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How Adding Portugal to the U.S. Department of State’s E-2 Treaty List Could Open Doors for Eligible Brazilian Entrepreneurs

September 4, 2024

How Adding Portugal to the U.S. Department of State’s E-2 Treaty List Could Open Doors for Eligible Brazilian Entrepreneurs

Countries / Territories

  • United StatesUnited States
  • BrazilBrazil

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Photo of Stephania Bertoni Norris

Stephania Bertoni Norris

Senior Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1751

Gustavo Kanashiro

Partner

São Paulo, Brazil

Email

[email protected]

T:+55 11 3506 5250

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Photo of Stephania Bertoni Norris

Stephania Bertoni Norris

Senior Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1751

Gustavo Kanashiro

Partner

São Paulo, Brazil

Email

[email protected]

T:+55 11 3506 5250

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  • Miami, FL
  • São Paulo

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Photo of Stephania Bertoni Norris

Stephania Bertoni Norris

Senior Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1751

Gustavo Kanashiro

Partner

São Paulo, Brazil

Email

[email protected]

T:+55 11 3506 5250

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  • Miami, FL
  • São Paulo

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By: Stephania Bertoni Norris

*Please scroll down to read this blog in Portuguese. Deslize para baixo para ler este blog em português.

The United States has long been a beacon of opportunity and success, attracting entrepreneurs and investors from around the world.

For those looking to invest and build businesses in the US, the E-2 Investor visa offers a unique pathway to not only live and work in the country but also to thrive and expand their ventures.

In December 2022, Portugal was added to the Department of State's coveted list of countries with E-2 Treaties, joining over 70 other nations. Following implementation of the law in Portugal in April 2024, and more recently in Brazil, this long-awaited development paves the way for thousands of new applicants to seek this visa.

A New Avenue for Brazilian and Portuguese Entrepreneurs

The addition of Portugal to the treaty list is especially significant for Brazilian citizens who hold or can obtain Portuguese citizenship. Until now, Brazilian entrepreneurs and business owners seeking to invest or start businesses in the US faced limited options, including the highly scrutinized L-1 Intracompany Transferee visa.

While not all Brazilians have Portuguese citizenship, hundreds of thousands of Brazilians have, or can claim, Portuguese citizenship through ancestry, legal residence in Portugal, or other means. This development now offers a more favorable option for Brazilian citizens.

Why Brazilians Should Consider the E-2 Visa

The E-2 visa offers several benefits, including:

  • Flexibility: Allows for various types of investments and businesses.
  • Favorable Investment Amounts: While there is no set minimum, investment amounts begin at approximately USD $100,000.
  • Non-Traditional Employment Terms: Allows the applicant to work within their own business without being a traditional employee.
  • Family Member Benefits: Spouses can benefit from unrestricted work authorization, and children under the age of 21 can accompany the E-2 investor/applicant.
  • Indefinite Renewability: The visa can be renewed indefinitely as long as E-2 eligibility criteria are met.
  • Potential Pathway to a Green Card: Though indirectly, the E-2 visa can pave the way for other immigration options, such as the green card

Eligibility Criteria

The E-2 Investor visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows individuals from treaty countries to enter the US to invest in and manage US businesses. Applicants must meet several key requirements:

  • Nationality: The applicant must be a national of a country that has a qualifying E-2 treaty with the US and must own at least 50% of the company.
  • Investment: The applicant must invest a substantial amount of capital in a bona fide US business. The investment must be sufficient to ensure the success of the company.
  • Real and Operating: The E-2 company must be a real and operating company, generating goods or services for a profit.
  • Marginality: The E-2 company must generate more than enough income to provide a living to the applicant. There should be a positive financial impact on the US economy.
  • Develop and Direct: The principal E-2 investor/applicant must be coming to develop and direct the E-2 company, or serve in an executive, managerial or essential skills role.
  • Non-immigrant Intent: The E-2 investor/applicant must have the intention of departing the US upon termination of E-2 status.

Application Process

As of April 2024, the U.S. Embassy in Portugal has announced its readiness to accept E-2 Treaty applicants. Additionally, Brazilians who hold dual nationality with Portugal can apply for the E-2 visa at the US Consulate in Sao Paulo, the designated adjudicating post in Brazil for E-2 Treaty Country nationals. 

