"Do I really need an immigration attorney for the E2 Visa?" The short answer: it's not required by law, but it is highly recommended. This is probably the professional with the most decisive role in your visa's approval.

The American embassy's own FAQ notes that an attorney is not mandatory — and not hiring one doesn't make a candidate ineligible. Even so, our guidance to anyone applying is clear: hire one, and choose a genuinely good attorney, specialized in this type of visa and with a solid approval track record.

What the immigration attorney does

Whatever the type of business — a franchise or an existing company — this professional helps in several ways throughout the process:

  • Assesses whether the chosen business fits the E2 requirements;
  • Guides the proof of source of funds and how to transfer the capital;
  • Handles the forms and the gathering of required documents;
  • Reviews (and refers who prepares) the E2-specific business plan;
  • Analyzes contracts tied to the business, like the lease and the franchise agreement;
  • Prepares the investor for the consular interview, when there is one;
  • Advises on the application path — change of status or consular processing.

Because this is a specialist who does it daily, they can present everything in a way that increases the chances of approval. That weight is significant, especially considering a move between countries and an investment normally above US$ 100,000.

About the cost

Fees vary by firm, but usually sit in the range of a few thousand dollars. Given what's at stake, it's an investment that tends to justify itself in peace of mind and higher approval odds.

Where Unike comes in — and where the attorney does

To avoid confusion, the division of roles: Unike does not handle the immigration process and is not a visa consultancy. We represent over 700 American franchises and advise you on the pre-selection, analysis, and choice of the right franchise — from profile definition to signing the agreement with the franchisor.

The visa side stays with the E2-specialized immigration attorney, whom we refer and work with together — our consulting even includes a complimentary initial consultation with one. It's the sum of the two fronts — the right franchise and a well-built case — that usually makes the difference. And as always: no serious professional guarantees approval, which is the immigration officer's decision.