Consular officers review your E-2 visa source of funds as closely as your business plan. Almost any lawful source works; what matters is that you can trace every dollar from where it was earned to the U.S. business account.
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Savings, the sale of property, business profits, inheritance, gifts and loans can all fund an E-2 investment, as long as the money was lawfully obtained and you can document its path.
Two limits matter most: a loan secured by the E-2 business’s own assets does not count, and gifted money needs proof of where the giver got it.
This page provides general information about U.S. immigration law as of September 26, 2026. It is not legal advice, and reading it or using the calculator does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case depends on its own facts, and the law and consular practice change often. Speak with a licensed attorney before you invest money or file an application.
The State Department’s rules list the kinds of money that can fund an E-2 investment: savings, gifts, inheritance, contest winnings and loans backed by your own assets (9 FAM 402.9-6). The money does not have to come from outside the United States. It must not come from illegal activity, and you must be able to show where it came from.
In 2026, E-2 advisers report that source-of-funds files are reviewed as closely as the business case itself. A strong business plan does not rescue a file with gaps in the money trail.
| Source | Usually accepted? | Key documents |
|---|---|---|
| Savings from work | Yes | Bank statements over several years, tax returns, pay slips |
| Sale of property | Yes | Title deed, sale contract, bank record of payment, taxes paid |
| Business profits | Yes | Company financials, dividend resolutions, ownership proof |
| Bank loan on your home or unsecured | Yes | Loan agreement, collateral papers, transfer record |
| Loan from family or friends | Yes, if documented | Promissory note, lender’s own source of money |
| Gift | Yes, if documented | Gift letter, relationship proof, giver’s source of money |
| Inheritance | Yes | Will or inheritance certificate, estate records |
| Crypto or stocks | Yes, if traced | Exchange statements, purchase history, conversion records |
| Loan secured by the E-2 business | No | Does not count toward the investment |
A loan counts when you carry the risk. A second mortgage on your home, a loan backed by your savings, or an unsecured personal loan all qualify. A loan secured by the assets of the E-2 business itself does not, because if the business fails the lender takes the business, not your money.
Loans from relatives or friends are common and acceptable, but put them in writing: a signed promissory note with the amount and repayment terms, plus proof of where the lender got the money.
Gifted money is fine, and gifts from parents are very common in E-2 cases. Expect the officer to follow the chain one step further back:
The most common gap is step 2. Collect the giver’s documents before you invest, not after an officer asks for them.
Think of your file as a map with no missing roads: where the money was earned → your account → international transfer → U.S. business account → spending on the business. For each step, keep bank statements, wire confirmations and currency-exchange records, with certified translations for documents that are not in English.
Keep business and personal money separate. A dedicated U.S. business bank account, with every investment wired into it, makes the trail easy to follow. Mixed accounts are one of the most common reasons files stall. Then check how much of the money counts with our E-2 capital calculator.
Each E-2 requirement has its own page with plain-language answers, official sources and the documents you will need.
The free capital calculator and how a “substantial” investment is judged.
Read →
2Nationality & treaty countriesWho qualifies by citizenship, the 50% ownership rule, dual citizens and new treaties.
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3Source of fundsSavings, sales, loans, gifts and inheritance: what counts and how to prove it.
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4Business started? At risk & escrowDoes the business need to be open, what “at risk” means, and how escrow protects you.
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5Marginality & job creationThe “more than a living” test, how many hires, and what officers ask for in 2026.
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6E-2 news 2026Interviews, where to apply, fees, reciprocity and policy changes that affect investors.
Read →
Yes. You will need a signed gift letter, proof of your relationship with the giver, and documents showing how the giver earned the money, plus the transfer records.
Yes, if you are personally responsible for the loan and it is not secured by the E-2 business’s assets. Use a signed promissory note and be ready to show the lender’s own source of funds.
No. The source can be inside or outside the United States, but it must be lawful and traceable.
Yes, if you can trace it: how you bought it, with what money, and the exchange and bank records showing the conversion to dollars.
A calculator gives an estimate. We review your business, your budget and your source-of-funds paper trail before you commit money or file.
Ozek Law Firm, LLC · Tolga Ozek, Attorney at Law
4500 East West Highway, Suite 150, Bethesda, MD 20814
+1 (202) 854-8545 · info@ozeklaw.com · ozeklaw.com/contact
Admitted in Maryland, New York, California and Washington, D.C.; federal immigration practice throughout the United States. Consultations in English, Turkish, Spanish and Swedish; interpreters for other languages.
Legal disclaimer: This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Use of this page or its tools does not create an attorney-client relationship with Ozek Law Firm, LLC. Do not act or refrain from acting based on this content without consulting a qualified attorney about your situation. Information is current as of September 26, 2026 and may change. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney Advertising. The calculator gives estimates based on the numbers you enter, the Foreign Affairs Manual and current wage data as of September 26, 2026. It is not a legal threshold, and the consular officer makes the final decision. No attorney can guarantee a result.
