Top E2 Visa Interview Questions Revealed!
Summary
TLDRIn this video, US immigration lawyer Michael Ler outlines the E2 visa interview process, focusing on common questions applicants can expect. He covers inquiries about the applicant's company, ownership structure, qualifications, role in the business, investment details, and operational status. Ler emphasizes the importance of being well-prepared with specific answers to demonstrate the legitimacy of the business and the applicant's investment, as well as the lawful source of funds. This guidance helps applicants understand what to anticipate and how to present their case effectively during the E2 visa interview.
Takeaways
- 📅 The E2 visa interview takes place at a consulate or embassy towards the end of the application process.
- 🏢 Applicants may be asked about their business name and ownership structure to verify that at least 50% of the business is owned by citizens of an E2 treaty country.
- 📊 Applicants will need to explain what their company does in the United States and why they are qualified to operate such a business.
- 👨💼 The immigration officer will ask about the applicant's role in the company, ensuring they are directing and developing the business rather than doing day-to-day tasks.
- 💵 One key question focuses on how much money has been invested in the business and whether the investment is substantial.
- 🛠️ Applicants must provide details on how the money has been spent, including receipts and proof of expenditures to demonstrate that funds are being used appropriately.
- 🔍 The source of the investment funds must be lawful, and applicants should be prepared to explain where the money came from.
- ⚙️ The officer may ask whether the business is already operational or when it will be operational, expecting it to be close to or fully functional.
- 👥 Questions regarding the number of employees help the officer assess whether the business is marginal or legitimate.
- 🕐 Applicants should be ready to answer when they plan to enter the U.S. and how long they intend to stay, with guidance from their immigration attorney.
Q & A
What is the purpose of the E2 visa interview?
-The purpose of the E2 visa interview is for an immigration officer to ask questions related to the applicant’s business and verify eligibility for the E2 visa. This includes questions about the business, investment, and the applicant's qualifications.
What types of general questions can you expect in an E2 visa interview?
-General questions may include the purpose of your visit, the name of your company, the ownership structure, the nature of your business, and your qualifications to operate the business.
Why does the immigration officer ask about the ownership structure of your company?
-The immigration officer asks about ownership structure to ensure that at least 50% of the company is owned by citizens of an E2 treaty country, which is a requirement for the E2 visa.
What should you be prepared to explain about your role in the business during the interview?
-You should be prepared to explain that your role is to direct and develop the business, not perform day-to-day operational tasks like serving customers or performing menial jobs.
Why does the immigration officer ask about the amount of money you have invested in the business?
-The officer asks about the investment to ensure it is substantial and at risk, as the E2 visa is an investment-based visa. The officer wants to confirm that the money is actively being used to support the business, not just sitting in a bank account.
What kind of knowledge should you have about your business expenditures for the interview?
-You should be familiar with where the investment funds have been spent, such as specific expenditures for the business, and be prepared to provide receipts or documentation to prove it.
Why is it important to know the source of your investment funds?
-The source of investment funds must come from a lawful source, so the immigration officer will ask about it to verify the legality of the funds. You need to be well-versed in where the funds came from, whether from gifts, property sales, or other sources.
What does the officer want to know when they ask if your business is operational?
-The officer is checking if the business is already operating or if it is close to being operational. The business should either be running or ready to operate soon, with only the visa being a final requirement.
How important is it for your business to have employees when applying for an E2 visa?
-While not required, having employees helps demonstrate that the business is not marginal, meaning it generates enough to support more than just the investor's family. Employees also show that the business is real and operational.
What kind of preparation should you do before attending the E2 visa interview?
-You should thoroughly review your E2 application, know all relevant details such as investment amounts, sources of funds, and your role in the business, and be ready to provide documentation. Being well-prepared is crucial to avoiding issues during the interview.
Outlines
💼 Introduction to the E2 Visa Interview Process
In this introduction, immigration lawyer Michael Ler explains that the video will cover what to expect during an E2 visa interview, specifically when applying at a U.S. consulate or embassy. He highlights the types of questions that are typically asked during the interview and assures viewers that the information provided is based on common experiences of his clients.
❓ Initial Questions and Company Ownership
The paragraph delves into potential questions at the start of the interview, such as the reason for the applicant’s presence, the company’s name, and its ownership structure. The immigration officer may ask these to ensure the company is majority-owned by citizens of an E2 treaty country and to gather basic business details.
🌿 What Your Business Does and Your Qualifications
This section covers the type of business the applicant is involved in and why they are qualified to operate it. The interviewer may ask about the applicant's experience, particularly in managing or running a similar business, to assess the likelihood of success in the U.S. market. It emphasizes the importance of demonstrating expertise relevant to the business.
👨💼 Your Role in the Company
Here, Ler explains that the immigration officer will likely ask about the applicant's role and duties in the business. The focus is to ensure the applicant is coming to the U.S. to direct and develop the business, rather than engage in day-to-day tasks. For an E2 visa, the applicant must show they will be in a managerial or executive role.
