Read the general investor planning overview
The business intends to lease its main equipment rather than buy it, which changes what the file has to show. Do not assume that lease payments either count in full toward the investment or count for nothing at all. Record what has been legally committed, what has actually been paid, what remains a future obligation, and what the enterprise will do with the equipment, then have the signed documents reviewed rather than a summary of them.
Split the lease into committed, paid and future
Read the agreement itself and extract the term, the deposit, the schedule of payments, any personal guarantee, the termination and default consequences, and any purchase option. Date every amount already transferred and identify who transferred it. Then mark which obligations are irrevocable today and which depend on renewal or on the business continuing. This matters because the investment is examined for funds that are substantial in relation to the enterprise and genuinely at risk, and there is no fixed universal minimum figure and no categorical rule that leasing either satisfies or defeats that test.
Trace the source and path of the money
Build a dated path from the lawful origin of the funds to each recipient, including deposits held by the lessor. If a gift, an asset sale or a loan is involved, gather the supporting records and terms; identify the borrower, liability, security and payment terms so the reviewer can assess whether and how the borrowed funds qualify. Hypothetical example: the equipment deposit is paid from a personal account before the company account exists, and the monthly payments start from the business account afterwards. Both legs belong in the record, with the reason for each transfer stated.
Show the operating business the equipment serves
Leasing frees cash for other uses, so account for where the remaining funds went: premises, staffing, inventory, licences or working capital. Describe customers, how the service is delivered, who performs the work, and the applicant's role in developing and directing the enterprise. The enterprise must be a real operating business and satisfy the non-marginality requirement, so keep forecasts supported by something and leave the uncertainties visible. An immigration review examines eligibility evidence; it does not establish that the lease terms are commercially sound, which is a separate question for separate advisers.
Who is the lessee, and who is the investor
Check whose name appears on the lease before deciding what the file can claim. An agreement signed by the individual creates a personal obligation; one signed by the company creates a corporate obligation, and the two support different statements about committed funds. A personal guarantee behind a corporate lease puts the individual back on the hook without moving the asset. Where the enterprise is the lessee and the investor only guarantees it, say exactly that instead of blurring both into one figure. The investor must develop and direct the enterprise, and signing its paperwork does not discharge that duty.
What else is on your mind?
Is there one minimum investment that guarantees E-2 eligibility?Is holding money or owning an asset enough for E-2?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.