the possibility of an E2 visa find that an American Immigration attorney can prove very helpful by providing insight into the process and assistance in filling out relevant forms and compiling supporting documentation in an effort to ensure fast and efficient processing of either the petition submitted to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) or the visa application which is likely to be submitted to a United States Embassy or United States Consulate abroad. Those individuals who are already in the US and wish to change their visa status to the E-2 category will need to submit a petition to USCIS. More commonly, those living abroad wishing to travel to the US on an E2 visa should submit their visa application to a US Embassy or US Consulate abroad.
US company registration can be an important issue for people thinking about submitting an application for an E-2 visa. Unlike many jurisdictions in Asia, registration of a limited liability company in the United States is usually quite a smooth process for those who retain the services of an attorney trained in American corporate law. Those looking for information about an E-2 visa should note that the need for the visa ought to spring from a real business imperative. In short, the business incorporation should not be conducted as a pretext in an effort to simply obtain immigration benefits. The business concern that underlies the visa application should be bona fide and comport to certain rules and regulations. These rules and regulations come into play when a Consular Officer at a US Post abroad makes an adjudication based upon the merits of the E2 visa application.
The US visa process can be convoluted and cumbersome for those who do not understand U.S. Immigration law. Thus, assistance of experienced counsel is generally recommended in immigration matters especially where company registration plays a key role in the visa application process.