Establish US Residency in Los Angeles CA. The “E2 Visa” is a nonimmigrant visa that allows foreign nationals from treaty countries to live and work in the United States based on an investment in a US Business. With an E2 visa, investors and entrepreneurs can start or Buy a Business or franchise in the United States.

To successfully buy a business in the U.S. with an E-2 visa from Europe, follow these steps:

  • Research eligible businesses that qualify for E-2 visa investment.
  • Ensure you meet the investment amount requirement, typically around $100,000 or more.
  • Prepare a comprehensive business plan outlining your investment and operational strategy.
  • Gather necessary documentation, including proof of funds and personal background information.
  • File the E-2 visa application with the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country.
  • Attend the visa interview and present your business plan and investment details.
  • It’s that simple.

E2 VISA EUROPE: Investors. Richard Stein and Roschard Paticchio Stein are ready, able and capable to offer all Citizens throughout Europe, including Nations around the Globe the opportunity to establish US Residency, safely in Los Angeles, California under the “E2 Visa” treaty, by Purchasing an existing Restaurant Business or Starting a New Restaurant Business, in full compliance with US Law, and E2 Visa requirements.

Retain Penthouse Advisors INC., If ready to purchase a Restaurant within Los Angeles County, Richard Stein and Roschard Paticchio Stein are available for the complex, Property Owner (landlord) Negotiations, establishing a contingency addendum to the purchase agreement that reads subject to, E2 Visa approval.

February 14, 2026, Munich Germany, Security Conference: We believe our work helps add to Marco Rubio’s, February 14, 2026, Munich Germany, Security Conference speech, whereby Leaders of all European Countries were asked and agreed to actively work with the US, realigning the “Transatlantic Bond” left abandoned for generations, develop collective strength, revitalize a US-Europe Friendship so as to renew the Greatest Civilization in Human History.

US Immigration Law: It is mandatory for Penthouse Advisors INC., to Comply with all US Immigration Laws while Selling, and Buying actively, open, Restaurants throughout Los Angeles California.

Richard Stein and Roschard Paticchio Stein owners of Penthouse Advisors INC., work with Buyers that are Purchasing an existing Restaurant Business or Starting a New Restaurant Business, Only within Los Angeles County and neighboring areas, in full compliance with US Law, meeting all E2 Visa requirements. Our work includes complex Property Owner (Landlord) Negotiations establishing Lease contingencies, subject to E2 Visa approval.

  • Lease Contingency example: Upon fully funding the Escrow Trust Account and prior to Escrow Closing, negotiations by Richard Stein and Roschard Paticchio Stein to assign the Sellers, existing Lease and or draft a new Lease into the E2-Visa Buyer named on the Lease as the guarantor until E2-Visa approval and acceptance is granted at the US Consulate or Embassy abroad.

Note: Both investors and employees of E2 businesses can apply for E2 visa if they are already in US. To apply for E2 visa while in the United States, you have two options:

  • Change of Status at USCIS U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 
  • E2 visa at US Consulate or Embassy abroad

Here, the focus is on applying for an E2 Visa through change of status at USCIS. However, it is important to note that you can also apply for the E2 Visa at a US Consulate or Embassy abroad while being in the United States. In other words, you can be in the United States at the time you apply for an E2 visa at the US Consulate or Embassy abroad because there is no requirement that you need to be present in your country at the time of application.  As discussed above, to apply for an E2 visa while in the US, you can choose one of two options – change of status at USCIS or E2 visa at US Embassy or consulate. However, in certain circumstances, you may want to do a change of status to an E2 at USCIS, and shortly thereafter apply for an E2 visa at the US Consulate abroad. This is particularly advantageous if you are already in the United States, and you want to start working immediately.

Getting an E2 Visa through a US Consulate or Embassy

If you apply for an E2 visa at the US Consulate or Embassy abroad, you must attend an E2 visa interview at the consulate. If you are approved, you receive an E2 visa stamp in your passport which allows you to travel between the United States and other countries. The E2 visa stamp is a physical stamp or sticker in your passport which serves as an entry document or an authorization to travel to the United States. Once you arrive in the United States, you present the E2 visa at the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) where a CBP officer determines whether to admit you in the US or not. Upon entry into the United States, the E2 visa stamp does not control your legal status. is not the controlling document for legal status. It Instead, your legal status is controlled by the E2 status as recorded on your I-94 Record.

Remember, a valid E2 visa is not required to maintain legal status in the United States, but it is a document that allows you to travel outside the United States and return during its validity. In fact, you can be in legal status in the United States with an expired E2 visa. However, if you apply for E2 change of status while in United States, then you undergo a different process.

Apply for an E2 visa through change of status while in the US. Understand not everyone can change status to E2 while in the United States.

1. If you are not a citizen of one of the E2 treaty countries, then you cannot pursue a change of status to E2 in the US.

2. Second, If you are a citizen of a treaty country, you may still not be able to change status in the United States.

Alcohol Licensing: When Purchasing a Restaurant within Los Angeles County and neighboring areas, upon E2 Visa approval and the close of Escrow, Roschard Paticchio Stein and Richard Stein specialists in fast, Restaurant, Beer and Wine, Type 41 Alcohol Licensing and Hard Alcohol, Type 47 Transfers and Sales in conjunction with the California State, Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC), if retained, will assist with fast work licensing the Restaurant to dispense Alcohol to the Public.

Health Department Permitting: Upon approval of the E2 Visa, a Health Department site evaluation is performed by Roschard Paticchio Stein and Richard Stein to approve for Health Department permitting and licensing prior to calling in the Inspector to facilitate the ID.

