Investment Visa
E-1 Treaty Trader

The E-1 non-immigrant visa category is useful for entrepreneurs, managers and employees who need to live in the US to oversee a company that is involved in trade between the US and a foreign state.

E-1 Visa Treaty Countries:

Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Liberia, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Serbia-Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia, Wallis & Futura Islands, Western Sahara

Applicants who are citizens of the above countries may apply for E1 visa status in order to develop and direct the import and/or export of goods or services between their home country and the "sponsoring" E-2 company that is located in the United States.

Requirements:

- The international trade must be 'substantial' in the sense that there is a sizeable and continuing volume of trade

- The trade must be principally between the U.S. and the treaty country, which is defined to mean that more than 50 percent of the international trade involved must be between the U.S. and the country of the applicant's nationality

- Trade means the international exchange of goods, services, and technology. Title of the trade items must pass from one party to the other.

- The applicant must be employed in a supervisory or executive capacity, or possess highly specialized skills essential to the efficient operation of the firm. Ordinary skilled or unskilled workers do not qualify.

The foreign national spouse or unmarried minor childrenof a foreign national with an E-1 visa may accompanythe E-1 visa holder to the US. They may also stay in the US the same length of time as the E-1 visa holder.