Not necessarily. Prelaunch enterprises can qualify where capital is committed and at risk, operations are genuinely ready, and commitments are credible, so waiting for first sales is not a universal rule. Waiting also costs lease months and cash. Weigh the added evidence against the burn rate with individualized advice.
Set milestones instead of a single deadline
Pick review points: a date to convert interest into quotations, a date to finalize the funds trail, a date to assemble the plan and its exhibits. Remember that a visa's validity period is not the same as the authorized stay recorded on the I-94. No processing time is guaranteed, so avoid resignations, shipments, or opening commitments that depend on a specific approval date.
Update the actual source and transfer evidence and assess any material change in rights or commitments. Review commitments and contingency assumptions while the application is prepared. Lease start, equipment delivery, and staff notice periods run on commercial timelines that ignore visa steps. Check whether the lease, equipment orders, licences, insurance, staffing plan, and supplier contracts remain effective, refundable, or contingent. Once issued, E-2 is renewable while the business continues to qualify, so the first opening date matters less than opening lawfully.