Funds: The Funds should be put irrevocably at risk, meaning they should be used for business related expenses that cannot be recovered in the event the Restaurant Business goes into default.

LOI Purchase Agreement: Penthouse Advisors INC., will draft a “LOI” Letter of Intent, Purchase Agreement at the agreed purchase price to be signed by and between the Buyer and Seller. The agreement is subject to the Property Owner reviewing the strength of the guarantor’s following documentation;

  • a) Credit Report,
  • b) Three (3) consecutive, Strong, Bank statements, showing liquidity.
  • c) Date of birth,
  • d) Place of Birth,
  • e) Residential Address,
  • f) Driver’s license,
  • g) SSN, Social Security or ITIN, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number,
  • h) Business Plan,
  • i) Menu,
  • j) Restaurant experience.
  • k) Resume. 

Guarantor: Only One (1) guarantor to the Lease. This can be a Partner, Family Member that holds the strongest bank account and will be held responsible for all lease payments, lease terms and conditions. Investors must own at least 50% of the Business, giving them operational control, including the Principal investor “Buyer”, can apply for E2 as qualifying employees, who are usually of the same nationality as Buyers (same treaty country). The registration takes a few months depending upon the jurisdiction. The E2 employee visa can be obtained within two weeks. The E2 visa can be extended to other personnel if they meet the conditions as follows; a) Hold a managerial position. b) Handle an entire business or a Key Part of the business. c) Skilled workers or specialists. d) Highly specialized skill capacity in some areas related to the business is difficult to find in the US. e) The employee is necessary to run a principal trade for the investor’s business in the US.

Escrow opened: Upon Property Owner approval of the said Guarantor to the Lease, Escrow will be opened. Drafting a New Lease or Assignment to the existing Lease will be signed by the Property Owner and delivered to Escrow followed by escrow delivering via email to the Buyer, Wire instructions link, whereby 100% of the total consideration, “purchase money” must be wired into the Escrow Trust account. 

Documents Required: The LOI Purchase Agreement, copy of the assignment or new lease, business licenses, S-Corp, C-Corp, LLC, federal tax employer’s identification number, BOE, (board of equalization), EDD, (employment development department), Seller’s Permit, Health Department certificate, and Escrow instructions are delivered to the Buyer’s Immigration Attorney for processing. If and When outside the US, applications will be processed at the US Consulate, in the Buyer’s country. 

Timing: The E2 visa will allow the buyer to own a Restaurant, Work the Business and Live in Los Angeles County for (2) years. All individuals covered by the E2 visa are allowed to travel in and out of the USA. After (2) years Buyers can extend the E2 visa for another (2) years with unlimited extension on the stay.

The principal investor is allowed to travel abroad and is granted an automatic (2) year readmission period on entering the US. If the family members are traveling along with the primary investor at that time, they can request readmission to the US. However, if the family members travel abroad and return to the US alone, the new readmission period will not be applied to them. The family members of the E2 treaty investors are also eligible to apply for the E2 visas, they can also stay up to (2) years in the US. The dependents and spouses need not be from the same treaty country as the principal E2 visa holder. The spouses can work, however, it is recommended to get a work authorization certificate. Children under the age of 21 cannot work under the E2 visa, however, they are allowed to study. Children after reaching the age of 21 under an E2 visa, need to explore other visa options to stay in the US.

About the Business Purchased: The Business must be open and operating for profit. The Buyer must invest a substantial amount in the Bona fide meaning “in good faith” enterprise in Los Angeles County. No set dollar figure can be said as a substantial amount for the E2 visa investment. The Restaurant Business cannot be idle or an enterprise on paper.

Buyer Investment: The Restaurant Business investment must have a considerable impact on the US economy and not provide a “living only” situation for the Buyer and the Buyers family. The investment must be a significant economic contribution to the US Economy and not a marginal enterprise, meaning not having the capacity to generate excess funds more than supporting minimal living conditions. 

The predicted future earnings: Earnings must be met within 5 years from the date of acquiring the business activity. Just the intent to invest, or having uncommitted funds in the bank account will not be considered an investment. The substantial investment intends to make sure that Buyer’s business is not a speculative or idle investment, but will become a successful enterprise in the future.

Key Factors: The Buyer should be motivated and committed to making the business a success in Los Angeles County.

Note that an E2 visa, is a non-immigrant visa: Buyers are not eligible for permanent residency. Buyers must provide a written statement to the US Embassy that the Buyers will leave the country once the E2 status expires. The written statement is sufficient, although sometimes the embassy might request additional proof of ties abroad. Ties are the proof that binds Buyers to their country of residence, such as their house, job, or family, etc.

Immigration Interview: The Buyer must have a Business immigration plan on how the investment affects the US economy at the time of the interview. The Buyer must verify a synergy between Buyer skills and Business being acquired. The US Embassy will want a “Corp Brief” about Buyers business activities in the US. The nature of the business the Buyer is investing in, must be relevant to the Buyers professional experience, qualifications, or skills.

Renewing the E2 Visa: After a two year term, renewing the E2 visa, will require proof of achieving such projections mentioned at the time of application. The plan should mention the financial projections and details on how the business will gain sufficient funds to provide for the Buyer and the Buyers Family. The business should also create new jobs. 

Visa Change Status Timing: If in the US, the Buyer can apply directly uscis.gov United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, to change visa status to an E2 Visa. The change of status takes (2) to (3) months. 

Richard Stein & Roschard Paticchio Stein

Private Office: Santa Monica CA

Office: (M) 310-663-3521

PenthouseAdvisors@gmail.com

8:00am to 7:00pm Mon-Sun