E-2 Visa Application Process for UK Nationals: Step by Step
Updated for the 2026 London E-2 process: applications are pre-screened by the U.S. Embassy London E-Visa Unit before interview, interviews have become more detailed, and U.S. Department of State guidance now expects applicants to interview in their country of residence or nationality. A new visa integrity fee is also being introduced. UK applicants should plan source-of-funds evidence and interview preparation accordingly.
Authoritative Legal Review by: Mark I. Davies, Esq., MBA (Wharton School), Fellow University of Pennsylvania Law School. SRA ID #384468. Registered Solicitor, Member of the Law Society of England & Wales. Reviewed by: Sukanya Raman, Country Head, Davies & Associates.
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This guide explains the E-2 visa application process for UK nationals step by step, from choosing a qualifying US business through to your interview at the US Embassy in London and your visa renewal. For the eligibility rules, investment level and treaty position, see our E-2 visa guide for UK nationals. If you already know you want representation, our E-2 visa lawyers in London can take it from here.
E-2 visa for UK nationals: key facts
- Who qualifies: UK nationals making a substantial, at-risk investment in a real, active US business they will direct and develop.
- Where you interview: the US Consulate in London (Nine Elms) or the US Consulate in Belfast.
- Timeline: often around 8-12 weeks for a straightforward London case (see our E-2 processing times).
- Government fees: the E visa MRV fee, plus any applicable future or additional government fees, including the new visa integrity fee once implemented; see our E-2 visa costs.
- Pay after approval: investment funds can sit in escrow and are returned if the visa is refused.
- Validity: up to 5 years, renewable indefinitely while you remain eligible.
- Green card: the E-2 is not a direct route, but onward options exist (see below).
📖 New to the E-2? Start with our E-2 visa guide for UK nationals → for requirements, costs and eligibility.
The E-2 visa application process in outline
Most UK E-2 applications follow the same path. The detail below walks through each stage and links to the parts of the process where preparation makes the biggest difference to the outcome.
1. Finding a business
Every E-2 applicant must identify a new or existing US business to invest in. US immigration law is clear that investors in non-commercial enterprises and non-profit entities are not eligible for an E-2 treaty visa.
We help clients screen businesses that qualify for E-2 purposes, and can refer you to business brokers we know who specialise in E-2-suitable opportunities. For more, see finding a qualifying business in the US.
2. Forming a US corporate entity
Whether you are acquiring an existing business or starting a new one, you will need to form a US corporate entity. Through our US office network we can form and properly document a company in most states. See our US corporate services.
3. Documentation, negotiation and liability limitation
If you are acquiring a business, you will need to negotiate and properly document the acquisition. A key decision is whether you acquire the assets of an existing US business or its stock. US corporate lawyers generally favour asset purchases, as these transactions help avoid inheriting unnecessary liabilities.
4. Preparing the business plan
You must submit a detailed business plan that meets the specific requirements of US immigration law. We have a specialist team that focuses on preparing immigration-compliant E-2 business plans.
📖 Want a plan that satisfies the consulate? See our E-2 visa business plan service →
Funding via escrow: get your E-2 visa before you pay
Acquiring a business
If you are acquiring a business, US law allows you to place the purchase funds in an escrow account. If your E-2 petition is refused, your funds are returned to you. If your E-2 visa is approved, the funds are released to the seller.
Setting up a new business
Many clients in the UK are wrongly advised that they must spend their investment capital before applying for an E-2 visa. Our London team has filed many cases where the investment capital was simply made available in an escrow account instead.
A UK investor can place the funds identified in the business plan (those needed to operate the new business) in escrow. If the E-2 visa is refused, the funds can be returned. If it is approved, the funds in escrow are gradually drawn down to meet the operating costs of the business.
Submitting your E-2 visa application
Applicants outside the US
We work with our US corporate team to prepare and file your E-2 petition at the applicable consulate. In London, companies are first registered with the E-Visa Unit before an interview is scheduled, a step that does not apply at every post. Each consulate maintains its own procedures, and our firm files regularly in London and at consulates worldwide, giving each client tailored interview guidance. For current timeframes, see our E-2 visa processing times.
Applicants in the US
If you are already in the US, we will advise on whether to apply for a change of status here or to apply through the relevant consulate. Note that leaving the US means applying for the visa at a consulate, where your application is treated afresh and the post is not bound by a USCIS change-of-status approval.
What the London E-2 interview is like
In recent cases, E-2 interviews at the London consulate have become more detailed, sometimes running up to around 30 minutes, with specific questions about the investment, source of funds, hiring plans and the applicant’s role in the business. Preparation has a direct bearing on the outcome, which is why our E-2 visa lawyers in London brief every client before the interview.
