What is E1 Treaty Trader Visa?
The E1 Visa allows businesspeople from specific countries to have easier access to the United States for the purposes of simplifying trade. At least 50% of the firm must be owned by citizens of a treaty country. Click here to find out if your country has an E1 Treaty with the United States. The firm must also conduct a substantial volume of trade in the United States and at least half of the firm’s business must be conducted there. If you meet these and other qualifications, the E1 Visa could simplify your ability to trade and do business with the United States.
Benefits of E1 Treaty Trader Visa
- E1 visas can initially be granted for up to two years, during which time the holder may travel freely in and out of the U.S.
- An E1 visa can be renewed in two-year increments an unlimited number of times. This can allow the Treaty Trader to remain in the U.S. for a prolonged period to ensure the continued success of the business.
- An E1 holder who travels abroad may generally be granted an automatic two-year period of readmission when returning to the U.S.
- An E1 holder will receive authorization to work legally in the United States for the trading firm.
- Unlike the L1 visa, there is no requirement for qualified employees to have worked for the Trader for at least one year previously.
- Visas are available for an E1 applicant's accompanying spouse and unmarried children (under 21 years of age). The applicant's spouse may apply for work authorization in the United States without restrictions as to the place of employment. However, the children may not accept employment.
E1 Treaty Trader Visa program
In our experience the preparation of a business plan that demonstrates how your business clearly meets the requirements of the E visa program is critical. For that reason our Wharton MBA lawyers work with a specialist team of business analysts to prepare business plans that meet the approval of the toughest immigration and consular officers.
| L1 Visas | E1 Visas | E2 Visas | EB5 Visas | |
| Visa available to nationals of any country? | ✔ | Nationals of treaty trader countries only | Nationals of treaty trader countries only | ✔ |
| Must I have worked for a related company abroad for one year? | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Ability of dependent Spouse to work in US | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Can the visa be renewed into perpetuity assuming I re-qualify? | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Is a business plan a very key element of a successful application? | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Minimum investment Required | Sufficient to operate valid foreign business and US office or business entity | No but needs to be a real, viable, business | Sufficient to fund business enterprise, generally around USD 100,000.00 although less is possible | Either USD 500,000.00 or USD 1,000,000.00 |
| Immigrant visa status | ✖ Can lead to green card after one year |
✖ Transition to green card status through EB5 program possible |
✖ Transition to green card status through EB5 program possible |
✔ visa initially issued for a conditional two year period. |
Note: an L1 visa has the advantage over an E1 visa of more easily leading to permanent residency (green card). Contrary to popular myth, moving from an E visa to a green card IS possible but is difficult without an immediate US relative or use of the EB5 program.
Click here for a list of countries that have an active E1 treaty with the United States.
The spouse of minor children of an E1 visa holder can apply for dependent E visa status. With E1 dependent status the spouse of an E-visa holder may lawfully work in the United States.
Although there are options and our firm assists client adjust from E visa status to that of “green card” holder, an E1 visa does NOT directly lead to permanent residency (also called a “green card”). In fact, an E1 applicant must have the intent to return to his or her country of origin once the visa expires.
If your goal is to eventually become a permanent resident of the United States, other options may be more suitable for you, such an L1 visa, or the EB5 Immigrant Investor Program
Davies & Associates is a specialized immigration law firm. A substantial part of our practice focuses on assisting business owners and investors with E1, E2, L1 and EB5 visas. Through our international presence we have specialist knowledge of the specific procedures in multiple embassies and consulates around-the-world. While there can never be any guarantees, in fifteen years we have yet to have any E visa application we have prepared denied.
Please feel free to contact our E-visa team with any additional questions you may have.
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Why make Davies & Associates Your E1 Treaty Trader Visa Lawyers
- Our firm offers free initial consultations to determine your eligibility for the E1 Visa.
- The E1 visa practice group sits within the wider "E Visa & L Visa Practice Group", which means our attorneys can assess whether the E1 Visa is the optimal route and advise on whether an E2 Visa or an L1 Visa would be a better way to meet your business and immigration goals.
- We have helped hundreds of clients successfully move to the United States on an E visa, so contact us today to discuss.
5 stars and a high five! Thank you Verdie and Etta for assisting us with our change of status application. They were very professional and accommodating with all our questions and concerns throughout the process. Despite the time constraint, we pulled it off and we could not have done this without you guys! Keep up the good work!
Getting my E2 Visa was a very in-depth process that took just over a year from when I committed to it, but 8 months from when I found a business I wanted to purchase. The only reason I'm giving 4 and not 5 stars is because the timeframe was a lot longer than expected from the initial information. Aside from the timing, Verdie and his team led me through the Visa process, providing all the guidance I needed to be successful, including advising me on the RIGHT type of Visa to suit my goals. Within the process I purchased a business and the greater Davies team included lawyer Rinat who helped me put the deal together. One of the biggest parts was my Business Plan which created from my info by Ana Ortiz, who did an incredible job. The process is certainly tedious and Verdie & Christina were always there to answer my questions, provide suggestions and advice and ensure I had all the documents I needed to support my application. I appreciated their patience with my questions and their advice and in the end, the application was so thorough the interview process was quick and easy. I highly recommend Davies & Associates and look forward to working with them again when it's time to renew my Visa.
I had talked with Alex Jovy, he was very quick to respond, had a lot of useful information which I was not aware of. Took time out of his day to discuss my situation and was very helpful. They go into a lot of detail which other companies do not. Overall a great service!
I received an world-class help in how to immigrate to the USA succesfully! Alex was very open to answer my questions and is definitely a professional in what he does! Strongly recommend this firm.
We were in a hurry and Verdie and the team were highly responsive and supportive, even when we threw in some curve balls along the way. We had our visas approved without any issues and felt confident and well prepared for document submissions and the interview. I'd certainly recommend this team for an E2 visa process.
Contact Davies & Associates Offices in United States
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Looking to acquire an E1 Treaty Trader Visa?
We are known for our creative solutions that obtain "impossible" visas, we solve the most complex immigration problems for businesses, investors, individuals, and families.
E1 Treaty Trader Visa Immigration lawyer near meSeveral lawyers told me I would not be able to get a TN visa. Two weeks after contacting Davies & Associates I was working in New York, visa in hand.
Individual seeking 'Impossible' TN VisaD&A was very detail-oriented and was very thorough in what they did” L1 Visa Client. There was a lot of work on my case and worked on it 24/7 and was very patient answering all my questions.
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Parent of 2 EB5 Visa HoldersI'm in a process of extending my L1 visa. I submitted a few questions regarding my case and he contacted me back almost immediately both by e-mail and telephone. Unlike other attorneys I met before, he gave me the impression of knowing from the top of his head what kind of visa I have, and what actions had to be taken to extend it. He is very thorough and clear regarding the process and what to expect in terms of timelines and issues that may arise. He is constantly in contact, so you definitely know he's working on your case.
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We are known for our creative solutions that obtain "impossible" visas, we solve the most complex immigration problems for business, investors, individuals and families.
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