Read the general investor planning overview
A joint account statement shows a balance and account holders, but it may not explain who owns or controls the funds being invested. For E-2 preparation, document the actual source, authority and transfer plan. Do not assume the entire balance is the applicant’s qualifying investment simply because the applicant can access the account. Hypothetical example: a producer of cork-free fermentation vessels plans to use a joint account for a U.S. acquisition, but one spouse also needs part of the balance for a separate property closing. The first review should identify the applicant's actual share, the lawful source of that share and the amount that can be committed. The decision is whether the remaining funds support the proposed enterprise without counting the same money twice.
Identify whose funds are being relied on
Hypothetical example: a Montréal-Est couple holds savings from both spouses in one account before a business purchase. Trace the relevant deposits and explain any gift, transfer or ownership arrangement accurately. Ask advisers what records establish the applicant’s lawful possession and control. Do not manufacture a gift letter merely to simplify a history that reflects a different arrangement. Use bank statements with deposit records, sale documents, gift evidence where applicable and a short ownership explanation. A joint title may allow access without proving that every dollar belongs to the applicant. If the record is mixed, explain the genuine arrangement instead of moving money briefly to create a simpler-looking balance.
Connect the account to the business commitment
Show which funds moved, to whom, and under what agreement. Distinguish money remaining available for household expenses from capital committed to the enterprise. The investment’s risk and commitment require assessment of the actual terms, including any refund or release conditions. A joint account balance alone does not establish those elements. Prepare a transfer ledger showing the date, sender, recipient, purpose and supporting agreement for each material movement. The funds must be committed irreversibly in the circumstances and face real commercial risk, rather than remain a protected personal reserve. Decide whether any release condition is genuinely tied to immigration approval or simply preserves the investor's option to walk away.
Keep ownership and nationality evidence separate
Explain who will own and direct the business after the transaction. The nationality of the applicant and the enterprise, substantiality and non-marginality remain separate parts of the E-2 review. If the funding or ownership plan changes, update both the financial evidence and the agreements before relying on an earlier assessment. After funding is clear, test the separate enterprise questions: treaty nationality, qualifying ownership, substantiality and non-marginality. The investor must be positioned to develop and direct the business. A correct bank trail cannot cure an ownership structure or operating plan that points to a different person controlling the enterprise.
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.