Part of the challenge of being an entrepreneur and investor,
when going after big opportunities, there is always room to push further. 


Start the first step towards getting an Investor Visa.

The Treaty Trader (E-1) or Treaty Investor (E-2) visa are for citizens of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation who wishes to travel to the U.S. to establish substantial trade principally between the U.S. and the treaty country or set up a business in the U.S.

 

E-1 Visa

The qualifications for a Treaty Trader (E-1) are: 

· 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 applicant intends to depart the United States when the E-1 status terminates.

· The applicant must be a national of a treaty country.

· 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.

· More than 50 percent of the international trade involved must be between the U.S. and the country of the applicant's nationality.

 

E-2 Visa 

The qualifications of a Treaty Investor (E-2) are:

· The investment must generate significantly more income than just to provide a living to the investor and family, or it must have a significant economic impact in the U.S.

· The investor must have control of the funds, and the investment must be at risk in the commercial sense. Loans secured with the assets of the investment enterprise are not allowed.

· The investment may not be marginal. It must generate significantly more income than just to provide a living to the investor and family, or it must have a significant economic impact in the United States.

· The applicant is in a position to "develop and direct" the enterprise.

· The investor, either a real or corporate person, must be a national of a treaty country.

· The applicant has invested or is in the process of investing investment must be substantial.

· The investment must be substantial. It must be sufficient to ensure the successful operation of the enterprise. The percentage of investment for a low-cost business enterprise must be higher than the percentage of investment in a high-cost enterprise.

· The investment must be a real operating enterprise. Speculative investment does not qualify. Uncommitted funds in a bank account or similar security are not considered an investment.

 

 

Spouses and Children

Spouses and/or children under the age of 21 can receive derivative E visas to accompany the employee to the U.S.

 

Participating Countries

For more information about participating countries, see State Department’s list of Treaty Countries. 

 

Greencard Through Investment

The E-1 and E-2 visas are non-immigrant visas which allow the investor to temporarily work and live in the U.S. for so long as they are running the business.

But an investment may also entitle the investor to permanent residency.  Entrepreneurs (and their spouses and unmarried children under 21) who make an investment in a commercial enterprise in the United States and who plan to create or preserve ten permanent full time jobs for qualified United States workers, are eligible to apply for a green card (permanent residence).  

For more information about Permanent Residency through Investment, see the USCIS Information page on E-B-5 Investments.