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Mark I. Davies, Esq., J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School, licensed by the SRA (SRA ID: 384468) in the UK, and a member of The Law Society of England & Wales, MBA, Wharton School of Business. Top 10 Investment Visa Lawyer. Licensed in the USA. Georgia State Bar member. AILA member.
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. 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.
View the full list of E-1 Treaty Countries that have an active E-1 treaty with the United States.
The spouse or 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.
E1 Visa Solutions by Country of Nationality or Residency
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About the Authors
Mark I. Davies, Esq.
Chairman of Davies & Associates; focused on E visa strategy and complex consular filings.
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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.
Contact Davies & Associates Offices in United States
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Company location
New York Office World Trade Center
1 World Trade Center, Suite 8500, New York, NY 10007
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New York Office E69th Street
200 E 69th Street, 2N, New York, NY 10022
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California Office
555 Anton Blvd, Suite 150, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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Philadelphia Office
1500 John F Kennedy Blvd, Suite 450, PMB 41, Philadelphia, PA 19102
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601 South Figueroa Street, Suite 4050, Los Angeles, CA 90017
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Chicago Office
155 N. Upper Wacker Dr., Suite 4250, Chicago, IL 60606
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Miami Office
80 S.W. 8th St., Suite 2000, Miami, FL 33130
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Atlanta Office
1075 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 3650, Atlanta, GA 30309
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Telephone number
New York Office World Trade Center
+1 212 537 9196
Fax: +1 949 396 1371
New York Office E69th Street
+1 212 537 9196
Fax: +1 949 396 1371
California Office
+1 949 620 1811
Fax: +1 949 396 1371
Philadelphia Office
+1 215 525 1881
Fax: +1 949 396 1371
Chicago Office
+1 312 261 8560
Fax: +1 949 396 1371
Miami Office
+1 305 423 7163
Fax: +1 949 396 1371
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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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New York Office World Trade Center:
1 World Trade Center, Suite 8500, New York, NY 10007
+1 212 537 9196
Map and Driving Directions
New York Office E69th Street:
200 E 69th Street, 2N, New York, NY 10022
+1 212 537 9196
Map and Driving Directions
California Office:
555 Anton Blvd, Suite 150, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
+1 949 620 1811
Map and Driving Directions
Philadelphia Office:
1500 John F Kennedy Blvd, Suite 450, PMB 41, Philadelphia, PA 19102
+1 215 525 1881
Map and Driving Directions
London Office:
69 Old Broad Street, Dashwood House, London EC2M 1QS, United Kingdom
+44 20 3884 18126
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Edinburgh Office:
28 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 2BW
+44 131 392 0686
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Milton Keynes Office:
The Pinnacle, 170 Midsummer Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 1FE, United Kingdom
+44 7740 000769
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Glasgow Office:
+44 131 392 0686
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46th Floor, Bitexco Financial Tower, 2 Hai Trieu, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
+84 28 6287 5912
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Enam Sambhav C-20, G Block, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Mumbai 400051, Maharashtra
+91 720 856 4057
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Via Bonifacio Lupi 29, 50129 Firenze FI, Italy
+39 055 076 3054
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Manila Office:
Unit 107, AIC Burgundy Empire Tower, ADB Ave. cor Garnet and Sapphire Streets, Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1605, Metro Manila, Philippines
+63 2 7215 7878
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Sydney Office:
Level 12, 210 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
+61 2 9156 1032
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Perth Office:
Davies & Associates LLC, Level 1, 12 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000, Australia
+61 2 9156 1032
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Singapore Office:
160 Robinson Road, #14-04, Singapore Business Federation Centre, Singapore 068914
65 8012 9546
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