E-2 Visa

While the U.S. has made it more difficult for foreigners to visit America following an increase in security measures to fight terrorism, a number of British and Irish citizens have discovered the relatively obscure E-2 visa, or Treaty Investor visa, which must be renewed regularly but allows a visitor to stay indefinitely. Interest in the E-2 visa could boost commercial investment as well as residential, because it requires the user to own a business in the U.S. Some other general E-2 requirements
include: The investor must be a national of a treaty country, and the investment must be substantial in an operating enterprise and generate a significant amount of money.
The E-2 could also be granted if the investment could have a significant economic impact in the U.S. In addition, the investor must control the company funds, and he or she must be coming to the U.S. to develop and direct the enterprise. More info:
http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/e.html.