Not solely because exclusivity has not yet been granted. The application is assessed on the enterprise as it stands, and credible prelaunch commitments can matter, so waiting may simply delay without adding strength. The decision depends on how much of the plan's viability currently rests on rights the vendor has not yet granted.
Sequence the filing around evidence, not the vendor's calendar
Set milestones of your own: entity and ownership, funds trail complete, premises and stock committed, projections rebuilt on non-exclusive terms, final review. Processing times are not guaranteed and no date can be promised. Keep in view the departure intention that E-2 involves, and avoid commitments — a residential lease at home, school registrations, a resignation — that assume travel on a fixed day.
Fix dates for due diligence, funding transfers, licence applications, lease signature and assembly of the evidence package, and distinguish flexible planning targets from binding contractual or regulatory deadlines. The category is designed around an investment that has already been made, so the file is built after the lease is signed, the equipment is bought and the business is ready to operate. Canadian citizens apply for an E-2 visa at a consulate, so plan the closing sequence around that process, and remember that E-2 provides no direct path to permanent residence.