NEW YORK – August 24, 2026 – Immigration Advice Service (IAS) today released a review of publicly available US Department of State data showing that worldwide E2 visa issuances increased from 54,812 in fiscal year 2023 to 55,324 in fiscal year 2024. The review provides investors, businesses, and other stakeholders with a factual assessment of the latest complete annual E2 figures currently published by the Department.
The increase represents 512 additional E2 visa issuances and year-over-year growth of approximately 0.9%. The total reported E2 visa workload also increased from 60,427 cases in fiscal year 2023 to 61,432 cases in fiscal year 2024, a rise of approximately 1.7%.
The Department of State defines the annual workload total as visas issued plus applications that remained in refused status at the end of the reporting period. IAS therefore did not interpret the workload figures as the total number of applications processed or use them to calculate an approval rate.
IAS Clarifies the Scope of the E2 Data
The IAS review examines changes in E2 visa issuance and workload figures rather than attempting to calculate the amount of foreign capital invested in the United States.
The Department of State data do not report the dollar value of investments, the number of businesses established, or the number of jobs created through the E2 classification. The figures should therefore not be presented as direct evidence of growth in the overall value of foreign investment.
The issuance total also should not be treated as the number of individual principal investors. In addition to qualifying treaty investors, the E2 classification may cover certain employees of qualifying investors or organisations. Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 may also receive dependent E2 classification.
The review nevertheless shows that worldwide use of the E2 category remained steady between the two reporting periods, with more than 55,000 visas issued during fiscal year 2024.
E2 Classification Requirements
The E2 classification is available to qualifying nationals of countries that maintain a treaty of commerce and navigation, qualifying international agreement or other recognised arrangement with the United States.
A principal investor must have invested, or be actively in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital in a genuine US enterprise. The capital must be committed to the business and placed at commercial risk.
The investor must also enter the United States to develop and direct the enterprise. This requirement is generally demonstrated through ownership of at least 50% of the business or through another position that provides operational control.
US immigration rules do not establish one fixed minimum investment amount for every E2 application. Substantiality is assessed in relation to the cost of purchasing or establishing the particular business and whether the investment demonstrates the applicant’s financial commitment to its operation.
The enterprise must be active and genuine rather than a speculative or passive investment. It must also have the present or future capacity to generate more than enough income to support only the investor and the investor’s immediate family.
Further information about the eligibility criteria and documentary requirements for the E2 Investor visa is available from IAS.
Purpose of the Review
IAS released the review to distinguish measurable visa activity from broader claims about investment value or economic impact.
The analysis is based solely on official worldwide nonimmigrant visa workload figures published by the US Department of State. The Department’s public annual statistics page currently provides detailed worldwide workload reports through fiscal year 2024.
The review is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Eligibility and evidence requirements depend on the facts of each application and the procedures followed by the relevant US authority.
About Immigration Advice Service
Immigration Advice Service provides immigration information and legal support relating to the United States, the United Kingdom and other international destinations.
Media Contact
Company Name: Immigration Advice Service
Contact Person: Jason Griffiths
Email: Send Email
Address:100 Park Avenue, 16th Floor
City: New York
State: NY 10017
Country: United States
Website: https://iasservices.org.uk
