Investment Visa - E1 Visas
Immigration and E1 Visa
The E-1 nonimmigrant classification allows a national of a treaty country (a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation) to be admitted to the United States solely to engage in international trade on his or her own behalf. Certain employees of such a person or of a qualifying organization may also be eligible for this classification.
People of qualifying countries may apply for an E1 visa in order to Develop and Direct import/export between their own country and the United States. You can also apply for E1 visas for key executive and supervisory employees. Unlike the L1 visa, there is no requirement for such employees to have worked for the person and/or organization for at least one year in the last three.
In order to qualify for an E1 visa, the treaty trader must:
- Be a national of a country with which the U.S. maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation;
- Carry on substantial trade; and,
- Carry on principal trade between the U.S. and the treaty country which qualified the treaty trader for E1 classification.
In order to qualify as the employee of a treaty trader, the employee must:
- Have the nationality of the principal alien employer;
- Meet the definition of employee; and,
- Either be engaging in duties of an executive or supervisory character or have special qualifications.
What are the privileges on E-1 Visa?
- Work legally in the United States for a U.S. company.
- Travel freely in and out of the United States.
- Bring your dependants along to the U.S. Your spouse can also work in the U.S.
What are requirements for bring my family and others on E-1 visa?
You may bring your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 years to stay along with you. They may stay in the U.S. a long as you maintain your E-1 status. You may also bring a domestic or personal servant on nonimmigrant status, provided you can show that he or she is not abandoning his or her residence abroad; and he or she has served you for at least one year, or has had an ongoing employment relationship with you and has at least one year of experience as a servant.
