{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/e-2-investor-visa","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/e-2-investor-visa","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"e-2-investor-visa","term":"E-2 investor visa","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"This is a non-immigrant visa for treaty investors from certain countries who invest a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business. It's a key visa for foreign nationals looking to buy a business with an SBA loan.","what_it_means":"If you're a foreign national, an E-2 visa can make you eligible for an SBA 7(a) loan. You must be a 'Qualified Alien' and hold an unexpired Form I-551, or other specific USCIS documentation. Lenders will require proof of your legal residency and work authorization in the U.S. before proceeding with your application.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/e-2-investor-visa","official_sources":[{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"}],"related":[{"slug":"qualified-alien","term":"Qualified Alien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/qualified-alien"},{"slug":"form-i-551","term":"Form I-551","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/form-i-551"},{"slug":"uscis","term":"USCIS","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/uscis"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can a business owner with a valid E-2 investor visa meet the citizenship or residency requirements for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-business-owner-with-a-valid-e-2-investor-visa-meet-the-citizenship-or-residency-requ"},{"question":"Can a non-U.S. citizen individual with an E-2 investor visa be an eligible applicant for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-non-u-s-citizen-individual-with-an-e-2-investor-visa-be-an-eligible-applicant-for-a-"},{"question":"What type of property appraisal is required if my $1.2 million SBA loan includes commercial real estate?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-type-of-property-appraisal-is-required-if-my-1-2-million-sba-loan-includes-commercial"},{"question":"Are specific visa types acceptable for a non-U.S. citizen owner to be eligible for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/are-specific-visa-types-acceptable-for-a-non-u-s-citizen-owner-to-be-eligible-for-an-sba-7"},{"question":"Is an individual without permanent resident status, but with a valid U.S. work visa, eligible for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/is-an-individual-without-permanent-resident-status-but-with-a-valid-u-s-work-visa-eligible"},{"question":"What specific conditions apply to the prepayment penalty on 7(a) loans exceeding $2,500,000 with terms of 15 years or more?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-specific-conditions-apply-to-the-prepayment-penalty-on-7-a-loans-exceeding-2-500-000-"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — E-2 investor visa","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/e-2-investor-visa","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}