💰 Investment Amount and Spending
This paragraph outlines the common questions regarding the investment made in the business. Applicants should be ready to explain how much money has been invested, how it was spent, and provide receipts if necessary. The officer wants to verify that the funds have been put at risk and spent on necessary business expenses rather than just sitting idle.
🔍 Source of Investment Funds
This section discusses the importance of proving the lawful origin of investment funds. The officer may ask where the funds came from, and the applicant should have a clear breakdown of all sources, such as gifts or property sales, along with supporting documents like gift letters or proof of sale.
🏢 Business Operations Status
Here, Ler talks about the officer's inquiry into whether the business is already operational or close to it. The business should be at an advanced stage, with few remaining requirements, to show readiness for operation once the visa is granted. If the business is still in the planning stages, the officer may deem the application premature.
👥 Employees and Business Marginality
In this part, the focus is on whether the business has employees. While not a strict requirement, having employees helps prove that the business is not marginal and contributes to the broader economy. It also demonstrates the business is real and operational, making the case for the visa approval stronger.
🕒 Timing of U.S. Entry and Stay
This section highlights the need for the applicant to be prepared to answer questions regarding their intended entry date to the U.S. and the duration of their stay. Applicants should consult with their immigration attorney for advice on how to respond based on their personal situation, as these questions can affect the visa approval.
📄 Preparation and Final Tips for the Interview
In the conclusion, Ler stresses the importance of being well-prepared for the E2 visa interview. Applicants should understand their business thoroughly and be ready to answer common questions without sounding rehearsed. Being caught off guard by basic questions can negatively impact the interview, so careful preparation is key to success.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡E2 Visa
💡Ownership Structure
💡Investment
💡Lawful Source of Funds
💡Operational Status
💡Marginal Business
💡Business Role
💡Expenditures
💡Employees
💡Interview Preparation
Highlights
Introduction to E2 visa interview expectations by US immigration lawyer Michael Ler
Explanation of the E2 visa interview process at a consulate or embassy
Common question: Purpose of the interview and the applicant's intention
Inquiry about the company's name and ownership structure
Question on the nature of the business and its operations in the United States
Assessment of the applicant's qualifications to operate the business
Clarification of the applicant's role and responsibilities within the company
Importance of demonstrating a substantial investment in the business
Discussion on the具体用途 of the invested funds and business expenditures
Verification of the lawful source of investment funds
Inquiry about the business's operational status and timeline
Significance of having employees in demonstrating a non-marginal business
Questions regarding the applicant's planned arrival and duration of stay in the United States
Advice on preparing for the E2 visa interview with a thorough understanding of the application
Emphasis on the importance of having solid answers to common interview questions
Conclusion and summary of key points for a successful E2 visa interview
Transcripts
hey everybody US immigration lawyer
Michael ler here and in today's video I
want to go over what to expect in your
E2 visa interview so specifically when
somebody's applying for their E2 Visa at
a consulate or an embassy abroad towards
the end of the process they have to
attend an interview usually where an
immigration officer will ask them
various questions about their business
now many people wonder what types of
questions are going to be asked of me in
this interview well in this video I want
to provide some general questions that
may or may not be asked of you in our
experience many of these questions
routinely get asked of our clients so I
think you're going to find this
information helpful without further Ado
I want to jump right
[Music]
in you go to the interview and the
immigration officer may ask you what are
you here today for or why are you here
today and of course the answer to such a
question is that you're here to conduct
your E2 visa interview now another
question that they made may ask is what
is the name of your company and what is
the ownership structure of your company
now of course the name is just to get
some general information and they'll
likely have the name as part of the
material that you've already submitted
to them but the ownership structure the
reason that they're asking about the
ownership structure is to see what
percentage of equity what ownership
percentage you have in the company and
to make sure that the company is at
least 50% owned by citizens of an E2
treaty country so so far very general
questions now another question that they
may ask is what does your company in the
United States do and again very basic
question where you're explaining what it
is that your company does another
question that may be asked of you is why
are you qualified to operate such a
business so for example if you're going
to be opening a landscaping business in
the United States and they ask you why
you're qualified to operate such a
business they're asking asking that to
determine whether you have any
experience whatsoever in landscaping
what your experience is in business they
want to know if we give them this Visa
what is the likelihood that they'll be
successful in this business have they
ever had any experience in landscaping
what is that experience so here they're
looking for you to explain why you're
qualified to conduct such business
activities in the United States and they
want to be reassured that you have what
it takes to be successful in this
business now another question that they
may ask you is what is your role with
this company what are your duties with
this company and the idea behind this
question is that as somebody that's
applying for their E2 Visa you are
required to be seeking entry to the
United States to direct and develop your
business so if you were going to be
opening up a coffee shop and you're
going to be doing an e Visa you can't be
a barista you're not supposed to be the
cashier taking the orders and making the
lattes Your Role with the company for an
E2 Visa is to direct and develop the
business so when they're asking you this
question regarding what your role is
what your duties are they're asking this
to determine whether your role is such
that you're directing and developing the
business as opposed to just doing the
day-to-day work of this business so
that's an important thing to be aware of
now another question that they may ask
you is how much money have you invested
in this business and of course they're
asking this because the E2 Visa is an
investment-based visa and they want to
