Hiring a bookkeeper does not answer who develops and directs the E-2 business

A Carignan investor may delegate bookkeeping, payroll or routine administration while retaining business decisions. Describe those responsibilities accurately. Outsourcing a task neither automatically removes investor control nor proves that the applicant has a qualifying directing role. A first review should create two separate lists: commitments that put funds beyond the investor’s control and records showing how the investor will direct the operation. A bank balance, a contractor agreement, or a delegation clause may answer only one of those questions. Sequence the source-of-funds trail before relying on a forecast, then test the purchase, lease, escrow, and refund terms to see whether capital is truly exposed to business loss. Hypothetical example: the owner of a company making climbing-wall safety panels hires an operations firm but keeps authority over pricing, suppliers, and expansion. The decision is whether the agreements show genuine direction rather than passive ownership; the management contract and signed decision authorities are more useful than a generic organizational chart. The same review should identify the enterprise’s ownership before accepting the investment. A control claim should be reconciled with share records, voting rights, and any operating agreement, because a person who funds an enterprise may not necessarily direct it.