It depends almost entirely on how quickly the business can produce ownership, financial and operational records. A company that already holds a current E registration may have relevant records ready, while a company being assessed for the first time must assemble a complete qualification package.
The employer's record-keeping sets the schedule
Ask one question early: has this business ever had an employee approved in this category before? An affirmative answer usually means the ownership documentation, financial statements and operational evidence already exist in usable form, and the remaining work concerns the individual applicant. A negative answer means the enterprise's whole qualification has to be built, which involves the owners' citizenship documents, the source and commitment of the investment, evidence that the business is real and operating, and a demonstration that it is not marginal. Owners in the middle of a busy season may be slow to prioritize it. Build the start date around that reality, check current processing information from official sources, and avoid resigning an existing role until the position is actually authorized.
The best first deadline is the date when the investment becomes binding, not the intended opening day. Before that point, verify ownership nationality, obtain contracts with clear conditions, and gather evidence of how the business will operate beyond a minimal livelihood. E-2 capital must be committed in a way that exposes it to loss, while the enterprise must be real and not marginal. Hypothetical example: A bicycle-component importer signs a lease that begins before equipment finance is approved. The investor should decide whether the lease commitment and financing record together produce a coherent investment story before announcing an opening.