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Hypothetical example: Gerry and Lise have run a farm-equipment repair and parts business in Essa for twenty years and want to open a similar shop in a U.S. farming county. They are not buying an existing business; they will lease a building, buy tools and inventory, and hire two technicians. Their question is not whether the concept fits E-2 — an operating repair shop with employees plainly can — but in what order to spend money so that the investment is committed enough to qualify without being lost if the visa is refused. This guide sets out a sequence for a start-up E-2 enterprise and the evidence each step produces.
Form the entity, open the account, sign the lease with an exit
The first steps create the enterprise and start the paper trail. Gerry and Lise form a U.S. company owned entirely by the two of them, which satisfies the requirement that the enterprise be at least half owned by Canadian nationals and gives them control. They open a business bank account and transfer their personal funds into it, documenting the source — savings and the sale of a rental property in Canada — from the origin account onward. They sign a commercial lease for the shop, which shows commitment; a clause allowing termination if the visa is refused reduces their exposure without making the lease illusory. Each of these steps produces documents the application will use: articles of organization, the operating agreement, bank statements, the lease.
Buy what the business needs, and make the spending irrevocable
The investment must be irrevocably committed and at risk, which means money actually spent or contractually committed on the business, not sitting in the company account as a cushion. Gerry and Lise therefore purchase the shop equipment — lifts, diagnostic tools, a parts inventory — and pay for signage, insurance and initial marketing, keeping every invoice and proof of payment. Where a large purchase can be tied to visa approval, such as an equipment order with a deposit and a balance due on approval, the deposit counts and the contract shows further commitment. The total should be substantial relative to what it costs to set up a repair shop of this kind, a proportional test rather than a fixed figure, and the business plan should show that proportion.
Hire, project, and apply with a plan that answers marginality
A shop that would only ever support Gerry and Lise would be marginal; a shop that employs technicians and grows is not. Offer letters to two technicians conditional on opening, a staffing plan for the first three years and realistic revenue projections drawn from their Canadian experience answer that requirement. With the entity formed, funds committed, premises leased and equipment bought, they apply for E-2 visas at a U.S. consulate in Canada, with Gerry as principal and Lise as either co-investor or spouse — a choice an adviser should make with them, since an E-2 spouse is employment-authorized incident to status. They should not operate the shop before approval. E-2 renews while the enterprise qualifies; it is not a path to permanent residence.
What else is on your mind?
Is there one minimum investment that guarantees E-2 eligibility?Is holding money or owning an asset enough for E-2?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.