Almost every family that moves to the United States ends up buying a car. Hence a frequent question from E2 planners: can that purchase go through the company, so it counts as part of the business investment? The answer is "it depends" — and the criterion is simpler than it seems.
A vehicle purchase can only enter the investment if it has a direct relation to the business and is genuinely necessary for the operation. Wanting to include the expense isn't enough: what matters is coherence with the company's model.
When the vehicle makes sense
Think of a company that provides field services — home repairs, for example. It normally needs vehicles to take the team and equipment to the customer. In that case, the car (or van) was acquired to be used in the operation. Even if the owner occasionally uses the vehicle outside business hours, the acquisition had a business purpose — and so it can be considered part of the investment.
The general rule: coherence
For the E2, keep in mind that all the company's expenses are analyzed in a broad context and need to be coherent with the business. In the field-services example, a vehicle is practically indispensable. But not just any vehicle.
An expensive luxury car would hardly be justified as part of the investment in that kind of company. A van wrapped with the brand's logo, bought at market price, would be perfectly coherent with the operation. The difference lies in purpose and proportion.
A practical test
When in doubt about an expense, ask a simple question: is this expense justifiable and coherent for the business model, regardless of the visa? If the answer is yes, it will probably be considered part of the investment in the E2 application. If the purchase exists only to "inflate" the number, without a real link to the operation, it tends to be questioned.
Substantial investment is only one requirement
Finally, an important reminder: the investment being substantial is only one of the criteria officers evaluate in the E2. As important as the amount is the whole — capital genuinely at risk, a real and active business, with a perspective of profit and job creation.
That's where our role comes in: Unike advises on the selection and analysis of the right franchise, helping build a coherent case from the choice of model. The final definition of which expenses compose the investment, though, should be validated with the immigration attorney we refer. This content is informational, and each case needs individual analysis.