Whenever I can, I take priority in speaking directly with prospective clients. Not because my team isn’t exceptional, they are, but because certain conversations tell you far more than a questionnaire ever could. This is one of those conversations. I’m sharing it here because it’s a real case, a recent one, and it carries a lesson every E-2 investor should understand before walking into a consular interview.
Last week, a new client reached out to us. Just days earlier, his E-2 visa had been denied in Toronto. We did not prepare his original business plan. He contacted us because he wanted to move forward with a new one. That made sense. What interested me more was not what he wanted next, but what had gone wrong.
So I asked a simple question.
What did the officer ask you?
His answer surprised him. It did not surprise me.
He said the officer asked only one question.
“So, your company makes $20,000 per year.”
The client froze. He did not know how to respond.
The officer asked again, more directly.
“Did your company make $20,000 last year, yes or no?”
The client answered, “The company made whatever the financial statements show.”
That was the end of the interview. The visa was denied.
The client did not understand why. I did.
There are two critical issues here.
First, an E-2 investor must know their business inside and out. Not superficially. Not conceptually. Specifically. Revenue, expenses, staffing, margins. These are not abstract ideas. They are the foundation of the case. When an investor has put $200,000 into a business and cannot confidently answer a basic profitability question, it raises immediate red flags. Not about the business plan, but about credibility.
Second, consular interviews require clear, precise answers. Officers are not looking for long explanations or technical language. They are looking for direct responses that show command of the facts. Yes or no questions should be answered exactly that way, followed by clarification only if needed. Deflecting to documents instead of answering signals uncertainty. Uncertainty is costly at the interview stage.
This denial was not about missing paperwork. It was not about formatting or projections. It was about preparation. Or rather, the lack of it.
A strong business plan matters. We talk about that often. But even the strongest plan cannot compensate for an investor who is not ready to speak confidently about their own numbers. The interview is where the paper case meets the person behind it. Both must align.
I’m sharing this as a teaching moment because it comes up more often than people realize. Preparing for the interview is not optional. It is not secondary. It is part of the case.
Knowing your business is not just good practice. In the E-2 context, it is expected.
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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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