E2 Visa Lawyer Rome:
U.S. Investor Visas for Italian Nationals

Last Updated: April 2026
Written by: Mark I. Davies, Esq., MBA (Wharton School), Fellow University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Ga. Bar License #: 250186, AILA Member, SRA ID: #384468.
Reviewed by: Sukanya Raman, Esq., Managing Attorney Davies & Associates, India

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Our experienced E2 visa lawyers in Rome offer in-person appointments in our offices in Rome, over Whatsapp, by phone and over Zoom. If you are planning to open a business in the U.S. and apply for an E-2 visa our immigration and business lawyers can help.

The E-2 Visa in Brief

The E2 category is for treaty country nationals who are investing a substantial amount of capital in a real U.S. business. The investor must be coming to the United States to develop and direct that enterprise.

The US consulate in Rome has bespoke standards and requirements. For Italian nationals, a successful E-2 visa application requires careful planning. This includes the investment amount, structuring of the U.S. business, the source and path of funds, and how the case to present the case to the U.S. Embassy in Rome.

If you are an Italian looking to open a business in the U.S. then properly structuring your case and business plan to meet the requirments of the U.S. consulate in Rome's is critical.

For more information on the E-2 visa, see our E2 visa guide for Italian nationals..

Who our E2 Visa Lawyers in Rome Help

In Rome we assist clients from across Southern Italy:

  • establishing a new U.S. business
  • expanding an existing Italian company into the U.S. market
  • acquiring an operating U.S. business
  • clients from our offices in Milan, Naples, Floreance and Parma interviewing at the U.S. consulate in Rome
  • investing in a franchise structure
  • relocating to manage an active commercial enterprise

Applicants searching for an E2 visa lawyer from Rome are often dealing with one of these scenarios and need to understand how the investment fits within U.S. immigration requirements. For more background, our E-2 visa page for Italian nationals explains the treaty-nationality and filing context in more detail.

Our E2 Client Charter for Rome Investors

Our work for Rome-based E2 clients is built around a few clear commitments:

  • you deal with qualified U.S. immigration lawyers, not unregulated caseworkers
  • we integrate immigration advice with the commercial and consular realities of your case
  • we structure the file to match how the U.S. Embassy in Rome actually reviews E2 applications
  • because all US E-2 visas are processed in Rome our office welcomes E-2 visa clients from across Itlay; we work with our firm's offices in Milan, Florence, Palma and Naples to support all our firm's E-2 visa clients
  • we focus on clear, practical explanations rather than theory

Direct Access to Senior E2 Visa Lawyers

Clients in Rome work directly with lawyers who focus on E2 and other investor routes. Where needed, we involve U.S.-based business or corporate counsel so that company formation, shareholder arrangements, and commercial contracts support the immigration strategy rather than cutting across it.

That structure matters because many E2 cases turn on the interaction between immigration rules, business planning, and how the investment has been executed in practice. We aim to keep that interaction clear, so that both the business and the visa case make sense to an informed outsider.

Is the E-2 Visa the Right Route for Rome-Based Investors?

The E-2 visa is generally a strong option for applicants who intend to play an active role in a U.S. business. It is usually better suited to owner-operators than to passive investors, and it tends to work best where the enterprise is already operating or can show genuine readiness to begin operations.

It is also important to remember that the E-2 is a nonimmigrant classification. Although it can be renewed, it does not directly lead to permanent residence. For many applicants in Roma, it forms part of a broader U.S. immigration strategy rather than a standalone long-term solution.

What an E2 Visa Lawyer in Rome Actually Does

An E-2 application is not simply a set of forms. It requires a real business, a documented investment, and a file that ties the legal requirements to the facts of the case in a coherent way.

  • assessing whether the investment is substantial for the type of business
  • reviewing whether the enterprise is active and capable of generating income beyond marginal levels
  • organising the source and path of funds so the financial trail is clear
  • preparing a structured application package that is easy to review
  • ensuring the business plan aligns with the actual operating record
  • preparing the applicant for the consular interview and likely follow-up questions

These issues reflect the legal standards in 9 FAM 402.9 and 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(e), which govern treaty investor cases. If you are still assessing the legal criteria, our E-2 visa requirements page covers the investment, control, and marginality tests in more detail.

E-2 Visa and Business Planning

The E-2 route depends on a real U.S. business, so many Roma-based applicants need to do more than prepare immigration forms.

  • structuring the U.S. company and ownership correctly
  • timing and documenting the investment so the funds are clearly committed
  • reviewing leases, contracts, and operational setup documents
  • aligning the business plan with actual spending, staffing, and projected activity

The objective is to present a case that shows a genuine operating enterprise rather than a theoretical project. Our E-2 business plan guide explains how the business plan should support, rather than contradict, the rest of the file.

Applying for an E-2 Visa from Rome

Although many applicants search for an “E2 visa lawyer Roma,” the visa itself is not processed locally. E-2 applications for Italian nationals are handled by the U.S. Embassy in Rome.

  • the case is generally submitted electronically to the U.S. Embassy in Rome
  • supporting documents are prepared in advance of the interview
  • the applicant attends an in-person interview in Rome

The Embassy outlines its procedures on its E-2 visa application page and E visa overview. For applicants based in Roma, the key issue is not travel logistics but the quality and organisation of the file that reaches the officer.

