Immigration Law

16 Statistics E-2 Visa Holders Should Know

Here is what the latest State Department and USCIS data means for E-2 investors, including visa issuance and processing times.

Written By:Caryl Espinoza Jaen

Reviewed By:Ana Gabriela Urizar

Updated:

Chart of key E-2 visa statistics for treaty investors

Key Takeaways

  • The State Department issued 55,324 E-2 visas in Fiscal Year 2024. These accounted for most E-2 applications that went through consular processing.
  • The FY 2024 E-2 issuance rate was approximately 90.1%. Out of 61,432 total E-2 applications, U.S. embassies and consulates issued 55,324 E-2 visas and refused 6,108.
  • Monthly State Department reports show 51,047 E-2 visas issued in FY 2025. These are consular visa issuances, not USCIS petition approvals.
  • Japan was the top E-2 issuing country by consular post location in FY 2025. U.S. posts in Japan account for about 30.3% of the total E-2 visas issued.
  • As of May 2026, USCIS processing for Form I-129 E-1 and E-2 filings was 13 months. This figure applies to USCIS filings such as changes of status and extensions, not initial E-2 visa applications filed abroad.

E-2 visa issuance statistics

  • 55,324 E-2 visas were issued in Fiscal Year 2024. These account for the majority of total E-2 applications that went through consular processing.
  • The FY 2024 E-2 issuance rate was approximately 90.1%. Out of a total of 61,432 applicants, U.S. embassies and consular offices only denied 6,108 petitions.
  • 51,047 E-2 visas were issued in FY 2025. Monthly E-2 issuances ranged from 3,690 in November 2024 to 5,185 in July 2025, based on the State Department’s monthly reports.

E-2 visa issuance by country and consular post

  • Japan had the highest E-2 issuance total in FY 2025. Two consulates accounted for the majority of the 15,491 E-2 visas issued, with Tokyo at 8,710 and Osaka at 6,761.
  • Canada had the second-highest E-2 issuance total in FY 2025. U.S. posts in Canada issued 7,650 E-2 visas, led by Toronto with 6,464.
  • South Korea ranked third among E-2 issuing post locations in FY 2025. The U.S. embassy in Seoul issued 5,327 E-2 visas.
  • The top five country or territory post locations accounted for about 67.3% of FY 2025 E-2 issuances. Japan, Canada, South Korea, France, and Germany together accounted for 35,515 of the 51,047 E-2 visas issued in the FY 2025 monthly reports.
  • Consular post location is not the same as applicant nationality. These figures show where E-2 visas were issued by U.S. embassies and consulates, not the citizenship of every petitioner.

E-2 processing time statistics

  • As of May 2026, USCIS took 13 months to complete 80% of Form I-129 E-category (treaty trader and investor) petitions. Several factors can affect the time an individual case takes to adjudicate, including case complexity and USCIS workload.
  • This USCIS figure does not include initial E-2 visa issuance abroad. The State Department handles this process, and the agency does not publish its processing times data.
  • That means the USCIS processing times figure is most useful for E-2 changes of status and extensions. It should not be used as the expected wait time for a first-time E-2 visa interview or visa issuance at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

About the Author

Caryl Espinoza Jaen

Caryl Espinoza Jaen is a Nicaraguan-born staff writer for Manifest Law. As a writer, he strives to cover complex topics like immigration policy with clarity, accuracy, and precision.

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Reviewed By

Ana Gabriela Urizar
Ana Gabriela Urizar

Immigration Lawyer to Manifest Law

Ana Gabriela Urizar is an award-winning immigration attorney licensed in Arizona and New York. With nearly a decade of experience, she advises global corporations on complex U.S. immigration matters. Originally from Guatemala, Ana Gabriela previously spent close to ten years at the world’s largest immigration firm, managing business immigration matters for leading technology, science, and financial companies. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch and Negocios Now’s Tri-State 40 Under 40.

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