How Much Does an E-2 Visa Cost?

The cost of an E-2 visa differs, depending on where the E-2 investor lives. So if you are wondering how much does an E-2 visa cost, this post will cover all the details!

Here is a general itemized list of E-2 visa costs:

For investors currently residing in their home country:

• Form DS-160 filing fee: $205 fee
• $85 fee for biometrics services
• $85 fee for biometrics services for each additional dependent
• Additional fees where applicable
  • Attorney fees
  • Formation costs for business entity

For investors currently residing in the United States:

• Form I-129 filing fee: $460 
• $85 fee for biometrics services
• $85 fee for biometrics services for each additional dependent
• Form I-539 filing fee: $370 per dependent, when applicable
• Premium processing fee: $1,440 (15 days), also when applicable

Note: All fees for E-2 visa application and requisite documents are notated in U.S. dollars.

E-2 Visa Fees

For E-2 investors who are applying for an E-2 visa from outside of the United States, they must file in their home country, at the U.S. embassy or consulate. Likewise, he or she must file their Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-160), and the cost for doing so is $205 for the applicant, as well as for each of his or her spouse and or child(ren). Depending on the country of citizenship, the applicant may also be charged a small fee by the embassy or consulate upon issuance of their E-2 visa. Additionally, there will be an $85 biometrics fee per applicant and each co-applicant accompanying the E-2 investor to the United States.

As for E-2 investors who are currently in the U.S., with legal nonimmigrant status, he or she will file a Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129) with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. The fee for such petition is $460. Similarly, if he or she will be petitioning for their spouse and child(ren) as well, the applicant must submit their Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-539). The fee for filing for the change of status for their dependents is  $370. To get the most accuracy as it relates to additional fees for co-applicants, there is a fee calculator on the USCIS website. It is important to note, however, that each co-applicant must also pay an $85 fee for additional biometrics services.

E-2 Visa Premium Processing Fees and Time frame 

If the E-2 investor wishes, he or she can request a premium processing service, which will allow for their petition to be processed within 15 calendar days. The fee for premium processing is $1,440.

Do you want to know how long does it take to get an E-2 visa? If so, you can read our blog or contact our office to schedule a consultation.

How Do I Pay E-2 Visa Fees?

All petition and application filing fees must be made in the form of either a personal check, cashier’s check, or a money order. If paying by check, the applicant must address the check recipient to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. If the applicant is paying online, and prefers to pay with a credit card, he or she may do so if they are filing their petition at a USCIS lock box facility. Likewise, it is completely acceptable to pay using a credit card, though it is important to remember to also submit an Authorization for Credit Card Transactions (Form G-1450). 

Call our office today, to discuss with an experienced immigration attorney about how to ensure all visa-related petitions and applications are properly submitted, as well as all filing fees are correctly calculated. 

How Much Does It Cost To Extend My E-2 Visa?

In order to extend an E-2 visa, the following forms, their subsequent filing fees are required:

• Form I-129 filing fee: $460 
• Form I-539 filing fee: $370 per dependent, when applicable

It is important to note, E-2 investors are allowed to retain their visa for five years, and are permitted to renew and/or extend them with a period of two years. There is no set maximum amount of times the investor can apply for an extension for his or her E-2 visa.

E-2 Visa Change of Status

Foreign nationals who are E-2 investors needing to file a petition for a change of status, so as to receive a green card, should do so through the USCIS. The fee for filing this (Form I-129) is $460.

For investors with dependents, an Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-539) must also be filed for each spouse, or child(ren). The fee for filing this application (Form I-539) is $370. 

E-2 Visa Application Refunds

The only times the USCIS or a U.S. consulate or embassy will give a refund is for the following circumstances:

• If the agency requested a form and subsequent fee which was not required for the E-2 visa process
• If the agency requested a fee greater than the amount shown on their website
• If the applicant paid the additional fee for premium processing and the agency was unable to process the applicant’s petition within 15 calendar days

Note: The USCIS will only the premium processing fee, but will retain the basic filing fee

Conclusion of How Much Does an E-2 Visa Cost?

As with all visa applications, there are quite a few costs, and equally, the cost for an E-2 visa differs, depending especially on where the applicant lives. For investors currently residing in their home country, they should expect to pay $205 for filing their Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-160), $85 for biometrics services, and similar fees for each additional spouse or child. There will be additional fees, like potential attorney fees as well as business entity formation costs.

If the applicant lives in the United States and is applying for an E-2 visa from there, he or she will pay $460 for their Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129), $85 for the biometrics services for all dependents, $370 for each applicable Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-539)

Premium processing (15 calendar days) is available for those who prefer an expedited process, which has a fee of $1,440.

For E-2 visa applicants inside the United States, all petitions and processing fees will be submitted to the USCIS, whereas those who are applying from outside of the U.S. will submit and pay to the U.S. consulate or embassy in their country.

It should be mentioned here that E-2 visas last for five years, can be extended in two-year time periods and can be renewed or extended for an unrestricted amount of times. The fee is $460 to file Form I-129, as well as $370 per dependent, for filing Form I-539.

Depending on the country of citizenship and residence, the I-129 petition timeframe can take between a month and six months to process, therefore E-2 investors can take advantage of premium processing. Paying a fee of $1,440 enables the E-2 investor to have his or her petition expedited and processed within 15 calendar days.

Foreign nationals who are E-2 investors needing to file a petition for a change of status, so as to receive a green card, should do so through the USCIS. The fee for filing this (Form I-129) is $460.

For investors with dependents, an Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-539) must also be filed for each spouse, or child(ren). The fee for filing Form I-539 is $370. 

As unfavorable as it is, refunds for E-2 visa applications are only given under rare circumstances, such as the government agency requested a fee higher than what they originally stated, or if they requested a petition which was unnecessary.

More general information regarding E-2 treaty investor visas can be found on the USCIS website.

Frequently Asked Questions About How Much Does an E2 Visa Cost?