E1 Visa Overview

The E1 visa for Treaty Traders allows nationals from countries that maintain an appropriate treaty of commerce and navigation with the U.S., to enter the U.S. to conduct trade between the U.S. and their home country.

Advantage of this Visa: Applicants can travel freely in and out of the U.S. while on a valid E1 visa and can stay on a prolonged basis with unlimited two year extensions as long as you maintain valid E1 status. Applicant’s dependents can stay with you as long as you maintain your E1 status. They can also attend school. Possible to apply at an American Consulate abroad or apply for a change of status if you are in the U.S. Applicant’s spouse may seek employment by applying for an employment authorization document.

Time Limits: Holders of E visas may reside in the United States as long as they continue to maintain their status with the enterprise.

E1 Visa Eligibility

Applicant Must be a national of a treaty country
Treaty countries currently include: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Latvia, Liberia, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia.

Trading company must belong to the treaty country
The trading firm for which you are coming to the U.S. must have the nationality of the treaty country

The trade must be substantial
The international trade between your home country and the U.S. must be ‘substantial’ in the sense that there is a sizable and continuing volume of trade. More than 50 per cent of the international trade involved must be between the U.S. and your home country.

Applicant must be employed in supervisory or executive capacity, or possess specialized skills
You 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.

E1 Visa Notes/Exclusions

Visa Ineligibility / Waiver
The nonimmigrant visa application Form DS-156 lists classes of persons who are ineligible under U.S. law to receive visas. In some instances an applicant who is ineligible, but who is otherwise properly classifiable as a treaty trader or treaty investor, may apply for a waiver of ineligibility and be issued a visa if the waiver request is approved.

E1Visa Family Members: Spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age, regardless of nationality, may receive derivative E visas in order to accompany the principal alien. The spouse of an E visa holder may apply to DHS for employment authorization. Dependent children of an E visa holder are not authorized to work in the United States.

E1Visa Processing Times may vary: approx from 1 -6 months
E1Visa Processing Price (Government Filling Fee): from $320 – $1,320 + Consular fee+Translations
E1Visa Processing Price (Average Attorney Fee): from $2,000 – $3,000

Who Pays The Fee?:
This is dependent on the visa type. In some cases the employer will pay and in some cases, and if it’s a non sponsored visa the applicant would pay. Some employers may request that you pay your own consulate fees and travel to the country, while others may not. It usually depends on the skill level, the type of position and the type of visa. For some visa types it maybe the law of the country that applicants should not pay any fees.

O2 Visa Detailed STEP BY STEP Guide: Request Info

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