Citizenship: Slovakia
Total Expenses: $300,000 (approx.)
Total Cash Reserve: $27,000 (approx.)
Case Study: Hardware Store - Change E-2 Spouse to E-2 Investor
Our client, initially in the U.S. under E-2 spouse dependent status, worked at a local hardware store, using his Employment Authorization Document, while his wife owned and operated an E-2 business. When the store went up for sale and his wife wished to focus on their growing family, our client saw an opportunity. He decided to purchase the hardware store where he had been working, return to their home country, and applied for the E-2 Investor Visa for himself, with his wife and children as dependents.
The Challenge: Several challenges however arose during the process. For one, it was important to prove to the U.S. Embassy that his wife had maintained her E-2 investor status up until they attended the E-2 visa interview in their home country. Additionally, we needed to demonstrate that the hardware store had strong enough revenues and growth potential and would continue to thrive even after the previous owner’s departure.
Our Strategy: After thorough consideration, we guided our client to gather detailed documents of his wife's E-2 business operations to prove her status compliance and presented these evidence in his new E-2 visa application as the investor. Additionally, we included financial records from the previous store owner to demonstrate its stability and growth potential. Moreover, we highlighted our client’s management experience in hardware retail and his role at the store under E-2 spousal status in addition to a comprehensive business plan, outlining how he would expand the business, increase revenue, and create more U.S. jobs.
Results: Our client successfully obtained his new E-2 Investor Visa at the U.S. Embassy in Slovakia, and his wife received an E-2 dependent spouse visa. The family was able to return to their home in the U.S., and his wife was able to leave her role as owner of her former E-2 company as now that her husband was holding the E-2 Investor Visa.
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To protect our clients' privacy, names of individuals and businesses have been omitted. In some cases, we may also alter or generalize certain details to further safeguard their confidentiality.