know whether you've made a substantial
investment in the business so they're
going to ask you how much have you
invested it's very likely that they may
ask you that question so you should be
aware of how much has been invested and
what the various expenditures were made
on so what you've invested in and that
brings me to my next question which is
what has the money been used for what
has the money been spent on what
expenditures have you made and they may
be asking you this question for a number
of reasons
for one they may be seeking assurance
that the money has actually been put at
risk so that the money is not just
sitting in the business's bank account
but that it's actually been spent on
things that your business needs so again
they may ask you where the money has
been spent and you should be prepared to
answer that and you should have a
knowledge of where your expenditures
have been made and when you're going in
for the interview you should be very
knowledgeable of your spefic specific
application packet so that if the
immigration officer asks you for
receipts demonstrating that the
expenditures have been made you can
quickly open up to that part of your
application that has the receipts and
you can quickly provide them to the
officer or direct them to where the
receipts are in the application packet
you can tell the officer oh please turn
to page 20 for example now another
question that the immigration officer
may ask you is where did you get the
money that you used used to invest in
the business and they're asking you this
question because as part of the E2 visa
requirements your investment funds must
come from a lawful source so they're
asking you where you got these
investment funds from to be able to
determine that the funds actually came
from a lawful source so you should be
very well-versed in where your
investment funds came from if
$50,000 of the investment came from a
gift from your sibling you should know
that and if
$220,000 came from the sale of a
property for example you should know
that so you should have a well-rounded
and well-versed understanding of the
breakdown of your investment funds and
where they came from and similar to the
question that I asked earlier if the
immigration officer asks for a gift
letter or asks for proof of the sale of
the property you should know where those
documents are in your packet so that you
can quickly bring them up as needed in
the interview another question that the
immigration officer may ask is is the
business already operational or when
will the business be operational and
they're asking this in some part to
determine how far along you are in this
business is the business already
operating or is this business several
months away from operating and still has
a lot to do because when you're going in
for your E2 visa interview your business
should either already be operational or
it should be very close to being oper
operational for example it should be to
the point where if it's not already
operational all that's remaining is for
you to get your visa so that you can
come to the United States and start
operating it but you shouldn't be in a
position where there are still several
things to take place before your
business can be operational you
shouldn't be in a position where you're
at the interview and you still need
licenses and you still need to get your
lease and you still need all these other
things to take place before you can
operate because then the immigration
officer could say that your business
it's it's too early for you to start
applying for the Visa you still have to
get this business Farther Along before
you can apply so when they're asking is
the business already operational or when
will the business be operating they're
trying to figure out how far along you
are in this process and whether it might
be too early for you to apply for this
Visa another question that they may ask
is does your company have any employees
if so how many employees does it have
now having employees while it's not
absolutely required to get an E2 visa
application approved it is very helpful
because with the E2 Visa there's this
requirement that the business cannot be
marginal a marginal business is
basically a business that's small it
only benefits the E2 investor and their
family to generate some sort of a
minimal living and when you have
employees for one it helps to combat
this inference that your business is
marginal and also it helps to show that
your business is actually real and
operating it's not some idea that you
have of a business that you're planning
on doing months down the line but when
you have employees it's really that
added proof in the pudding that this is
a real business this is legitimate Etc
and just a couple more questions to go
over the immigration officer may ask you
when you plan to come to the United
States and how long you plan to stay in
the United States once you're here and
they may have various reasons for asking
these questions but you should have
answers ready regarding when you plan to
come to the United States and how long
you plan to stay and regarding those
questions you should specifically
discuss with your immigration attorney
in terms of the most appropriate way to
answer those questions in light of your
personal circumstances but generally so
far we've gone over some of the most
common questions that get asked during
the E2 visa interview we covered
questions regarding the ownership of the
business regarding the nature of the
business and why you're qualified to
operate such a business we talked about
evidence of the actual investment
regarding how much has been invested
what the inv investment funds went
toward what did the investment funds go
to purchase and we talked about where
the business is currently is the
business currently operating is it on
the verge of being operational and
various other questions again these are
some of the most common questions that
get asked during this interview so when
you're preparing for your E2 visa
interview while you shouldn't be in a
situation where it's like you're reading
off a script it shouldn't be these
generic answers that you've memorized
but you should have responses ready so
now that you see some of the common
questions that get asked during this
interview it's important for you to
adequately prepare going into your
interview you don't want to be in a
position where these basic questions are
asked of you and you're totally caught
off guard and you don't have answers you
should have an understanding of each of
these questions and you should have an
answer ready regarding each of these
questions so when somebody asks you how
much you've invested in the business you
should know that clearly there really
isn't a good explanation for why you
don't know that so not having solid
answers to these questions can be
harmful in the interview process so
again you want to make sure that you're
well prepared you want to have a
thorough understanding of your E2
application and this will ultimately
help you when you go for the interview
so I hope you found this information
helpful I hope that this was overall a
useful video
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