How long is the E-2 visa interview?

Usually 15 to 30 minutes. E-visa officers have already reviewed the written package before the interview, so the conversation focuses on verifying that you understand and control the business described.

Can my attorney attend the E-2 interview?

Attorneys generally cannot attend consular interviews. You will be alone with the officer, which is why preparation matters.

What documents should I bring to the E-2 interview?

Your passport, the DS-160 confirmation, the appointment letter, fee receipt, a complete copy of the submitted package, and updated evidence such as recent bank statements, new hires, sales or leases signed since filing.

E-2 Visa Interview: Questions You Will Be Asked and How to Prepare

By the time you sit down for the E-2 interview, the officer has read your file. The interview is not where the case is presented; it is where the officer tests whether the person in front of them matches the file. Are you the one who made the decisions? Do you understand the business? Is the money yours, and is it really in the business? Will the enterprise grow?

This guide covers the questions you should expect, how to prepare, and what to bring.

What the officer is checking

Four things, in roughly this order:

Credibility. Do your answers match the package and each other?
Control and knowledge. Do you know your own business well enough to be directing it?
Investment and funds. Can you explain, without notes, where the money came from and where it went?
Viability and intent. Will the business grow beyond supporting you, and do you understand the nonimmigrant nature of the visa?

Questions about you and your background

Tell me about your professional background.
Why do you want to open a business in the United States?
Have you run a business before? What happened to it?
Why this industry, and why this city?
Have you been to the United States before? On what visa?

Answer concisely and connect your background to the business. Officers are skeptical of investors entering an industry they know nothing about; if that is your situation, explain the manager or partner who brings the expertise and how you will direct them.

Questions about the business

Describe your business in one minute.
Who are your customers? How will you reach them?
Who are your competitors, and why will customers choose you?
How much revenue do you expect in year one? Year three?
How many employees do you have now? How many will you hire, and when?
What is your role day to day?
Where is the business located? Do you have a lease?
Is it operating now? What have you sold?

You must be able to explain the numbers in your business plan without reading them. Officers routinely ask about the hiring schedule and the revenue projection and compare your answer to page 40 of the plan. If the plan was written by someone who never spoke with you, this is where it shows.

Questions about the investment

How much have you invested?
What did you spend it on?
Is any of it still in your personal account?
Did you buy an existing business? For how much? How was the price determined?
Are funds in escrow? What are the release conditions?
Did you borrow any of the money? Who is liable? What is the security?

Know the total, the major line items and the dates. If part of the investment is in escrow, explain the mechanism in plain terms.

Questions about source of funds

Where did the money come from?
Walk me through the sale of your property. When, how much, where did the proceeds go?
Who gave you the gift? What is their source of income?
Why were there large cash deposits in March?
How did you convert the funds to dollars?

This is the section most applicants underestimate. Officers pick a transaction from your bank statements and ask about it. If your funds came from several sources, prepare a one-page mental map: source, amount, date, path to the U.S. account.

Questions about family and intent

Who is coming with you?
What will your spouse do?
Where will your children go to school?
What are your plans when your E-2 status ends?
Do you intend to apply for a green card?

On intent, be honest. It is acceptable to say you have no immediate plans and will decide based on how the business develops, and that you understand the E-2 is a temporary status you would need to renew or leave. Do not deny an interest you have already acted on, such as a pending immigrant petition.

Questions that signal a problem

“How will this business support anyone besides you?” You are being tested on marginality. Answer with the hiring plan and revenue growth.
“Why is $80,000 still in your savings account?” The officer doubts the investment is committed. Explain what it is for and when it will be spent, or why it is working capital.
“Your plan says you will hire five people in year two. How will you pay them?” Know the payroll number and the revenue that covers it.
“Who wrote this plan?” The honest answer, that a consultant wrote it based on your model and inputs, is fine if you can then discuss every part of it.

How to prepare

Reread the entire package the week before, including the business plan, DS-156E and the source-of-funds narrative.
Practice a one-minute and a three-minute description of the business.
Prepare a timeline of the investment: date and amount of each major expenditure.
Prepare the source-of-funds map.
Update your evidence: new bank statements, new contracts, hires, sales since filing. Bring them in a slim folder and offer them only if relevant.
Rehearse with someone who asks hard questions. We run mock interviews for every client.

What to bring

Passport; DS-160 confirmation; appointment confirmation; fee receipt; a complete copy of the filed package with an index; updated financial and operational evidence; originals of key documents such as the lease, purchase agreement and franchise agreement; passports and documents for dependents interviewing with you.

Conduct

Dress as you would for a business meeting. Answer the question asked, then stop. Do not volunteer stories. If you do not understand a question, ask for it to be repeated. If you do not know a figure, say you will confirm it rather than guessing. Interviews are in English at most posts; if your English is limited, say so and ask about interpreter arrangements in advance rather than struggling.

After the interview

Officers often approve or refuse on the spot. A 221(g) notice means more evidence is required; see E-2 denials and 221(g). Passports with approved visas are returned by courier within a week or two.

How we help

Our clients go into the interview knowing the plan because they built it with us. We also run a mock interview covering every section above, with particular attention to the investment timeline and source of funds. If your interview is scheduled and you want a rehearsal, contact us.

This article is general information, not legal advice. E‑2 rules and consular practice change; confirm current requirements with a licensed immigration attorney.