What to Look for in an E-2 Visa Attorney (2026)

By Talia Harari, Attorney at Law. Updated September 2026.

The attorney you hire for an E-2 matters almost as much as the business you invest in. The visa has its own rules, its own evidence standards, and quirks that vary by consulate. Below are five things to expect from any firm you consider, ours included, and how Harari Law approaches each one.

Choose well and the process feels straightforward. Choose poorly and you can lose months, and thousands of dollars, to a denial or a refile.

1. Real E-2 focus, not only general immigration practice

You should expect a firm that knows the E-2 specifically, because immigration law is broad. A lawyer who mostly handles green cards, asylum, or family petitions may touch only a handful of E-2 cases a year, if that. The E-2 turns on proving a substantial, at-risk investment, a real and operating business, and a source of funds that holds up to scrutiny, and the standards shift from one consulate to the next.

A firm that works on E-2s often knows what a specific consulate wants to see, how to frame a business plan, and where cases tend to fall apart. For example, one investor whose lawyer had never handled a consular E-2 submitted a business plan built for a USCIS filing, and the officer sent it back for missing market and hiring detail. A plan built for the interview from the start avoids that.

At Harari Law, our attorney is admitted in New York, and because immigration is federal law, we represent E-2 clients nationwide and abroad.

See what the E-2 actually requires

2. A clear, complete fee, not just a low one

Expect to judge a fee by what it covers, not only by its size. A low quote is tempting, especially on top of a six-figure investment, but in E-2 work the cheapest fee can mean the least experience, the least time on your file, or a template approach that ignores what makes your case different.

A denial or a refile costs far more than the savings, in filing fees, in lost time, and sometimes in a business that had to wait to open. Ask what the fee includes: the business plan, the source-of-funds work, interview preparation, and how much is handled by the attorney rather than a paralegal.

Our fee is flat and quoted in full before any work begins, and we never bill hourly.

See a realistic breakdown of E-2 costs and fees

3. Straight answers about E-2 experience

A good firm should answer this question directly, and it is the most useful one you can ask: “How many E-2 cases did your firm handle last year?” Most people never ask it. A firm that handles E-2s every week has seen the edge cases, the tricky source-of-funds situations, and the consulate-specific preferences. A firm that handles a few a year has not.

Volume is not everything, but it is a clear signal of real expertise. You can also ask whether the firm will connect you with past clients. A firm that dodges these questions is telling you something.

4. Real skill on source of funds and the business plan

Expect your attorney to treat these two topics as the core of the case. Most E-2 cases are decided by whether you can prove your money was earned lawfully and is truly at risk, and whether your business plan shows a real, non-marginal enterprise. This is where inexperienced firms cut corners.

A strong firm traces every dollar with clean documentation. It builds a business plan aimed at the officer who will read it, with realistic financials, a hiring timeline, and real market detail. If a firm brushes past these two topics in your consultation, treat that as a warning sign.

At Harari Law, the same firm who handles your corporate work also handles your visa, so the company structure and the E-2 case are built together.

Read the full E-2 guide, including what counts as a real investment

5. Room to compare before you commit

You should feel free to compare firms, and a good one will not rush you. E-2 attorney ads are everywhere, and the biggest ad budget is not the same as the best fit. Booking the first name you find is how people end up with a poor fit they only notice months into the process.

You would not buy the first house you walked into, and this decision is bigger. Talk to two or three firms, ask each the same questions, and notice who explains things clearly and who just pushes you to sign.

Because our flat fee is quoted in full before work begins, you can compare it line for line with any other quote.

A quick checklist

Put the five criteria together and you have a short checklist. A firm worth hiring:

• Works on E-2 cases regularly, not occasionally.
• Is transparent about fees and exactly what they include.
• Answers directly when you ask how many E-2 cases it handles.
• Treats source of funds and the business plan as the heart of the case.
• Communicates clearly and earns your trust before asking you to commit.

How Harari Law handles E-2 cases

Three facts describe how we work. Our fee is flat and quoted in full before we begin, never hourly. The same firm handles your corporate work and your visa. And we are admitted in New York; because immigration is federal, we represent clients nationwide and abroad. A short consultation is the easiest way to see whether we are the right fit for your case. Our E-2 practice page walks through our process.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a lawyer for an E-2 visa?

The law does not require one. Still, the E-2 is document-heavy and the stakes are high, and an attorney who knows the E-2 well gives you a far better chance of a clean, well-documented case.

How much does an E-2 visa attorney cost?

Fees vary by firm and case. Ours is flat, quoted in full before we begin, and never hourly. Government filing fees are separate.

What should I ask an E-2 attorney before hiring them?

Ask how many E-2 cases the firm handles, whether the attorney or a paralegal does the work, what the fee includes, and whether the firm has experience with your specific consulate.

Is a general immigration lawyer good enough for an E-2?

Sometimes. But the E-2 has specialized evidence standards and consulate quirks, so a firm that works on E-2s regularly is the safer choice.

Who handles my case at Harari Law?

The same firm handles your corporate work and your visa, so the company and the case are built together. We are admitted in New York and, because immigration is federal, represent clients nationwide and abroad.

Related: E-2 visa practice page, E-2 visa guide, E-2 visa cost, E-2 interview questions.

This article is general information from Harari Law, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration law and agency policy change; outcomes depend on individual facts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.