Read the general pathway comparison overview
A Dunnottar applicant may hope to transfer first and purchase a business interest later. The actual initial L assignment and any later E-2 proposal require separate factual analyses. A future investment cannot establish missing L employment or company relationships, and an L approval does not automatically authorize every later business activity.
Describe the first employer and duties
Hypothetical example: an employee transfers for specialized work and later considers buying an unrelated enterprise. Identify the actual employer, knowledge or management duties and qualifying foreign history. Do not describe the later purchase as part of the employer relationship if it is a separate venture.
Build the investment record only from genuine facts
For a concrete E-2 proposal, identify treaty nationality, lawful source and path, at-risk commitment, substantiality, marginality and development-and-direction rights. A possible future purchase should remain labelled as a proposal, not established eligibility.
Review before changing work or ownership arrangements
Identify actual effective dates and current immigration documents. A business opportunity or share purchase does not itself amend work permission. Obtain appropriate immigration and separate commercial advice before relying on a staged plan as though one approval covers every transition.
What else is on your mind?
Does being a business owner or director qualify me for L-1A?What employment history should an L-1 transfer review cover?What makes a new-office L-1A case different?How should an owner compare L-1 and E-2?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.