E-2 Visa for British citizens: Validity and Stay

The E-2 visa for British citizens is valid for 60 months (5 years) with multiple entries. How long you can stay, fees, and what British investors should prepare.

Page reviewed October 30, 2026.

What it is

The State Department issues E-2 treaty investor visas to British citizens for 60 months (5 years), with multiple entries.

That is how long the visa can be used to travel to the U.S. How long you may stay is set separately by the border officer at each entry, and for E-2 holders is usually up to two years per admission, with no limit on the number of extensions.

Visa validity
60 months60 months (5 years), from the State Department schedule.
Entries
MultipleHow many times the visa can be used to seek entry.
Usual stay
Up to 2 yearsPer admission, set by the border officer.
Reciprocity fee
NoneOn top of the standard visa application fee.

E-2 visa validity for British citizens

  • Validity: 60 months (5 years).
  • Entries: multiple entries, so you can travel in and out of the U.S. until the visa expires.
  • The State Department lists no reciprocity fee for British E-2 applicants. The standard visa application fee still applies.
  • The E-1 treaty trader visa has the same validity and entries for British citizens: 60 months (5 years), multiple entries.

Visa validity is not the length of your stay

The 60 months is the window in which the visa can be used to travel. Each time you enter, the border officer sets how long you may stay. E-2 holders are usually admitted for up to two years at a time, and a traveler who is found admissible can generally be readmitted for an automatic two-year period. An extension of stay can be requested for up to two years at a time, with no limit on how many.

The E-2 is a temporary status and requires an intention to depart when it ends. It does not lead to a green card on its own.

What British E-2 applicants should prepare

  • Nationality: you must hold British nationality, and the U.S. business must be owned at least 50% by British nationals.
  • What counts is nationality, not where you live. A British citizen living abroad applies under the United Kingdom's treaty status. Someone who lives in the UK without British nationality cannot use it.
  • A partner of another nationality can hold part of the business, but British nationals must own at least half.
  • A substantial investment in a real, operating business that is not marginal, with the money committed and at risk.
  • A lawful source for every dollar invested, shown with records.

Treaty basis and where British cases are processed

The UK's E-2 status traces to the Convention to Regulate the Commerce between the Territories of the United States and of His Britannic Majesty, signed July 3, 1815 and extended indefinitely by the 1827 convention. The Foreign Affairs Manual limits it to British territory in Europe and to UK nationals.

Embassy details below were read on October 30, 2026. Embassy pages change often and most carry no update date, so confirm them on the official page before you file.

  • The London E Visa Unit handles E cases. There are two tracks: the company is registered first, and employees then interview on the registered-company letter.
  • The embassy states that the initial review takes over 90 working days, and that the interview must be booked within 90 days of the invitation. The page is undated, so check it before relying on it.
  • The DS-160 must be submitted at least two business days before the appointment.

E-2 visas issued to British nationals

The State Department's NIV Detail Tables list 3,122 E-2 visas issued to British nationals in fiscal year 2022, 2,836 in fiscal year 2023 and 2,720 in fiscal year 2024. Fiscal years run October 1 to September 30. The counts include family members who received E-2 dependent visas, so they are not a count of investors, and we do not offer a reason for any change from year to year.

Whether the 1815 convention still operates unchanged in every respect is a legal question we have not assessed. We report what the Foreign Affairs Manual lists.

How this compares with other treaty countries

  • Argentina: 60 months (5 years), multiple entries.
  • Italy: 60 months (5 years), multiple entries.
  • Spain: 60 months (5 years), multiple entries.
  • Colombia: 60 months (5 years), multiple entries.
  • France: 48 months (4 years), multiple entries.
  • Germany: 60 months (5 years), multiple entries.
  • Mexico: 48 months (4 years), multiple entries.
  • Japan: 60 months (5 years), multiple entries.
  • South Korea: 60 months (5 years), multiple entries.
  • Taiwan: 60 months (5 years), multiple entries.
  • Israel: 24 months (2 years), multiple entries.
  • Turkey: 60 months (5 years), multiple entries.

How it works

From first call to filed petition

  1. 1. Evaluation

    You get an honest answer.

    We review your situation on a 15-minute call and tell you honestly whether the visa fits and what would make the case stronger. No retainer. No commitment.

  2. 2. Strategy

    You know exactly what your case looks like.

    We map which company documents and evidence prove each requirement, and what is still missing. You see the full picture before we file anything.

  3. 3. Preparation

    Your petition is built without you lifting a finger.

    Our team drafts the support letters and the legal brief, curates every exhibit, and reviews the full petition before it leaves our hands. You approve. We file.

  4. 4. Filing

    Filed. You get on with your life.

    Your petition is filed at USCIS and we manage every communication from there. We handle any RFE at no extra charge.

Common questions

How long is the E-2 visa valid for British citizens?

60 months (5 years), with multiple entries, according to the State Department reciprocity schedule. The State Department can change this at any time, and a consular officer may issue a visa for a shorter period.

How long can British citizens stay in the U.S. on an E-2?

E-2 holders are usually admitted for up to two years at a time. Extensions of stay are granted in increments of up to two years each, with no limit on the number of extensions, as long as the business and the other requirements are still met.

Can British citizens apply for an E-1 instead?

The E-1 treaty trader visa has the same validity and entries for British citizens: 60 months (5 years), multiple entries.

Is there an extra visa fee for British E-2 applicants?

The State Department lists no reciprocity fee for British E-2 applicants. The standard visa application fee still applies.

Does the E-2 give British citizens a path to a green card?

The E-2 is a nonimmigrant status and requires an intention to depart when it ends. A filed or approved immigrant petition alone is not a reason to deny an E application, but the E-2 itself does not give a path to permanent residence.

Is Lando a law firm?

No. Lando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys. For advice about your own situation, speak to a licensed immigration attorney.

Sources

Lando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys.