The United States maintains treaties of commerce with about 80 different countries (view a list of these countries). Foreign nationals from these countries, along with their spouses and children, can apply for an E-1 or E-2 visa in order to enter the United States if they meet certain criteria.
What is an E-1 visa?
An E-1 visa is a treaty trader visa that is available to individuals who meet the following criteria:
2.) The individual must be entering the United States solely to carry on substantial international trade principally between the United States and the country of which he/she is a foreign national
b.) Also, for trade to be considered principally between the United States and the treaty country the trade should amount to more than 50% of the total volume of international trade between the two countries
3.) The individual must also be either:
b.) A principal employer with nationality of a treaty country or an enterprise that is 50% or more owned by treaty national
What is an E-2 visa?
An E-2 visa is a treaty investor visa that is available to individuals who meet the following criteria:
2.) The individual must be entering the United States solely to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which he/she has invested, or of an enterprise in which he is actively in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital
ii.) The amount normally considered sufficient to allow for the successful operation of the enterprise; and
iii.) The likelihood that the amount invested will ensure successful development of the enterprise by the investor
3.) The individual must also be either:
b.) A principal employer with nationality of a treaty country or an enterprise that is 50% or more owned by treaty national
4.) Investment cannot be solely to earn a living for the investor and his/her family
How Long Can an E-1 and E-2 Visa Holder Stay in the United States?
E-1 and E-2 visas allow the individuals to stay in the United States for an indefinite period of time. So long as the amount of trade or investment the individual is engaged in remains sufficient, the individual can stay in the United States.
