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How to write an E-2 Visa Business plan?
Why have a Business Plan when applying for an E-2 Investor Visa?
Business Plans are the blueprint for your business and the key to ensuring the success of your new business venture in the US.
So why write it?
To comply with the expectations of those reviewing your E-2 Investment Visa, showing the immigration authorities (USCIS or US Consulates) business growth, plan for the creation of jobs in the US, the substantiality of your investment, the proof of the investment's scope and substance, etc. - an absolute necessity.
To test the feasibility of your idea – it can save you a great deal of time and money.
To guide you through the stages of starting and managing your business. This includes examining the industry, the forces which affect it, and the laws and regulations which govern and influence your business. Those, in certain cases, might be drastically different from your home country.
As a forecast/roadmap to how to run and grow your E-2 business in the future, giving yourself the best chance for your E-2 business being successful and hence, your E-2 visa is renewed.
All in all, to give your new E-2 business the best possible chance of success so you can prosper, grow, and stay in America.
If this is the only piece of advice that you will take away from this article - from somebody who works with E-2 investors on a daily basis – starting without a business plan especially in a new country such as America, is certainly not the best way to go – immigration-wise and business-wise.
What's typically included in an E-2 business plan?
Executive Summary
Summary of the key info about your business.
- Company – what your company is and why it will be successful?
- Products/Services
- Business Strategy
- Company Analysis
- Start-up summary costs
- Financial Information
Industry and Market Analysis
- Industry Outlook and Target Market
- Key metrics such as market trends, revenue, growth
- Market Segmentation
Competitive Analysis
- An examination of key players in the market
- Key Differentiation Matrix
- Competitive Advantage in the Marketplace.
Marketing
- Target Audience
- Strategy and Implementation - devise the Best Marketing Strategy for your business – how you'll attract and retain customers.
- Advertising and Promotions
Organizational/Operational Plan
- Company's Structure
- Company's Management
- Operational Structure, including the hiring plan and the operational growth plan
Financial Projections
One of the most important and fundamental parts of the E-2 Visa package and your business:
- An Excel spreadsheet that includes detailed pro forma statements and financial projections for revenue, costs, valuation, and initial fund uses.
- These include detailed forecasted income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements projections for the next five years.
- Prepared in accordance with the accounting standards and other US regulations.
Appendix
Use your appendix to provide supporting documents or other materials that were specially requested.
How is an E-2 business plan different from a traditional business plan?
So far, we have discussed what information should be included in a traditional business plan. However, there are fundamental differences between traditional business plans and E-2 business plans.
The two business plans differ in purpose. The E-2 visa Business plan has to entail not only the key components of a traditional plan but needs to go beyond. The purpose of the E-2 visa business plan is to convince its audience, i.e., the US immigration authorities - either USCIS or consulates – that the applicant is capable of directing the business, and the business can grow to the extent that supports the creation of the required number of jobs to qualify for the E-2 visa, thus contributing to the US economy.
The E-2 Business plan needs to be written with the following information in mind:
Providing proof that your business is bona fide (financial statements, bank statements, etc.),
Providing proof that your business is not marginal. The investment must be substantial and irrevocably committed. Your money has to be 'at risk' (itemized list of goods and materials purchased for the start-up, lease agreement, etc.),
Detailed tracking of the money that you used to fund your investment (wire transfers or money orders, foreign bank statements, foreign tax returns, etc.),
Providing proof of the capability of the E-2 investor to develop and direct the business (list of owners and percentage of ownership, meeting minutes, Resume etc.)
To comply with the E-2 visa requirements, the E-2 business plan, along with the full visa investment package, must also provide extensive personal information, the applicant must disclose to comply with the UCSIS requirements. The business plan must be written in a way that helps to prove further that the E-2 investor is entering the US for the sole purpose of developing and directing the business in which the applicant invested.
Language of the E-2 Business Plan
The E-2 Business plan must not only be organized in compliance with the immigration requirements but must also be written to reflect the language of the E-2 immigration rules, including the appropriate 'buzzwords' - to convey the right information to the immigration authorities in very little time. It also should be written in plain English - free from grammatical and other errors.
Common pitfalls we have encountered when working with Clients:
Business plans which are not Immigration focused
Business plans which do not include financials or market research
Vague business plans which do not clearly describe the business
Business plans which do not take into account the US-specific context – laws, regulations, industry
A typical investment package with all the required documents will have about 200 pages, with every single element of the package fitting in and supporting the E-2 investor's application in line with the E-2 Investment visa requirements.
To sum up, having a well-written business plan that embeds all of the traditional business plan info, but at the same time complies with the E-2 Visa requirements is an absolute necessity.
If you need help writing your E-2 business plan or preparing the E-2 investment package, please contact us to book your free consultation at +1 (720) 384 - 4250 - email randy@vizamerica.com
The winners of the Great Companies Women Entrepreneurs Award - 2023 Award have been announced and Kate Alonzi, our CEO is one of them.
Increase in MRV FEE effective June 17, 2023
The E2 Investor Visa is intended at least in part to provide a way for individuals from Treaty Countries to facilitate economic growth in the US. That is an important phrase and something to always keep in mind when looking at the requirements. The bulk of the requirements is intended to prove that the E2 Investor Visa applicant will run a business to do just that. While the list of requirements for an E2 Visa is very specific and all must be met, showing the US Government that an applicant has met all requirements is subject to a great amount of judgment. The US Immigration Officials seek to be fair, flexible, and uniform when adjudicating an E2 Investor Visa application. Make no mistake. The burden of proof is with the applicant, and the judgment of the US Immigration Official reviewing the application rises above all else. If the Immigration Official is in any way uncertain as to the applicant’s qualifications, then they can request whatever document they want until the uncertainty is resolved. The key to a successful E2 Investor Visa application is to understand or employ someone who does all of the requirements and how to prove the applicant meets them.
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The winners of the Great Companies Women Entrepreneurs Award - 2023 Award have been announced and Kate Alonzi, our CEO is one of them.
Increase in MRV FEE effective June 17, 2023
The E2 Investor Visa is intended at least in part to provide a way for individuals from Treaty Countries to facilitate economic growth in the US. That is an important phrase and something to always keep in mind when looking at the requirements. The bulk of the requirements is intended to prove that the E2 Investor Visa applicant will run a business to do just that. While the list of requirements for an E2 Visa is very specific and all must be met, showing the US Government that an applicant has met all requirements is subject to a great amount of judgment. The US Immigration Officials seek to be fair, flexible, and uniform when adjudicating an E2 Investor Visa application. Make no mistake. The burden of proof is with the applicant, and the judgment of the US Immigration Official reviewing the application rises above all else. If the Immigration Official is in any way uncertain as to the applicant’s qualifications, then they can request whatever document they want until the uncertainty is resolved. The key to a successful E2 Investor Visa application is to understand or employ someone who does all of the requirements and how to prove the applicant meets them.
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The winners of the Great Companies Women Entrepreneurs Award - 2023 Award have been announced and Kate Alonzi, our CEO is one of them.
Increase in MRV FEE effective June 17, 2023
Vizamerica LLC is not a law firm and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Vizamerica is not affiliated with or endorsed by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or any other government agency. Use of the Vizamerica website and its services are subject to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Attorney services are provided by independent attorneys and are subject to a separate Attorney Agreement.