What is an E-1/E-2 visa?

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides treaty trader/investor nonimmigrant status for a national of any of the countries with which an appropriate treaty of commerce and navigation exists.
An individual who wishes to go to the U.S. to carry on substantial trade, principally between the U.S. and his/her own country, may apply for a treaty trader visa (E1). Someone who is going to the United States to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which he/she has invested, or is actively in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital is welcome to apply for a treaty investor visa (E2). The category is popular because unlike the L-1 category, it is not necessary to maintain a business outside the U.S. and also because unlike L-1 status, E-1 and E-2 visas can be renewed every five years without limits.

What documents are required to apply?

  • E-1 Treaty Traders must submit a comprehensive letter from the principal alien’s company or employer identifying the applicant and describing in detail the nature and function of the business and the applicant’s position. The letter must be on the current business/employer’s letterhead, with an original signature from an authorized company representative, and must be addressed to the Visa Office, Department of State. The letter should demonstrate the applicant’s entitlement to E-1 status based on the continued trade between the U.S. and the country of the applicant’s nationality. The letter must contain a statement of unequivocal intent that the applicant will depart the U.S. when E-1 status ends. If the visa applicant is the sole company employee in the U.S., submit the latest copy of the company’s FICA and IRS forms with the applicant’s letter of explanation. Please include the company’s fax number.
  • E-2 Treaty Investors must submit a copy of the company’s most recent financial statement. E-2 Treaty Investors must also submit a comprehensive letter from the principal alien’s company or employer identifying the applicant and describing in detail the nature and function of the investment and the extent of the principal alien’s participation in the investment. The letter must be on the current company/employer’s letterhead, with an original signature from an authorized company representative, and must be addressed to the Visa Office, Department of State. The letter should contain a statement of unequivocal intent that the applicant will depart the U.S. when E-2 status ends.

 

Both E-1 and E-2 applicants must submit

  • Online Forms DS-156 and DS-156E.
  • One Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-157, for all male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45, regardless of nationality, in addition to the DS-156. The DS-157 must be typed or printed. All questions on the DS-157 must be answered. Applicants whose native language is not written in the English alphabet should print their names in their native language in item 3 of the DS-157. An online version of this form is available at http://travel.state.gov/DS-0157.pdf.
  • One two inch by two inch photograph
  • A passport valid for at least six months beyond the visa application date (including Visa Office processing time). If more than one person is included in the passport, each person applying for a visa must submit a visa application. You must present the passport bearing your most recent E visa. Each applicant receives an individual visa, and each Machine Readable Visa (MRV) covers a full passport page. Therefore, passports must contain a blank, unmarked visa page for each U.S. visa to be placed in the passport. Remove extraneous pieces of paper (slips of paper with phone numbers, old airline boarding passes, etc.) from the passport. You may submit a passport in a protective cover.
  • The original or a certified copy of Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Recordannotated by the Department of Homeland Security (formerly INS) inspector from your most recent admission to the U.S.
  • If the spouse and/or dependent children are applying for visas separately from the principal alien, submit certified copies of the principal alien’s valid visa and valid I-94 (front and back) in addition to the other listed requirements.
  • Visa fee of $100.

*Note that both E-1 and E-2 applicants can submit a variety of other documents demonstrating that an investment or trade between the U.S. and treaty country is substantial. Your immigration lawyer should be able to provide you with a document checklist, but expect to have to produce documents that concern

  • the incorporation of the business in the U.S.
  • the ownership of the company
  • the capitalization of the business
  • the business plan
  • information on business activities such as marketing documentation, sales contracts, customer lists, etc.
  • lease or property ownership documentation
  • financial statements and tax returns for the U.S. business
  • if the company has business abroad, information on the business and finances of the foreign operation
  • information on the proposed position in the U.S. and background information on the proposed executive, owner, manager or essential employee

 

Which countries have E-1 Treaty Trader Status?

The following countries have E-1 Treaty Trader Status: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Liberia, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, United Kingdom and Yugoslavia.

Which countries have E-2 Treaty Investor Status?

The following countries have E-2 Treaty Investor Status: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China (Taiwan), Colombia, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Senegal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Yugoslavia.

Can spouses or E-1 and E-2 visa holders work?

Yes. A spouse of an E-1 or E-2 visa holder can work with an employment authorization document. Spouses must file an I-765 application with a regional service center along with proof of the spouse’s visa status.

Can one change to E-1 or E-2 status from within the U.S.?

Yes, the USCIS has the authority to approve a change to E-1 or E-2 status from another non-immigrant visa. However, once an applicant leaves the U.S., the applicant must apply for E Visa status at a consulate. Because the consulate can reject the application, one risks being put in a position where a substantial investment is made in a business in the U.S. and then the applicant is unable to return to the U.S. to run the business. Consequently, applicants are urged to exercise caution when first attempting to apply for E status in the U.S.

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