E-2 Visa Issuance Trends by Country (FY 2023 vs FY 2024)

If you’re considering applying for the E-2 Treaty Investor visa, you’re part of a global group of entrepreneurs and business owners exploring opportunities in the United States. Every year, thousands of applicants from treaty countries invest substantial capital into U.S. businesses in order to qualify for this visa. Understanding which countries most E-2 visa holders come from can provide valuable context as you prepare your own application.

This information is useful for several reasons. In countries where E-2 visa issuances are more common, local embassies may have more experience processing these cases. Applicants from those countries sometimes benefit from clearer expectations, more established document handling practices, and greater access to legal professionals familiar with the E-2 process. The data also provides insight into where investor interest in the U.S. is increasing, holding steady, or slowing down.

Changes from one year to the next can reflect broader trends. Increases may be tied to shifts in business climate, local demand for U.S. expansion, or even embassy processing capacity. Declines, on the other hand, might point to delays, reduced interest, or economic uncertainty. While these numbers don’t directly affect your eligibility, they do offer a clearer picture of how your country compares in terms of investor activity.

In the section below, we compare official data from the U.S. Department of State for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024. This side-by-side breakdown highlights which countries remain consistent leaders in E-2 activity and where noticeable changes occurred.

Year-over-Year E-2 Visa Issuances by Country

The following table shows the number of E-2 Treaty Investor visas issued to nationals of the top 15 countries in Fiscal Year 2024, alongside their totals from Fiscal Year 2023. The percentage change reflects how visa issuances increased or decreased from one year to the next.

Source: U.S. Department of State – FY 2023 and FY 2024 Nonimmigrant Visa Data

Observing Year-to-Year Changes

Japan issued more than 15,000 E-2 visas in both FY 2023 and FY 2024, remaining the highest among all treaty countries. South Korea and Canada followed, each issuing over 6,000 visas in FY 2024.

France, Turkey, Israel, and Colombia had higher issuance totals in FY 2024 compared to the year prior. Colombia recorded the largest year-over-year percentage increase among the top 15 countries.

Mexico, Italy, Argentina, and the United Kingdom showed lower totals in FY 2024 compared to FY 2023.

This data highlights some of the countries with the most active use of the E-2 visa category during this period.

Final Thoughts

Visa issuance trends are just one part of the broader picture when preparing an E-2 application, but they offer useful insight into how this category is used globally. Whether your country appears among the highest totals or not, eligibility depends on meeting the core requirements and submitting a complete, well-supported case.

Each E-2 application is assessed individually. A clear business plan, proper documentation, and a qualifying investment are essential. Reviewing country-level patterns can help set expectations, but the outcome will ultimately depend on the strength of your own submission.

Sources:

U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs: https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftravel.state.gov%2Fcontent%2Fdam%2Fvisas%2FStatistics%2FNon-Immigrant-Statistics%2FNIVDetailTables%2FFYs97-24_NIVDetailTable.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/e-2-treaty-investors