E-1 Visa – Treaty Traders

Nationals of qualifying countries may apply for an E-1 visa in order to ‘Develop and Direct’ import/export trade (of goods or services) between their own country and the U.S. They may also apply for E-1 visas for key managerial and specialist employees. Unlike the L-1 visa, there is no requirement for employees to have worked for the Trader for at least one year in the last three.

 

The volume of trade must be sufficient to justify the trader or his/her employee(s) being in the United States to manage the trade. This volume must constitute the majority of the trader’s international trade (at least 50% of the Trader’s exports/imports must be to/from the USA).

 

Nationals of qualifying treaty countries who undertake a significant amount of international trade with the United States may qualify for an E-1 visa. The volume of trade must be sufficient to justify the trader or his/her employee(s) being in the United States to manage the trade. This volume must constitute the majority of the trader’s international trade (at least 50% of the Trader’s exports/imports must be to/from the USA). While there is no set minimum level of trade that is considered sufficient, from our experience the lower the volume of trade, the less likely an applicant is to qualify as a Treaty Trader.

 

Every year, the United States holds billions of commercial trading transactions with many countries in the world. Some countries are considered “Strategic Partners” and have treaties with the U.S. in navigation, friendship and exchange of goods and services.

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Treaty Countries

For a full list of countries with trade treaties to the United States, please click here.

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Eligibility Criteria

Traders must be nationals of the listed countries above and must be able to demonstrate:

 

• There will be a substantial number of trade transactions between the U.S. and the treaty country.

• There will be a substantial dollar value to the trade between the U.S. and the treaty country.

• The majority of international trade transactions undertaken by the applicant will be between the U.S. and the treaty country.

• The majority of the dollar value of trade will be between the U.S. and the treaty country.

• The trader has sufficient business acumen and experience to develop and direct the trade.

• The trader, and any other E-1 staff, are able and willing to leave the U.S. upon termination of their E-1 status.

• The trader has a past history of conducting trade between the U.S. and the treaty country.

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Contact us to discuss your situation and see if the E-1 visa is appropriate to your needs.

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