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FrancaisMark I. Davies, Esq., J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School, licensed with the SRA (SRA ID: 384468) in the UK, member of The Law Society of England & Wales, MBA, Wharton School of Business. Top 10 Investment Visa Lawyer. Licensed in the USA. Georgia State Bar member. AILA member.
E-2 Visa Lawyers in New York City
E-2 Visa Business PlanE2 Visa CostE2 Visa requirementsE-2 Visa LawyerE-2 Visa ProcessE-2 Visa RenewalE-2 Visa FAQs
What is an E-2 Visa?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
⚖️ Expert Tip: For comprehensive advice on selecting the right legal partner for your E-2 application, consult our specialist resource:
An E2 visa enables the national of a qualifying E-2 treaty country to “direct and control” the operations on a business from inside the United States.
Qualifying E-2 treaty country
Read the most comprehensive 2026 E-2 Treaty Investor Visa Guide.
Why is a Law Firm with a Presence in New York Important for E2 Work?
Davies & Associates is a full-service global law firm focused on immigration and corporate law. Click here to schedule a consultation with an immigration attorney.
USCIS or the applicable US consulate will expect you to have a properly formed and licensed business in New York. This is a matter of local New York State and city law.
Our New York E2 visa team have New York corporate lawyers who can assist you to ensure that your business is properly formed and licensed. Our corporate lawyers will work seamlessly with our E2 immigration lawyers to ensure that the applicable documentation is presented to the US immigration authorities.
Two Ways to Obtain E2 Status to Direct and Control a Business in New York
- Change of Status from within the US
Clients looking for a business in New York usually want to see the business before they purchase it. It is possible to travel to the United States on a B1 business visa for this purpose.
Clients present in the US on a B1 business or other non-immigrant visa may then be able to “change status” to E2 status from within the US.
As it is not possible to obtain ANY visa from within the United States persons who changed status to E2 status from another visa and subsequently depart the United States will have to obtain an E2 visa from a US consulate abroad in order to return to the United States.
- Obtaining an E2 Visa outside the US
Those looking to operate a business in New York can obtain an E2 visa by filing an E2 application at the consulate in their home country. D&A’s E2 team in your local country will work with our New York E2 team to assist you with this process.
New York Service, Global Presence
Davies & Associates have a specialist E-2 visa team based in Downtown and Midtown Manhattan focused on meeting the E-2 visa needs of our business clients. Our E-2 visa team includes immigration lawyers, tax lawyers, corporate lawyers and a specialized immigration business plan team.
Our New York E2 visa team supports the lawyers in our offices around-the-world to assist clients set-up or acquire an E2 qualifying business in New York. If you are looking for an E2 business in New York then our New York E-2 team can assist you.
When needed our New York E2 visa team also are able to call on our lawyers both in other US cities and around-the-world for the latest advice on local consular procedures and other issues.
What is the Great E-2 Visa Property Fraud?
The E-2 Visa property fraud is simply the statement that investments in property in New York do not qualify for E-2 visas. Whether or not an investment in a property business in the New York area qualifies for an E-2 visa depends upon the business:
- Purely passive investments.
Purely passive investments such as purchasing an apartment do not qualify for E2 visas.
- Operating Businesses
Operating businesses that sustain employment are likely to qualify for an E2
visa. Examples may include:
- Directing and controlling a large apartment building in New York that has multiple employees.
- Purchasing a portfolio of properties where a full-time employee renovates and maintains those properties which are then placed in the rental market or sold. The more employees such businesses have (such a leasing staff, rental invoicing and collections staff, administrative staff and others) may increase the chance of E-2 visa success.
Choosing an E-2 Immigration Lawyer
Many clients select an E-2 visa lawyer only to have their cases denied. Choosing the right lawyer is critical to your success with your E-2 visa application. Click here to read about some key questions when choosing an E-2 visa immigration lawyer in New York.
How Many E-2 Visas does Davies & Associates Handle in New York?
