E-2 Visa Premium Processing: What You Need to Know

The E-2 visa is a popular visa for foreign entrepreneurs looking to invest in the United States. Many people wonder about the E-2 visa premium processing time, a service that allows individuals to pay an additional fee to expedite their case processing to 15 business days. In this blog post, we will explore the E-2 visa premium processing time and how it works.

First, let’s define what the E-2 visa is. The E-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows foreign nationals of certain countries to invest in and manage a business in the United States. To be eligible for an E-2 visa, the investor must be a citizen of a country that has a treaty with the United States, have invested or is in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business, and be coming to the U.S. to develop and direct the investment.

Now, let’s talk about the E-2 visa premium processing time. Premium processing is an optional service offered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for certain cases. By paying an additional fee, applicants can shorten the E-2 visa premium processing time to about 15 business days.

So, what is the E-2 visa premium processing time? It depends.

The E-2 visa premium processing time only applies to certain cases filed with USCIS. Typically, when someone applies for an E-2 visa, they must submit their documentation to a consulate or embassy outside of the United States for a visa interview. In these cases, the matter is not initially filed with USCIS, so those E-2 visa applicants are not eligible for premium processing. Their processing times are dependent on the interview wait times at their respective consulate or embassy.

However, if someone is in the United States lawfully and decides to switch to E-2 status, they can apply for an E-2 change of status.In this case, the E-2 visa premium processing time applies to the change of status application. This means the E-2 visa premium processing time can be reduced to about 15 business days with an additional fee of $2,500.

It is important to note that even with premium processing, there is still a chance that USCIS will issue a request for evidence (RFE), which can delay the processing time. Therefore, while the E-2 visa premium processing time is significantly faster, there is no guarantee of approval within 15 business days.

In summary, the E-2 visa is not eligible for premium processing, but the E-2 change of status application is. Applicants should be aware of the additional filing fee and the possibility of a request for additional evidence even with premium processing.

We hope this post has helped clarify whether the E-2 visa is eligible for premium processing. If you or someone you know is considering applying for an E-2 visa, it is recommended to consult with an immigration attorney who can guide you through the application process and answer any questions you may have.