E-2 Visa for Citizens of India, China, and Other Non-Treaty Countries (2026)
Citizens of India, China, Brazil, Vietnam, and Russia cannot apply for the E-2 directly, because their countries have no E-2 treaty with the U.S. The established workaround has two steps: obtain citizenship in a treaty country, most commonly Grenada or Turkey, then apply for the E-2 as a citizen of that country.
How the two-step route works
E-2 eligibility follows your citizenship, not where you live. Several treaty countries offer citizenship by investment: Grenada’s program runs through a donation or approved real estate, and Turkey’s through a real estate purchase. Getting the second passport commonly takes 6 to 12 months.
After that, you apply for the E-2 like any other treaty national, with the same requirements and the same business rules. The full treaty country list shows every eligible nationality.
What to check before committing
Run three diligence checks before you put money into a second citizenship.
- Program legitimacy. Work only with licensed agents of the official programs.
- The total math. The second citizenship plus the E-2 investment together still usually cost far less than an EB-5.
- Dual citizenship rules at home. India, for example, does not permit dual citizenship, which makes this route a much bigger decision for Indian nationals than for most others.
This is exactly the kind of case where your E-2 counsel and your citizenship consultant need to be talking to each other.
From a non-treaty country and weighing your options?
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Frequently asked questions
Which treaty country passport is fastest for the E-2 route?
Grenada and Turkey are the most used, because of their cost, speed, and treaty status. The right choice depends on your budget, your family, and your home country’s dual citizenship rules.
Is there any direct option without a second citizenship?
Not for the E-2. The alternatives worth comparing are the EB-5 green card, the O-1 for extraordinary ability, and the L-1 for executives transferring from an existing company.
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.