Every day our New York team of E-2 visa lawyers receives inquiries from multiple E-2 visa applicants around-the-world. We file E-2 visa applications very frequently and receive multiple new E-2 visa inquiries every week of the year. We are one of the most active E-2 visa practices in both New York and the United States.
If Davies & Associates Have Never had an E-2 visa Case they have Filed Denied then How Can they Assist with a Denied Case?
While our firm has never had a case we have prepared denied1 we are frequently called on to assist clients who have filed their E-2 visa using another law firm and have been denied. With the exception of one case filed by another law firm in Singapore in August 2013 that our firm was unable to successfully appeal we have been successful in getting E-2 visa applications that were initially denied when filed using another law firm approved.
Why are so many E-2 visas Denied?
In our opinion E-2 visa applications demand a very highly specialized and experienced team of lawyers and business professionals. If you ask a lawyer how many E2 visa petitions they typically file each week of the year you will find that many firms simply to not have deep experience in this area. Also asking a lawyer whether they EXCLUSIVELY handle E-2 or investor visa matters can be a highly illuminating experience.
Who Does Davies & Associates’ New York E-2 Practice Represent?
Our E-2 visa team is trusted by businesses of every size ranging from “Fortune 100” global corporations to individual entrepreneurs launching their first business in the United States.
Leading E2 Investor Visa Lawyers in New York
The business plan is your chance to explain your business and how it meets the requirements of the law. It is critical that the law firm representing you thoroughly understand your business and are integral in the preparation of the business plan.
We often travel to our clients’ business sites simply to enhance our understanding of their operations. Davies & Associates has a dedicated E-2 visa business plan team experienced with preparing thousands of E-2 visa business plans.
Read more about E2 Visa Business Plans here
Why is our Global Reach Important to Clients of our New York office?
While it is possible to file for “change of status” from within the United States E-2 visa applications are always filed in local consulates.
Unfortunately the requirements for E-2 visa applications vary at every US consulate. Fortunately, our team has a comprehensive global network. Through our global network we maintain up-to-date information on the latest procedures and regulations at US consulates around-the-world.
Why does Davies & Associates have an Industry Leading E-2 Visa Success Rate?
What our Clients Say
“Another law firm told me that
it was not
possible for me to
obtain an E-2 visa. Davies &
Associates
obtained a five year
E-2 visa for me”
German E-2 visa client with
New York-based
fashion
business.
Typically immigration lawyers are trained in small firms and often have no business experience. Often immigration lawyers “grow-up” filing family-based immigration petitions.
Davies & Associates lawyers graduated from the very top US law schools and most were initially trained as business lawyers in the 10 largest law firms in the world. Many of our lawyers also hold MBA degrees from the world’s top business schools, including the Wharton School of Business.
No other immigration firm we are aware of offers this level of experience and training.
We believe the outstanding quality of our lawyers is directly responsible for our industry-leading E-2 visa approval rate.
Where do Davies & Associates E-2 Visa Clients come from?
Our clients come from every continent, except Antarctica. We frequently file cases for clients from across Europe, Australia, the Middle East (including Egypt), South America and Asia.
What is the State Department Reciprocity Problem?
Consular officers are guided by nationality-based US State Department guidelines as to the maximum validity of each E-2 visa they issue. The range of the maximum validity is from three (3) to sixty (60) months.
Davies & Associates are relied-on by other US immigration law firms for our guidance as to how to deal with E-2 visa issuance for nationalities where the guidelines lead consular officers to issue an E-2 visa with a very limited period of validity.
Why Do Davies & Associates have Lawyers admitted in Multiple international Jurisdictions on their E-2 Visa team?
For many nationalities the ability to obtain a US visa depends on issues of foreign law. For example, E-2 visa applicants are required to prove that their funds were lawfully earned in a foreign country. Our firm includes non-US lawyers who assist clients with making lawful transfers of funds and obtaining written opinions on issues of foreign law that are necessary for an E-2 visa application.
Every week of the year Davies & Associates lawyers provide clients with advice as to how to lawfully transmit funds from non-US jurisdictions to finance their US businesses.
