[proberts]

The E-2 visa really is the entrepreneur visa in the U.S. since the applicant can own the entire business and run it but it does require a "substantial" investment and a good business plan showing that the company will grow and hire U.S. workers over time. "Substantial" is a relative term (depending on the minimum cost to establish and run a particular business) but in practice, the investment must be at least $100k even if the cost to establish and run the business is in fact less.