We see it many times. Immigration attorneys flag an investment as being too low. Even worse, consular officers deny visas because the E-2 investment is not “substantial.”
This scenario is challenging, especially for those businesses that do not require much investment in the first place, such as business consulting firms or any other type of service-based business. What else does a consultant need besides a desk, a computer, and office equipment, right?
Whether you are running a consulting firm or any kind of operation that needs to increase its E-2 investment, we list three items that are fast to obtain and can help to easily raise the funds at risk for a successful visa outcome.
(1) Invest funds into a website and social media: Every business needs an online presence, especially in an uber-competitive market like the U.S. Considering the fact that 80% of people research a company online before visiting it or making a purchase, businesses that are not online, simply put, don’t exist to the general public. A business that has a website generates trust, not only among web users but especially to an immigration or consular officer. The same thing applies to having established social media channels and consistent activity. As Immigration authorities reviewing a visa package expect a solid business to have both a website and social media presence, investing in these two items is an easy way to raise the amount of funds put at risk for your E-2 visa petition. Just make sure you hire a U.S.-based company; otherwise, most likely, you won’t be able to use it as part of your E-2 investment.
(2) Invest funds in corporate stationery: Business cards, letterheads, folders, and even marketing materials, are key for any operation. Thus, putting money into these items not only shows that you are professional but also shows that you are serious about your business while implying commitment, a concept immigration or consular officers are obsessed with. The best of all? These items, preferably purchased from a U.S. vendor, can be included as part of your E-2 investment.
(3) Invest funds in a market study: With 42 percent of failed businesses citing a lack of demand as their primary reason for going under, smart business owners are eager to use market research to understand what consumers need and want rather than assuming they know what demand will be.
Successful entrepreneurs and investors research, perform due diligence, plan, and surround themselves with the best professionals available. For example, investing in a market study will not only give you key information that will be fundamental for establishing and growing your business but will provide crucial insight into a highly competitive market such as the U.S. A market study will identify opportunities, flag threats, and provide a clear picture of the industry that you as an investor will be operating in. Investing in a market study is a great way to show that you are making a genuine effort to identify customers, generate sales, and ensure consistent revenue for your U.S. operation. All of the above are reasons why retaining a reputable U.S. provider to produce a market study is a great way to increase your E-2 visa investment.
The ideas above will contribute to increasing your investment amount while speaking volumes to immigration authorities about your well-roundedness as an investor. If you need assistance with any of the items above, we can certainly help. Contact Visa Business Plans today for more information.
Visa Business Plans is led by Marco Scanu, a certified coach from the University of Miami with a globally-based practice coaching Fortune 1000 company executives, entrepreneurs, as well as professionals in 4 different continents. Mr. Scanu advises clients on turnaround strategies and crisis management.
Mr. Scanu received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Cum Laude) from the University of Florida and an MBA in Management from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. Mr. Scanu was also a Visiting Scholar at Michigan State University under the prestigious H. Humphrey Fellowship (Fulbright program) with a focus on Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital and high-growth enterprises.
At present, Mr. Scanu is the managing partner and CEO at Visa Business Plans, a Miami-based boutique consulting firm providing attorneys and investors with business planning services in the areas of U.S. and Canadian immigration, SBA loans, and others.
