Moving to the United States via Grenada Citizenship: The Fast-Track E-2 Visa Guide

The US E-2 Non-Immigrant Treaty Investor Visa is widely regarded as one of the most efficient and versatile pathways to establish residency in the United States. Unlike employment-based green cards or the EB-5 program (which mandates a minimum $800,000 capital lockup and faces multi-year waiting backlogs), the E-2 visa is processed in just a few months at US consulates worldwide.

The United States grants E-2 visas strictly to citizens of countries that maintain a bilateral trade and navigation treaty with Washington. Major countries — including China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and Lebanon — do NOT have an E-2 treaty with the United States. Grenada signed a comprehensive Bilateral Investment Treaty with the US in 1989. By acquiring Grenadian citizenship through its accredited citizenship by investment program, foreign entrepreneurs immediately qualify to petition for an E-2 investor visa as Grenadian citizens.

In December 2022, the US Congress enacted the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which introduced an additional requirement for applicants who acquired treaty citizenship by investment. Under the revised rules, new citizens of treaty nations must establish continuous domicile or residence in their treaty country for at least three continuous years before filing an E-2 visa application, unless they had already applied prior to enactment. Our legal practice works directly with international investors to structure compliant domicile profiles or explore complementary direct US immigration routes.

To qualify for the E-2 visa once citizenship is established, the applicant must invest a 'substantial' amount of capital into a bona fide, operating commercial enterprise in the United States (typically $100,000 to $150,000+ depending on business type). In return, the entire family enjoys: • Principal Applicant: Direct management authority over their US business enterprise. • Spouse: Unrestricted Employment Authorization Document (EAD) allowing them to work for any US employer. • Children Under 21: Enrollment in premier US public and private schools, often qualifying for resident in-state university tuition. • Indefinite Renewals: The E-2 visa can be renewed indefinitely as long as the underlying commercial enterprise remains active and viable.