Why do Davies & Associates open Escrow Accounts for E-2 Visa Clients?
The law requires that your funds be “irrevocably” invested in the US business. Unfortunately as funds in a business checking account can easily be withdrawn they do not qualify as being “irrevocably invested” in the US business. For a new or smaller business it can be challenging to irrevocably invest the sums required.
Our firm commonly solves this problem by opening an escrow account for clients under the terms of which the funds can only be:
(1) withdrawn for legitimate business purposes; or
(2) refunded to the client in the event that their E-2 visa application is denied. By holder the E-2 visa funds in this was they are deemed to be “irrevocably” invested in the business and can be used for any legitimate business expense.
* At the current time our firm does not have a location in Singapore but our E-2 visa lawyers frequently travel to Singapore and are experienced in filing E-2 visa applications in the US consulate in Singapore.Leading E2 Visa Lawyers in Midtown and Downtown Manhattan
D&A maintains two locations in New York City.
Our firm’s registered address and administrative location is based in the Upper East Side.
We also maintain a downtown business location at:
About the Authors
Mark I. Davies, Esq.
Chairman of Davies & Associates; focused on E visa strategy and complex consular filings.
Latest case studies
- June 2024 - E2 treaty investor visa application approved for a UK citizen
- July 2024 - E-2 Treaty investor visa application approved for a UK citizen
- July 2024 - E2 Treaty Investor Visa Application approved for a UK citizen
- Change of status application from F-1 to E-2 treaty investor
- E-2 Essential Employee: Singapore
- E-2 treaty investor Visa application approved for a UK national
- E-2 Treaty investor visa approved for a Bangladesh citizen
- E-2 Treaty investor visa for a UK national valid for 5 years
- E-2 Visa application approved for an Australian citizen
- 5-Year E-2 treaty investor visa issued to a Filipino citizen
- E-2 Visa in the “essential employee category” approved for a Singaporean national.
- U.S. visas for critical employees of a Singapore-based wealth management company
- Change of Status E2 Treaty Investor: Pakistan
- E-2 Status for Indian-born purchaser of Retail Business with Australian Passport
- E-2 Treaty Investor Visa Application approved for a UK citizen
- E-2 Treaty investor Visa application approved for a Filipino investor.
- E-2 Visa for Design and Decorating Enterprise
- E-2 Visa for a Founder/CEO of a Real Estate Investment Firm
- E-2 Visas for UK nationals valid for 5 years
- E-2 for Footwear / Fashion
- E-2 for Real Estate Development
- E-2 for Real Estate Start-Up Firm
- E-2 for a Recreational Water Sports Company
- E-2 treaty investor visa for a UK national valid for 5 years
- E2 Treaty Investor - Rug & Carpet Retail and Wholesale
- E2 Treaty Investor Visa for Aviation Industry
- E2 visa for Commercial Lighting Fixtures
- Grenada CBI Coupled with a USA E-2 Visa
- भारत में जन्मे ऑस्ट्रेलियाई के लिए कैलिफोर्निया में स्टोर खोलने के लिए E-2 वीजा
- E 2 Visa 2026: Three Visas With USD 50,000 Cash
- August 14th, 2024. E-2 treaty investor visa approved for a UK national
- August 15th, 2024. E-2 visa application approved for a UK national
- August 2024. E-2 Visa Approved for Yet Another Employee of a Wealth Management Company
- August 2024. Renewal application for E-2 Visa approved for a Canadian Citizen
- August 2024. U.S. Consulate issues immigrant visas to Indian EB-5 investor and family
- E 2 Visum Fallstudie 2026: 3 Visa genehmigt
- E-2 Visa for Coffee Shop for Couple from La Rochelle - USD 85,000 Escrowed Investment
- E-2 Visa for French Wine Producer from Lyon - USD 60,000 wine stock used as investment
- E-2 Visa for Leading Fashion Designer
- E-2 Visa validity based on reciprocity schedule
- E-2 Visas issued by the us embassy in London to the principal applicant and to his spouse and child
- E-2 treaty investor visa for an Italian citizen issued by the U.S. Embassy in Singapore
- E-2 visa for a UK citizen and E-2 derivative visas for his wife and son
- Five (5) E-2 visas issued by the U.S. Embassy in Manila
- Le visa E2 pour un café emmène un couple de La Rochelle à Miami
- UK national: E-2 Treaty Investor Visa application approved
- Visa E2 pour un producteur de vin français
Why make Davies & Associates Your E2 Visa Lawyers
Awards
Contact Davies & Associates Offices in United States
Check all of our locations around the world.
