Ask HN: Experience running a business in the U.S. on the E-2 visa?
My background: European, doing contract, freelance dev with Western European and US clients. Importantly, I've been doing that solo.
I've read all I could about the E-2 visa. I think that the bottom line is, my business would need to generate more than a "marginal" revenue, meaning I would have to generate U.S. jobs in order to maintain my E-2.
I'll eventually hire a lawyer to help me navigate the application process. What I am keen to learn now is, assuming I get the visa and can grow my business in the U.S., what would be the "minimum viable business" to have to allow me to keep my status?
I don't want to build an empire and have tons of employees. Neither do I want to launch a startup with VC money. My idea would be to have a nice "lifestyle" business built around my skills with the help of either contractors or employees (if I must). At the same time I understand that the E-2 is definitely not a "freelancer visa".
To recap, I am not looking for legal advice here (I will pay a lawyer) but rather experience "from the battlefield", so to speak.
PS I am only considering E-2 at the moment. I won't go the employment route (H1-B), don't have the cash for EB-5 or the smarts/fame for O-1 or what's it called.