Based in Scotland? See our guide for E-2 applicants in Edinburgh.
Planning a UK E-2 application? Talk to our London team.
Book a free consultation Call our London E-2 teamVisa renewal
UK nationals can be issued with an E-2 visa lasting any period up to a maximum of five years, at the consulate’s discretion. We work with clients to prepare renewal filings at the end of each visa period. For documentation and timing, see renewing your E-2 visa.
After the E-2: routes to permanent residence
Many UK applicants are misinformed that E-2 visa holders cannot obtain US permanent residence (a “Green Card”). In our experience, E-2 clients commonly move to a Green Card through:
- EB-1C for international managers and executives;
- EB-5 for investors;
- EB-1A for individuals of extraordinary ability;
- EB-2 and EB-3 for skilled workers.
Davies & Associates in the United Kingdom
We are recognised as a leading US law firm specialising in E-2 visa applications for UK nationals. Based in the US with a team of US E-2 visa lawyers, we draw on specialist E-2 corporate and tax lawyers to help you form or acquire your US business and prepare your application.
Our team in London can assist with every stage of your UK E-2 visa process, and offers direct “on the ground” expertise in both the United Kingdom and the United States. We are familiar with the specific procedures of the US Embassy in London.
E-2 interview preparation near the US Consulate, Nine Elms
Our E-2 visa attorneys in London meet clients close to the US Consulate in London (Nine Elms), briefing them before the interview and debriefing them afterwards.
List of United States Embassies, Consulates and USCIS in United Kingdom
E-2 treaty investor visa interviews in the United Kingdom are conducted at the US Consulate in London and at the US Consulate in Belfast. The US Consulates in the United Kingdom are located at:
US Consulate in United Kingdom, London
Address33 Nine Elms Ln, SW11 7US, London
Phone
Office: +44-20-7499-9000
US Consulate in United Kingdom, Belfast
Address223 Stranmillis Road, BT9 5GR, Belfast, United Kingdom
E-2 application process: FAQs
How do I apply for an E-2 visa from the UK?
UK nationals apply by choosing a qualifying US business, forming a US company, preparing an immigration-compliant business plan, funding the investment (often via escrow), and filing the E-2 package with the London E-Visa Unit before attending the interview at the US Consulate in London or Belfast. The full step-by-step E-2 visa application process is set out above.
Do UK investors have to spend the investment before applying for an E-2 visa?
No. The investment funds can be placed in an escrow account. If the application is refused the funds are returned to the investor; if it is approved, the funds are released to the seller or used to operate the business.
How long is an E-2 visa for UK nationals valid?
Up to five years, at the consulate’s discretion, and it can be renewed for further periods as long as you continue to meet the requirements.
Can E-2 visa holders obtain a US Green Card?
Yes. Common routes include EB-1C for international managers, EB-5 for investors, EB-1A for individuals of extraordinary ability, and EB-2 or EB-3 for skilled workers.
Where are E-2 visa interviews held in the UK?
At the US Consulate in London and the US Consulate in Belfast.
More E-2 visa resources
Browse our most frequently asked questions on the E-2 Visa general FAQs, or compare the E-2 across treaty countries below.
E2 Visa Solutions by Country of Nationality or Residency
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We are known for our creative solutions that obtain "impossible" visas. We solve the most complex immigration problems for businesses, investors, individuals, and families.
How to Apply for an E-2 Visa from the UK (London Embassy Process) Immigration lawyer near meSeveral lawyers told me I would not be able to get a TN visa. Two weeks after contacting Davies & Associates I was working in New York, visa in hand.
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Parent of 2 EB-5 visa holdersI'm in the process of extending my L-1 visa. I submitted a few questions regarding my case, and he contacted me back almost immediately, both by email and telephone. Unlike other attorneys I met before, he gave me the impression of knowing off the top of his head what kind of visa I have, and what actions had to be taken to extend it. He is very thorough and clear regarding the process and what to expect in terms of timelines and issues that may arise. He is constantly in contact, so you definitely know he's working on your case.
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Individual Seeking 'Impossible' TN VisaI was qualified as a physician in a foreign country. Being on a J1 visa I was facing having to leave the United States and return to my home country. Davies & Associates secured one of only 30 J1 visa waivers available in my State, allowing me to work for a US hospital and remain in the United States.
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- — Rewritten for clarity and UX; fixed grammar and broken links; added step anchors, an on-page FAQ, internal links, structured data (HowTo, FAQ, breadcrumb, LegalService) and tap-to-call. Reviewed against 9 FAM 402.9 (CT:VISA-2190, 17 Feb 2026) and recently reported London E-Visa Unit processing of around 45 days to package review.
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