Company location
New York Office World Trade Center
1 World Trade Center, Suite 8500, New York, NY 10007
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New York Office E69th Street
200 E 69th Street, 2N, New York, NY 10022
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California Office
555 Anton Blvd, Suite 150, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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Philadelphia Office
1500 John F Kennedy Blvd, Suite 450, PMB 41, Philadelphia, PA 19102
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Los Angeles Office
601 South Figueroa Street, Suite 4050, Los Angeles, CA 90017
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Chicago Office
155 N. Upper Wacker Dr., Suite 4250, Chicago, IL 60606
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Miami Office
80 S.W. 8th St., Suite 2000, Miami, FL 33130
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Atlanta Office
1075 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 3650, Atlanta, GA 30309
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Telephone number
New York Office World Trade Center
+1 212 537 9196
Fax: +1 949 396 1371
New York Office E69th Street
+1 212 537 9196
Fax: +1 949 396 1371
California Office
+1 949 620 1811
Fax: +1 949 396 1371
Philadelphia Office
+1 215 525 1881
Fax: +1 949 396 1371
Chicago Office
+1 312 261 8560
Fax: +1 949 396 1371
Miami Office
+1 305 423 7163
Fax: +1 949 396 1371
Contact us by email
E-2 Visa EB-1C Pathway Myth Busted!
The L-1 visa has no advantage over the E-2 visa in terms of pathway to a Green Card. If an E-2 visa holder meets the EB-1C criteria then the “pathway” is identical to the holder of an L-1 visa.
E-2 Visa for UK Citizens
E-2 Visa for Italians
E-2 Visa for Australians
E-2 Visa for Canadians
E-2 Visa for Germans
E-2 Visa for French
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New York Office World Trade Center:
1 World Trade Center, Suite 8500, New York, NY 10007
+1 212 537 9196
Map and Driving Directions
New York Office E69th Street:
200 E 69th Street, 2N, New York, NY 10022
+1 212 537 9196
Map and Driving Directions
California Office:
555 Anton Blvd, Suite 150, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
+1 949 620 1811
Map and Driving Directions
Philadelphia Office:
1500 John F Kennedy Blvd, Suite 450, PMB 41, Philadelphia, PA 19102
+1 215 525 1881
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London Office:
69 Old Broad Street, Dashwood House, London EC2M 1QS, United Kingdom
+44 20 3884 18126
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Edinburgh Office:
28 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 2BW
+44 131 392 0686
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Milton Keynes Office:
The Pinnacle, 170 Midsummer Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 1FE, United Kingdom
+44 7740 000769
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Glasgow Office:
+44 131 392 0686
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Vietnam Office:
46th Floor, Bitexco Financial Tower, 2 Hai Trieu, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
+84 28 6287 5912
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India Office:
Enam Sambhav C-20, G Block, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Mumbai 400051, Maharashtra
+91 720 856 4057
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Italy Office:
Via Bonifacio Lupi 29, 50129 Firenze FI, Italy
+39 055 076 3054
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Manila Office:
Unit 107, AIC Burgundy Empire Tower, ADB Ave. cor Garnet and Sapphire Streets, Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1605, Metro Manila, Philippines
+63 2 7215 7878
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Sydney Office:
Level 12, 210 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
+61 2 9156 1032
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Perth Office:
Davies & Associates LLC, Level 1, 12 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000, Australia
+61 2 9156 1032
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Singapore Office:
160 Robinson Road, #14-04, Singapore Business Federation Centre, Singapore 068914
65 8012 9546
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