Treaty Trader Visa (E-1)

This visa applies to traders who are citizens of certain countries. [Click here for List of Countries]

In order to qualify for a treaty trader visa, the person must be coming to the U.S.A. to carry on substantial international trade between the U.S. and the foreign country of which the applicant is a national. 

Trade is defined as ... the international exchange of items of trade between the U.S. and the Treaty country.  This includes  purchase or sale of goods and/or merchandise having intrinsic value. 

Services are economic activities whose outputs are other than tangible goods.  Such service activities include, but are  not limited to, banking, insurance, transportation, communications and data processing, advertising, accounting, design and engineering, management consulting, tourism, and technology transfer.

The trade must be substantial.  It would be possible to qualify even if there were many transactions and each of those transactions were small in value.  The term substantial is not defined as a monetary amount at this time.

The alien must be working in an executive, managerial or supervisory capacity or a person who makes their services essential to the efficient operation of the enterprise.

The trade must be in existence at the time of filing the E-1 application.  The E-1 will not be issued to someone who is in the process of setting up international trade between his country and the U.S.A.

Period of validity of the visa varies with each treaty country.  In some cases, it may be granted for up to five years, with indefinite extensions. 

Spouses and minor children of E visa holders will also be granted E visas, even if their nationality is not the same as the principal E visa holder.  However, they cannot work in the U.S.