In this article, you will discover:
- How the E-2 visa for German citizens is commonly used.
- Who is eligible for an E-2 visa from Germany.
- The qualifications for permanent residence in the United States for German nationals.
What Is The E-2 Visa For Citizens Of Germany?
The E-2 Visa will typically be the same for all treaty countries. It’s a non-immigrant visa for citizens of that country coming to the US to develop and direct the operations of a business where they’ve invested substantial capital.
The visa reciprocity is the same. As a citizen of Germany, once approved, you will get a visa validity period of five years that allows for multiple entries. This will enable you to travel freely into and out of the United States during those five years.
Once that five-year period expires, your visa is up for renewal. You can renew your visa and continue doing business in the US. If staying here long-term is your desire and goal, you can renew that indefinitely and stay here as long as you need to.
What Is The E-2 Visa Process For German Nationals?
The process will depend on whether you are starting a new business or purchasing an existing one. Either way, you must show some kind of purchase agreement or provide proof of incorporation. You could also have your investment placed in escrow to show that your funds are irrevocably committed to the business.
Our firm can help with that process and make sure everything’s properly structured. Once you have your business and you’ve made your investment, then you can apply for the E-2 visa. For citizens from Germany, that will happen at the US Embassy in Frankfurt, Germany, or Bern, Switzerland.
How Long Does It Take For E-2 Visa Processing?
Document collection and timeline generally follow the same structure:
- Phase 1: Collect client documentation and paperwork over two to three months.
- Phase 2: Check in with the client every two to three weeks, adhering to checklists provided at each appointment.
- Phase 3: Submit the completed application to the embassy in Frankfurt, Germany, or Bern, Switzerland.
- Phase 4: Schedule an appointment with the embassy for approval.
Once we submit the case to the embassy, it will usually take two to four months for the embassy in Germany to respond. At that time, they will set an interview date and decide on the approval of the visa.
The entire process, from client information collection to interview date, can take around six months. Usually, this is enough time for people to get their affairs in order to move. Sometimes people need to sell their house, or they want to get their kids out of school, and there can be a lot going on during this entire process. We accommodate what’s going on in your life the best we can with the timelines.
If you believe you will be ready to move in the next six months, that increases the chances of a smoother application process. Even if the answer is no, you will not be ready to move in the next six months; we will adjust our timeline accordingly. We meet you where you are in terms of readiness; it’s part of our intake process.
What Is The Minimum Investment Requirement For The E-2 Visa For Germans?
For peace of mind and comfort, we typically recommend around $65,000 and up. However, keep in mind there is no set minimum. It can be much riskier for anything under that amount because, again, part of the application process is showing your belief in this business being profitable.
If you think you will be making a lower investment, working with an immigration lawyer would be important. Your business plan will be a critical part of helping you get approved if you are going with a lower investment. If you can present a strong projection or a strong business plan to help show the officer that the business is going to succeed, that could make or break the final application approval.
What Are The Qualifications For The E-2 Visa For Germans?
The qualifications for German citizens applying for an E-2 visa are typically the same:
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- You have to possess the nationality of the treaty country. In this case, you must show proof that you are a Canadian citizen.
- Show proof that you have a business that is at least incorporated and that you’ve made an investment into. This works even if you’ve just purchased a business or are about to purchase a business.
- Finally, you need to show that you have a business plan, including projections for the business. This demonstrates to the visa officer that your business will be successful and, if not started yet, is on the verge of being operational.
Our firm can help you get all of the necessary documents in order. We provide a checklist once we get started with the application and provide subsequent lists to stay on track.
Can The E-2 Visa Lead To A Permanent Stay For German Citizens Who Want To Stay In The United States?
While the E-2 visa itself doesn’t provide permanent residence for German citizens, it is an excellent launchpad if that is your goal. We can help you set that up more at the beginning of the process. We can position you for an NIW (National Interest Waiver) green card or immigration through family.
Can Residents From Germany Bring Family On Their E-2 Visas?
Yes, you can bring family members, as long as they are classified as immediate relatives, which means your spouse or children under 21. Even if they don’t share the same nationality as you, they can still come with you.
What Can An Experienced E-2 Visa Attorney Do For Citizens From Germany?
We are familiar with how each embassy operates. Although the laws are the same for everybody, and the regulations surrounding the E-2s are the same worldwide, each embassy works a little differently.
While there may be differences between embassies regarding processing rates or officer experience, we bridge that gap between differences with our expertise and knowledge. It takes an attorney who’s done this before to know how each embassy operates.
If you are applying from any one of these specific countries, like Germany, it would benefit you to have an experienced E-2 visa attorney who has processed cases in that embassy. Little nuances, like application length preference, may differ between embassies. For example, some embassies only accept a certain file type when submitting applications.
When you get into the minute details of sending in the applications to each particular embassy, being aware of these caveats benefits you as an applicant. It brings peace of mind and efficiency to keep things moving along.
We always suggest contacting an immigration attorney with experience at the embassy you will be applying to. This way, you will be working with someone with the information on all the little details that help move our application along without any snags.
For more information on US E-2 Visas For German Nationals, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (305) 306-7833 today.
