Citizenship: Canada
Total Expenses: $200,000 (approx.)
Total Cash Reserve Capital: $0

Case Study: A common challenge for foreign investors is starting or purchasing a U.S. business in B1/B2 visitor's status or ESTA visa waiver without any work authorization. One such client encountered this issue when she identified the ideal business to buy, but was unable to finalize the purchase due to her lack of work authorization in the United States.

The Challenge: The key challenge in this case, as with many of foreign investors, was managing the acquisition of an existing operating business, when the foreign national lacks active work authorization in the U.S. The investor faced the complex task of finalizing the business asset purchase, obtaining necessary licenses, re-hiring staff to her new entity, and ensuring continuity in business operations. The foreign investor had to accomplish all of this without the ability to legally work in the U.S., until the E-2 visa was approved. This situation is not uncommon and underscores the importance of careful planning and legal compliance.

Our Strategy: To overcome these challenges, we provided the client with clear guidance from the very beginning. We advised the client on the permissible B-1 visitor activities, while preparing for the E-2 investor application to ensure compliance with immigration law. The E-2 visa process involves much more than simply purchasing a business. While buying a business is a critical step, without detailed, step-by-step guidance tailored to E-2 visa requirements, investors risk making costly mistakes that could jeopardize their application.

Results: The strategy was successful. Our client obtained the E-2 Investor Visa approval without any issues about her prior stays in the U.S. as a visitor. She has since entered the U.S. in E-2 investor status and has taken full managerial control of the existing tutoring business following visa approval.

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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.