The process for applying for the E-2 visa varies by post, however, in both Brazil and Portugal, applicants must send their E-2 applications directly to the E-Visa Unit at the respective post. An officer will review the application for E-2 eligibility and contact the applicant to schedule an in-person interview. 

Processing times for the E-2 application review process vary, but applicants can generally expect to be called for an interview approximately three months after submitting their application.  Upon approval, visas are typically issued within three to five business days.

Visas for Portuguese nationals are valid for five years and can be renewed indefinitely so long as the E-2 eligibility criteria are met.

Key Takeaways

The E-2 Investor visa presents a significant opportunity for Portuguese nationals and Brazilians holding dual nationality from Portugal to invest and manage their businesses in the US.

With benefits such as flexibility, favorable investment requirements and family member advantages, the E-2 visa offers a practical and attractive pathway to establishing and expanding businesses in the US.

By meeting the eligibility criteria and navigating the application process, entrepreneurs can unlock new possibilities for growth and success in the American market.

Need to Know More?

For questions related to the E-2 Investor visa, please contact Senior Associate Stephania Bertoni Norris at [email protected], Business Immigration Director Gustavo Kanashiro at [email protected] or [email protected]. 

This blog was published on September 4, 2024, and due to the circumstances, there are frequent changes. To keep up to date with all the latest updates on global immigration, please subscribe to our alerts and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.


Como a inclusão de Portugal à lista do Tratado de Investidor E-2 do Departamento de Estado dos Estados Unidos pode abrir portas para Empreendedores Brasileiros Elegíveis

Os Estados Unidos são vistos há muito como um símbolo de oportunidades e sucesso, atraindo empreendedores e investidores de todo o mundo.

Para aqueles que desejam investir e estabelecer negócios nos EUA, o visto de Investidor E-2 oferece um caminho único não apenas para viver e trabalhar no país, mas também prosperar e expandir seus empreendimentos.

Em Dezembro de 2022, Portugal foi adicionado à cobiçada lista de países do Tratado de Investidor E-2 do Departamento de Estado, juntando-se a mais de 70 nações. Após implementação da lei em Portugal em abril de 2024, e mais recentemente no Brasil, esse desenvolvimento tão aguardado abrirá caminho para milhares de novos candidatos solicitarem esse visto.

Uma Nova Oportunidade para Empreendedores Brasileiros e Portugueses

A inclusão de Portugal à lista de países do Tratado é especialmente significativa para cidadãos brasileiros que possuem ou podem obter cidadania portuguesa. Até agora, os empreendedores e proprietários de negócios brasileiros que buscavam investir ou abrir negócios nos EUA enfrentavam opções limitadas, incluindo o visto L-1 de Transferência de Funcionários Intracompanhia, que é altamente rigoroso.

Embora nem todos os brasileiros possuam cidadania portuguesa, centenas de milhares de brasileiros têm ou podem reivindicar cidadania portuguesa por meio de ascendência, residência legal em Portugal ou por outros meios. Esta mudança proporciona agora uma opção mais favorável para os cidadãos brasileiros com dupla-nacionalidade.

Por Que os Brasileiros Devem Considerar o Visto E-2

O visto E-2 oferece vários benefícios, incluindo:

      • Flexibilidade: Permite diversos tipos de investimentos e negócios.
      • Valores de Investimento Favoráveis: Embora não haja um valor mínimo estabelecido, os valores de investimento começam em aproximadamente US$ 100.000.
      • Termos de Emprego Não Tradicionais: Permite ao candidato trabalhar em seu próprio negócio sem ser um empregado tradicional.
      • Benefícios para Membros da Família: Cônjuges podem obter autorização de trabalho irrestrita e filhos menores de 21 anos podem acompanhar o investidor/candidato do visto E-2.
      • Renovação Indefinida: O visto pode ser renovado indefinidamente, desde que os critérios de elegibilidade do visto E-2 sejam cumpridos.
      • Possível Caminho para um Green Card: Embora indiretamente, pode abrir caminho para outras opções de imigração.

