What is the difference between the E-2 and EB-5 visas?

The core difference lies in the goal: the E-2 is a temporary investor visa, while the EB-5 is a pathway that can lead to permanent residence (green card).

The E-2 is available to citizens of countries that maintain a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States. It requires a substantial investment in an active business in the country, does not set a fixed minimum in law, and is renewable as long as the company operates and meets the conditions. It can include family members, but does not, on its own, lead to a green card.

The EB-5 is designed for those seeking to immigrate permanently through an investment in an enterprise that creates jobs for workers in the United States. It typically requires a larger investment than the E-2 and, when the criteria are met, opens the path to permanent residence.

• E-2: temporary, tied to a treaty country, no direct path to a green card.
• EB-5: larger investment, focus on job creation, possible path to a green card.
• Both require lawful source of funds and strict compliance with the law.

Exact amounts and criteria vary and change over time, so it is worth checking updated rules with USCIS and evaluating which pathway fits your plan alongside a qualified specialist.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.