If you’re preparing to apply for an E-2 or other investor visa, writing your own business plan might seem like a smart way to save money. After all, you know your business better than anyone else, right?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: an immigration business plan is nothing like a traditional business plan. What works in the boardroom or with investors won’t cut it with a U.S. immigration adjudication officer.
At Visa Business Plans, we’ve spent years helping clients navigate this exact situation. We’ve seen great businesses with strong numbers fall short because of a poorly written plan. So before you decide to do it yourself, here are five brutally honest reasons why you shouldn’t.
1. What You Learned in Business School Doesn’t Apply Here
Forget about your MBA training. An immigration business plan isn’t meant to impress investors or business partners. It’s meant to convince an adjudication officer whose job is to evaluate your case based on immigration law.
And here’s the catch: that law wasn’t written by businesspeople. It was written by politicians. That means your plan has to check legal boxes and align with specific regulations that have nothing to do with standard business strategy.
Trying to figure this out on your own often turns into a time-consuming, frustrating, and expensive mistake. If your goal is to maximize your chances of approval, investing in a professional immigration business plan isn’t a luxury, it’s a smart strategy.
2. The Focus Is Different
When you pitch to investors, they want to see financials, projections, and profitability. Numbers, numbers, and more numbers.
Adjudication officers, on the other hand, want something very different. They want to clearly understand what your business does, how it operates, when and why things happen. They want to be able to visualize your company in action. More importantly, they want to make sure your business meets the requirements of the visa category you’re applying for.
The business plan is your opportunity to build that picture in their mind and help them feel confident that granting your visa is the right decision. If you approach the plan like a standard business proposal, you’ll miss the mark.
3. The Language Matters. A Lot.
This isn’t just a business document. It’s a legal document that becomes part of your immigration case.
There’s language that must be included to align with E-2 regulations. There’s language that must be avoided because it can raise red flags. And there’s language that can strategically strengthen your case.
Most applicants don’t know these nuances. A single poorly chosen word or vague statement can create unnecessary complications. That’s why experience with these cases matters.
4. Length Is Not One-Size-Fits-All
You might think length is a simple thing to figure out. It’s not.
Every U.S. post has its own unwritten expectations. Some consulates prefer short and to-the-point documents. Others want something far more comprehensive. And these preferences aren’t officially published anywhere.
The only way to know what works where is through experience. Our team tracks these patterns so our clients submit a plan that meets what adjudication officers expect to see at their specific post.
5. Immigration Trends Are Always Changing
This one trips up a lot of people. Immigration trends are influenced by who is in the White House and how they view foreign investment.
For example, trends during the Joe Biden administration are not the same as the trends we’re seeing under Donald Trump. There’s no official memo that outlines these expectations, but they shape how cases are reviewed.
At Visa Business Plans, we keep track of these shifts. We adapt the tone, structure, and focus of our projects to match what adjudication officers are actually looking for at any given moment. That kind of insight doesn’t come from Google. It comes from handling thousands of real cases.
The Bottom Line
Writing your own immigration business plan might sound like a good way to save money, but in reality, it can cost you time, energy, and even your visa approval.
This isn’t just about writing a plan. It’s about communicating the right information in the right way to the right audience. And that’s something best handled by professionals who live and breathe this process every day.
If you’re serious about your visa application, give yourself the best possible chance to succeed. Let experts craft a plan that aligns with what U.S. immigration officials expect to see.
Contact us today to get started
The information provided in this blog is intended solely for informational purposes. While we strive to offer accurate and up-to-date content, it should not be considered legal advice. Immigration laws and regulations are subject to change, and individual circumstances can vary widely. For personalized guidance and legal advice regarding your specific immigration situation, we strongly recommend consulting with a qualified immigration attorney who can provide you with tailored assistance and ensure compliance with current laws and regulations.
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 four 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.
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