How the Rome Embassy Process Works

Most Roma-based applicants move through the same sequence, even though the facts of the case may differ:

  • business and investment setup, whether through a startup, acquisition, franchise, or expansion
  • document collection, including corporate, financial, and operating evidence
  • package preparation, with the legal submission, forms, and exhibits arranged clearly
  • interview preparation, including likely questions on your role, funding, and business activity

If timing and budgeting are part of the decision, our E-2 visa costs and fees page and E-2 visa process guide provide additional detail.

Common Issues in E-2 Applications from Rome

Delays and refusals often arise from familiar issues rather than unusual ones. Common examples include incomplete financial records, unclear ownership structures, funds that are not clearly committed and at risk, or a business plan that does not line up with the documents in the file.

Addressing these points early can make the case easier for the consular officer to review and reduce the likelihood of follow-up requests. That is often where an E2 visa lawyer from Roma adds practical value: tightening the record before submission rather than trying to explain gaps later.

The legal framework for an E-2 visa application is not based on one source alone. The core regulation appears at 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(e), which sets out the basic legal requirements for treaty investors. Consular officers then apply that framework in light of the State Department's guidance in 9 FAM 402.9, which explains how posts assess issues such as substantiality, marginality, ownership, and the investor's role in directing and developing the enterprise.

The USCIS Policy Manual is also useful because it helps frame how these concepts are understood more broadly in E-classification cases. Taken together, these sources focus on the same practical questions: whether the applicant has treaty nationality, whether the investment is substantial and truly at risk, whether the U.S. business is a bona fide operating enterprise, and whether the applicant will play a real managerial or executive role in the business.

How our Rome Office Supports Our E-2 Visa CLients

All E-2 visa applicants resident in Italy apply for their E-2 visa in Rome.

Located a 5 minte taxi ride from the US Embassy, our Rome office supports clients with every stage of their E-2 visa application. As our firm frequently files E-2 visa applications at the US consulate in Rome we are extrmeley familiar wiht the relevant proceedures. Critically we monitor changes in the intervew pattern in Rome and the quetsions asked.

Rome Office Address

Davies & Associates – Rome Office
Piazza Gentile Da Fabriano 3
00196 Rome
Italy

Contact

Phone: +39 055 076 3054
Email: [email protected]

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Contact our Experienced E-2 Visa Lawyers in Rome

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E-2 Visa Resources for Rome-Based Investors

If you are considering an E-2 visa from Rome, it is usually sensible to seek advice before committing funds or finalising the U.S. transaction. Early structuring decisions often determine how straightforward the case will be to present at the consular stage.

Speak With an E2 Visa Lawyer in Rome

If you are planning an E-2 application from Rome or elsewhere in Italy, we can review your eligibility, investment structure, business documents, and supporting evidence, and help prepare the case for consular submission.

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E2 Visa Lawyer Rome – FAQs

Do I need a lawyer to apply for an E-2 visa from Rome?

No. You are not required to hire a lawyer to apply for an E-2 visa from Rome. Many applicants seek help from an E2 lawyer experienced wiht presenting E2 cases to the U.S. consulate in Rome. This is because a successful E-2 visa application depends on meeting the consulate's standards for presenting clear evidence of the investment, the source and path of funds, and the operating reality of the U.S. business.

Is there a minimum investment amount for an E-2 visa from Rome?

No fixed minimum amount appears in the regulation. The investment must be substantial in relation to the cost of the business and sufficient to show a real, operating enterprise rather than a speculative plan.

How are E-2 visa applications from Rome processed?

All Italian applicants complete E-2 processing through the U.S. Embassy in Rome. The case is generally prepared and submitted electronically before the interview is scheduled.

Can I apply from Rome based on a new U.S. business?

Yes. Many applicants from Rome use a newly formed U.S. business, provided the entity is properly structured, funded, and supported by real operating evidence showing that the business is ready to begin or has already begun activity.

Can family members apply with an E-2 principal applicant from Rome?

Yes. A spouse and qualifying unmarried children under 21 may apply as derivative family members under the E-2 classification.

Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

About the Authors

Mark I. Davies, Esq.

Chairman of Davies & Associates; focused on E visa strategy and complex consular filings.

Mark I. Davies, Esq., J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School, licensed by the SRA (SRA ID: 384468) in the UK, and a 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.

Area Details
Education: JD, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School | MBA (Finance), The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania | Chartered Accountant (ICAEW)
Financial Training: Completed the Analyst Training Program at a major international bank | Chartered Accountant background with professional training in financial analysis and reporting
Legal Practice: Admitted to practice in Georgia (USA) | Registered Solicitor with the Law Society of England and Wales | Former CMBS lawyer at one of the world's largest international law firms
Immigration Track Record: 15+ years advising HNW investors | Zero denials for clients advised on source-of-funds compliance in EB-5 | Hundreds of successful EB-5 cases globally
Recognition: Named a Top 25 EB-5 Immigration Attorney by EB5 Investors Magazine (2018–2023)
Professional Engagements: Lecturer/trainer for other lawyers at AILA, ACA, University of Pennsylvania Law School | Frequent speaker at global investment immigration conferences


Top 25 EB-5 Immigration Attorneys 2023

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