How your nationality and choice of U.S. consulate affect E-2 visa timelines
The E-2 Treaty Investor is a non-immigrant visa classification for citizens of treaty countries who make a substantial investment in a real business in the United States and come to the U.S. to run that business. Treaty countries are those that have a qualifying treaty of commerce and navigation or similar agreement with the United States, or that have been designated as eligible by U.S. law.
Because eligibility is tied to nationality and visa interviews are handled by individual U.S. embassies and consulates, the timeline depends on where the application is filed. Each embassy or consulate manages its own appointment system and non-immigrant visa workload. Interview wait times are set separately for each post, differ by visa category, and change over time based on local demand and staffing levels.
As a result, two E-2 investors with similar businesses and investments can face very different processing timelines if they apply in different countries. Before setting travel dates or business launch plans, applicants should review current interview wait times for their chosen post and check that the embassy or consulate’s website for any E-2 specific filing instructions.
Because the E-2 is a non-immigrant visa, interview availability and processing timeframes follow the same system used for other non-immigrant visa categories. The U.S. government publishes information about non-immigrant visa interview wait times and processing timeframes by embassy and consulate on its official website and on individual embassy and consulate websites worldwide.
Published wait times reflect estimated interview availability only. They do not include additional time that may be required for administrative processing or the return of the applicant’s passport after visa issuance. These steps can add time to the overall process and vary by case and by location.
Applicants are also expected to review the website of the specific U.S. embassy or consulate where they will apply. Local visa section pages explain post-specific procedures, including how to schedule interviews, submit documents, and request expedited appointments where available. These local instructions apply to all non-immigrant visa applicants, including E-2 investors.
Source:
- USCIS. https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/e-2-treaty-investors
- U.S. Department of State. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/treaty-trader-investor-visa-e.html
- U.S. Department of State. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html