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APPLICATION ANSWERS · E-2 FIELD GUIDE

Does the business purchase need to close before an E-2 review can happen?

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THE DIRECT ANSWER

Not necessarily. Some qualifying arrangements involve funds held in an investment-in-process or escrow arrangement, so it is not accurate to assume every purchase must be fully closed before a review is useful; the actual terms should be reviewed first.

Coordinate the closing with the correct process, not a fixed assumption

Identify who has authority to revise closing and release conditions, then confirm which consular or status process actually applies to this applicant. Keep a hoped-for opening date separate from an expected government decision date. If ownership, funding, or the operating plan changes before travel, treat that as a reason for reassessment rather than pushing forward on an outdated plan.

Negotiate with the seller a long-stop date that leaves room for consular scheduling, because interview availability varies, and a seller who insists on closing within thirty days will force either an unconditional payment or a withdrawn deal.