U.S. Visa: E-1

An E-1 visa (Treaty Trader Visa) is used for companies or individuals who are carrying on, or want to develop, substantial trade between the U.S. and a country with which the U.S. maintains an appropriate treaty. An E-1 visa can also granted to the primary visa holder’s spouse and minor children.

What are the Requirements for an E-1 Visa?

VISANOW can prepare the E-1 visa petition if the Beneficiary is presently in the U.S. in valid status or if the Beneficiary is outside the U.S.

The following are the requirements for the E-1 visa:

• The applicant must be a national of a treaty country (there is no nationality requirement for the spouse or child of the primary visa holder);
• The trading firm for which the applicant is coming to the U. S. must have the nationality of the treaty country;
• The international trade must be “substantial” in the sense that there is a sizable 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; and,
• 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 E-1 Treaty countries are as follows:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brunei
• Canada
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Ethiopia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Honduras
• Iran
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Jordan
• Korea (South)
• Latvia
• Liberia
• Luxembourg
• Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of (FRY)
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Paraguay
• Philippines
• Poland
• Singapore
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Suriname
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Togo
• Turkey
• United Kingdom
• Yugoslavia

To be entitled to E-1 classification, the applicant must be a national of the treaty country.

How Long is the E-1 Visa Valid?

An applicant for an E-1 visa may be initially admitted to the U.S. for a period of up to two years. An E-1 visa can technically be extended indefinitely in increments of two years. VISANOW can prepare the initial E-1 application as well as any subsequent E-1 extensions.