Traders and Investors (E1-E2)

E visas allow foreign nationals from countries which the US has treaties with to enter the US to engage in business.  Treaty trader (E-1) visas facilitate international trading by allowing foreign citizens who have substantial trade with the US, either directly or though a company, to work legally in the US.  Under the investor trader (E-2) visas, citizens of certain countries come to the US to develop the business they have invested in. 

The following are classifications of countries with whom the US has trade and/or investor treaties with:

Trade (E-1) and Investor (E-2) Treaties

Argentina                    Denmark                     Latvia                          Slovenia

Australia                      Estonia                        Liberia                         Spain

Austria                         Ethiopia                       Luxembourg                Suriname

Belgium                       Finland                        Macedonia                  Sweden

Bolivia                         France                         Mexico                        Switzerland

Bosnia &                     Germany                     Netherlands                 Thailand

Herzegovina             Honduras                    Norway                          Togo

Canada                       Iran                              Oman                          Turkey

Chile                            Ireland                         Pakistan                       United Kingdom

China (Taiwan)           Italy                             Paraguay                     Yugoslavia

Colombia                     Japan                           Philippines                  

Costa Rica                   Jordan                         Poland            

Croatia                        Korea (South)             Singapore                   

Trade (E-1) Treaties Only

Brunei

Greece

Israel

Investor (E-2) Treaties Only

Albania                        Congo (Kinshasa)       Kyrgyzstan                  Slovak Republic

Armenia                      Czech Republic           Lithuania                     Sri Lanka

Azerbaijan                   Ecuador                       Moldova                      Trinidad &

Bahrain                        Egypt                          Mongolia                         Tobago

Bangladesh                 Georgia                       Morocco                      Tunisia

Bulgaria                       Grenada                      Panama                        Ukraine

Cameroon                    Jamaica                        Romania

Congo (Brazzaville)    Kazakhstan                 Senegal

Trader (E-1) Visa Petition Process:

If applying from outside the US:

Step 1: An application (usually Form DS-156 with attachment form DS-156E) is filed at a US Consulate.  The application must evidence that:

• the country of petitioner’s citizenship has a trade treaty with the US;
• at least 50% of the company petitioner works for is owned by citizens of the same trade treaty country;
• petitioner owns at least 50% of or has a supervisory, executive or otherwise essential role in the company;
• the company engages in substantial (at least 50%) trade between petitioner’s country and the US;
•  petitioner intends to depart the US upon expiration of treaty trader (E-1) status.

Step 2:                       

The individual and his/her immediate family members will be required to attend an interview at the Consulate where the data that was submitted will be verified.  

Step 3:

After successful completion of the above steps, the individual can enter the US until the expiration date on the E-1 visa. 

If applying from within the US:

Step 1: Assuming that the petitioner is present in the US legally and other conditions are met, a change of status can be applied for using Form I-129 with E Supplement without having to leave the US.  The same types of evidence listed above for applications from outside the US (Step 1) will apply here as well. 

The petition is then submitted by mail to the pertinent USCIS regional service center. 

Step 2:                       

Once the petition is approved, USCIS will mail a Notice of Action (Form I-797) reflecting the change of status approval with a new I-94 card attached. 

Investor (E-2) Visa Petition Process:

If applying from outside the US:

Step 1: An application (usually Form DS-156 with attachment form DS-156E) is filed at a US Consulate.  The application must evidence that:

• the country of petitioner’s citizenship has a trade treaty with the US;
• the company s owned by citizens of the same trade treaty country;
• petitioner owns at least 50% of or has a supervisory, executive or otherwise essential role in the company;
• company is actively engaged in business;
• petitioner has invested or in process of investing a substantial amount into the company;
• company has and or will produce income beyond the marginal level (more than just enough to support petitioner and his/her family’s living expenses); and
• petitioner intends to depart the US upon expiration of treaty investor (E-2) status

Step 2:                       

The individual and his/her immediate family members will be required to attend an interview at the Consulate where the data that was submitted will be verified.  

Step 3:

After successful completion of the above steps, the individual can enter the US until the expiration date on the E-1 visa. 

If applying from within the US:

Step 1: Assuming that the petitioner is present in the US legally and other conditions are met, a change of status can be applied for using Form I-129 with E Supplement without having to leave the US.  The same types of evidence listed above for applications from outside the US (Step 1) will apply here as well. 

The petition is then submitted by mail to the pertinent USCIS regional service center. 

Step 2:                       

Once the petition is approved, USCIS will mail a Notice of Action (Form I-797) reflecting the change of status approval with a new I-94 card attached.