US E-2 Visa For An Israeli Citizens

E-2 VISAS FROM ISRAEL

On May 1, 2019 Israel became the latest country whose citizens can qualify for the United States E2 visa. The United States is the only major country that experiences a net inflow of Israeli Nationals.

2020 was the first full year in which E2 visas were available to Israeli Nationals. As Israeli businesses grow their market share of the lucrative US market and Israeli entrepreneurs continue to access the US market we anticipate a rapid rise in Israeli E2 visa applications.

WHAT DOES AN E-2 VISA ENTITLE AN ISRAELI CITIZEN TO DO?

Direct and Control a US Business. The United States E2 visa enables a citizen of Israel to:

• operate a new business from within the United States or
• acquire and operate business of any size form within the United States

Work in a US Business. An Israeli Citizen can also use the E2 visa to bring other Israeli Nationals to the United States to work in a US business they own.

CAN AN ISRAELI CITIZEN OBTAIN AN E-2 VISA IN ANY COUNTRY?

Yes, as an Israeli Nationals you can apply for an E-2 visa from:

• Israel
• Any country where you are lawfully resident
• Certain US consulates who have decided to allow persons not resident in their location to apply for E-2 Visas in their consulate. As this list changes, please contact us for details.

WHAT IS THE E-2 VISA PROCESS?

Please visit our main E-2 visa page.Processing times for the E-2 Visa are relatively fast. The key is to produce a credible business plan for the US consular staff to evaluate.

HOW LONG CAN AN E-2 VISA FOR AN ISRAELI CITIZEN LAST?

• Maximum initial E-2 validity for an Israeli citizen is 24 months
• After this, an E-2 Visa can be renewed infinitely

CHOOSING AN E-2 BUSINESS

Israeli Citizens apply for E-2 visas to direct and control businesses in a huge variety of industries in the United States. Some popular options include:

• Integrated Circuits and Digital Technology
• App development
• Pharmaceuticals
• Specialty Restaurants and Contact us to learn how D&A can help you find a business in the US

ADVANTAGES OF E-2 VISA FOR THE TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHOLOGY INDUSTRIES?

According to the OEC 32.1% of Israeli exports go to the United States and the United States, making the United States Israel’s leading export market. The UK comes third at 3.71%

After the diamond industry Israel’s largest exporting industries are biotechnology (6.85%) and Integrated Circuits (4.46%).

The E-2 visa presents an ideal way for Israeli nationals in these sectors to open or expand a business in the United States. Many Israeli-trained physicians have also migrated to the United States.

The US Federal government together with various State and local governments offer special incentives and assistance for technology and biotechnology business coming to the United States. Please contact out firm for further information on these incentives.

E-2 VISA FOR DUAL CITZENS OF ISRAEL AND THE UK

No, Israel Nationals from anywhere in the world are eligible for the US E2 visa and many are now applying for the E2 Treaty Investor Visa.

A number of our clients hold joint UK and Israeli Nationality. As the UK is the only country in the world whose citizens are subject to a residency requirement (in the UK) our clients holding both Israeli and UK passports usually use their Israeli Nationality to apply for their US E2 Visa. For Israeli Citizens resident in the UK E-2 visa can be obtained from the US consulate in London.

Learn more about E2 Visas for UK Nationals.

E2 VISA FOR DUAL CITIZENS OF ISRAEL AND RUSSIA

Given the emigration patterns between Russia and Israel there are an estimated 1.5 Million Russian Citizens resident in Israel and an estimated 80,000 Israeli citizens resident in the Moscow area alone.

While Russia is not an E2 country, Russian citizens who can avail themselves of Israel’s generous citizenship program can thereby become eligible for the sought after US E2 visa. In the absence of a claim to Israeli citizenship, Russian nationals can generally only avail themselves of the US E2 visa program through Grenadian and Turkish citizenship programs.

EB-5 INVESTOR VISA FROM ISRAEL

Each year there are around 700 EB-5 visas available to people born in Israel. The EB-5 visa offers a US Green Card (permanent residency) by investment. The required investment is $900,000 per family, which includes the primary applicant, as well as any spouse and children under the age of 21. The investment must be in a new commercial enterprise and it must create or sustain ten full-time American jobs. Click here for more details.

L-1 INVESTOR VISA FROM ISRAEL

The L-1 Intracompany Visa is a popular route to the United States, especially for people in the tech industry. The L-1A allows a company to transfer an international manager or executive and the L-1B allows it to transfer an employee with “specialized knowledge”. It is possible to set up a brand new US office of your Israeli company and then transfer employees there to oversee the set-up and growth of that new office. Israeli citizens are initially eligible for L-1 visas upto 48 months, which can then be extended to a maximum of five years for an L-1B and seven years for an L-1A visa. After this time, the applicant would need to return to Israel or find an alternative visa for staying in the United States. Read more about the L-1 Visa here.

US CONSULAR CONTACTS IN ISRAEL