A Dream in the Making
Alex and Mark had been best friends for years. Their shared passion for food and business led them to a bold idea—opening a restaurant in the United States. Alex, a Greek citizen, and Mark, an Austrian, spent months crafting the perfect business plan, budgeting every dollar, and planning how they would work side by side to bring their vision to life.
Everything seemed perfect—until they realized a harsh truth: Alex wasn’t eligible for the E-2 visa.
The E-2 Visa Problem
Mark, as an Austrian citizen, could apply for an E-2 investor visa, which allows people from treaty countries to start and manage businesses in the U.S. But Greece wasn’t on the list of treaty countries. That meant while Mark could legally run the restaurant, Alex could not work there—even if he was a co-owner.
What made it even more frustrating? Out of 84 countries that have U.S. trade and investment treaties, Greece is the only one eligible for an E-1 (Treaty Trader) visa but not an E-2 (Investor) visa. That meant Greek citizens could do business in the U.S. if they were engaged in substantial trade, but they couldn’t invest and manage a business like other nationalities could.
This felt completely unfair. Why should an Austrian, an Italian, or even a country with a much smaller economy be able to send investors, but Greeks—who have long histories of business and entrepreneurship—were left out? Alex couldn’t understand why he was being excluded.
For Alex, the dream suddenly seemed impossible. “Why would we even do this if I can’t be there working with you?” he asked Mark, frustration growing. They had planned to save money by doing most of the work themselves, but now, they were looking at hiring extra managers to operate the business.
Finding a Way Forward
Determined not to give up, they explored their options. The situation wasn’t hopeless, but they had to be strategic.
Option 1: Mark Hires Alex on a Work Visa (Risky but Possible)
If Mark got his E-2 visa, he could later hire Alex as an employee. But this had challenges:
• Alex would need a specialty work visa (like an H-1B or O-1), which isn’t easy to get.
• He wouldn’t be an investor, just an employee.
• There was no guarantee the visa would be approved.
Option 2: The E-1 Visa (If They Focused on Greek Imports)
If their business focused on importing Greek products, Alex could qualify for an E-1 Treaty Trader visa. This would allow him to manage the business in the U.S. as long as at least 50% of their trade was between the U.S. and Greece.
✔️ He could work legally.
✔️ No extra manager needed.
❌ It would only work if their business heavily relied on Greek imports.
The Hard Truth: No Shortcut
Alex and Mark had to face reality. If they didn’t find a legal way for Alex to work in the U.S., he could only be a passive owner—meaning no working in the kitchen, no managing employees, no hands-on role.
Worse, if Alex tried to work without a visa, he could face deportation and a ban from entering the U.S. in the future.
That wasn’t an option.
But the unfairness of it all remained. Greeks had been contributing to the American economy for over a century, from small diners to major enterprises. And yet, when it came to investing in the country, they were left out of the same opportunity given to nearly every other trade partner.
For Alex, this wasn’t just about his business—it was about justice. And until something changed, he would keep pushing for Greece to finally be included in the E-2 visa program.
E2 Visa for Greece 