Critérios de Elegibilidade

O visto de Investidor E-2 é um visto de não-imigrante que permite que indivíduos de países com os quais os Estados Unidos mantêm tratado à entrar nos EUA para investir uma quantia substancial de capital em um negócio nos EUA. Os candidatos devem atender a vários requisitos chave:

      • Nacionalidade: O candidato deve ser cidadão de um país que tenha um tratado qualificado com os EUA e deve possuir, no mínimo, 50% de participação na empresa E-2.
      • Investimento: O candidato deve investir uma quantia substancial de capital em um negócio legítimo nos EUA. O investimento deve ser suficiente para garantir o sucesso do negócio.
      • Empresa Real e Operante: A empresa E-2 deve ser real e estar em operação, gerando bens ou serviços para obter lucro.
      • Marginalidade: O negócio E-2 deve gerar uma renda que seja mais do que suficiente para sustentar o investidor, além de causar um impacto financeiro positivo na economia dos EUA.
      • Desenvolver e Dirigir: Como investidor principal ao visto E-2, o candidato deve estar indo para desenvolver e dirigir a empresa E-2 ou atuar em uma função executiva, gerencial ou de habilidades essenciais.
      • Intenção Não Imigrante: O candidato deve ter a intenção de deixar os EUA ao término de seu status do visto E-2.

Processo de Aplicação

A partir de abril de 2024, a Embaixada dos EUA em Portugal anunciou que começou a aceitar candidatos ao visto de Investidor E-2. Além disso, brasileiros com dupla nacionalidade portugesa já podem solicitar o visto E-2 no Consulado Geral dos EUA em São Paulo, o posto designado no Brasil para cidadãos portugueses e de outros países que mantém tratados com o Estados Unidos.

O processo de solicitação do visto E-2 varia conforme o posto consular, porém, tanto no Brasil quanto em Portugal, os candidatos devem enviar suas aplicações do visto E-2 diretamente para a unidade de Vistos E do posto consular. Um oficial consular revisará a aplicação para verificar a elegibilidade do visto E-2 e entrará em contato com o candidato para agendar uma entrevista presencial.

Os prazos de processamento para a revisão da aplicação ao visto E-2 variam, mas os candidatos podem esperar ser chamados para uma entrevista dentro de aproximadamente três meses após o envio da aplicação. Após a aprovação, os vistos são emitidos dentro de três a cinco dias úteis.

Os vistos para cidadãos portugueses são válidos por cinco anos e podem ser renovados indefinidamente, desde que os critérios de elegibilidade deste visto sejam cumpridos.

Considerações Finais

O visto de Investidor E-2 apresenta uma oportunidade significativa para cidadãos portugueses e brasileiros com dupla nacionalidade portuguesa para investirem e gerirem seus negócios nos EUA.

Com benefícios como flexibilidade, requisitos de investimento favoráveis e vantagens para membros da família, o visto E-2 oferece um caminho prático e atraente para estabelecer e expandir negócios nos EUA.

Ao atender aos critérios de elegibilidade e navegar pelo processo de aplicação, os empreendedores podem desbloquear novas possibilidades de crescimento e sucesso dentro no mercado americano.

Quer Saber Mais?

Para perguntas relacionadas ao visto de Investidor E-2, entre em contato com a Senior Associate Stephania Bertoni Norris em [email protected], Business Immigration Director Gustavo Kanashiro at [email protected] ou [email protected].

Este blog foi publicado em 4 de Setembro de 2024, e devido às circunstâncias, há mudanças frequentes. Para se manter atualizado com as últimas novidades sobre imigração global, inscreva-se em nossos alertas  e siga-nos no LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook e Instagram. 

Countries / Territories

  • United StatesUnited States
  • BrazilBrazil

Related contacts

Photo of Stephania Bertoni Norris

Stephania Bertoni Norris

Senior Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1751

Gustavo Kanashiro

Partner

São Paulo, Brazil

Email

[email protected]

T:+55 11 3506 5250

Related offices

  • Miami, FL
  • São Paulo

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

Photo of Stephania Bertoni Norris

Stephania Bertoni Norris

Senior Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1751

Gustavo Kanashiro

Partner

São Paulo, Brazil

Email

[email protected]

T:+55 11 3506 5250

Related offices

  • Miami, FL
  • São Paulo

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related contacts

Photo of Stephania Bertoni Norris

Stephania Bertoni Norris

Senior Associate

Miami, FL, United States

Email

[email protected]

T:+1 786 539 1751

Gustavo Kanashiro

Partner

São Paulo, Brazil

Email

[email protected]

T:+55 11 3506 5250

Related offices

  • Miami, FL
  • São Paulo

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

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