Read the general investor planning overview
A funding spreadsheet organizes an E-2 proposal, but the underlying ownership, source, transfer and commitment records determine what its entries mean. Review the actual transaction rather than treating a total as qualifying capital.
Test one line from origin to use
Hypothetical example: an accountant lists a personal loan as investment funding. Locate the loan agreement, disbursement, transfers and intended business use. Identify any collateral. Personally secured or unsecured borrowing may qualify under the applicable rules; debt secured by enterprise assets does not count as the investor’s qualifying investment. Mixing personal collateral with enterprise assets does not make that debt qualifying investment capital.
Separate committed funds from expectations
Label each entry as paid, contractually committed, conditionally held or only planned, using the actual documents. Read escrow and cancellation terms rather than assuming all escrow qualifies. Distinguish investment capital from unrelated charges and reserve estimates. A plan to spend money is not automatically an investment already at risk.
Reconcile funding with the whole enterprise
Review qualifying treaty nationality, ownership and control, substantiality, the real operating enterprise and nonmarginality alongside the ledger. There is no universal fixed E-2 minimum. Ask the business decision-maker to confirm how the funding supports actual operations and the applicant’s role in developing and directing them.
What else is on your mind?
Is there one minimum investment that guarantees E-2 eligibility?Is holding money or owning an asset enough for E-2?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.