E-1 Treaty Trader Visa

The E-1 treaty trader visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows foreign nationals of a treaty nation to enter into the U.S. and carry out substantial trade. A treaty trader belongs to a nation that maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation or a bilateral agreement with the U.S.

The following countries have treaties with the United States that allow qualifying nationals to apply for Treaty Trader status:-

Argentina	China (ROC)	France	Italy	Netherlands	Sweden
Australia	Colombia	Germany	Japan	Norway	Switzerland
Austria	Costa Rica	Greece	Korea	Oman	Thailand
Belgium	Denmark	Honduras	Latvia	Pakistan	Togo
Bolivia	Estonia	Iran	Liberia	Philippines	Turkey
Brunei	Ethiopia	Ireland	Lux’bourg	Spain	U.K.
Canada	Finland	Israel	Mexico	Suriname	Yugoslavia

Nationals of qualifying countries may apply for an E1 visa in order to ‘Develop and Direct’ import/export trade (of goods or services) between their own country and the US. They may also apply for E1 visas for key managerial and specialist employees. Unlike the L1 visa, there is no requirement for such employees to have worked for the Trader for at least one year in the last three.

E1 visa registration applications center on the volume of trade between the USA and the Treaty country. The prospective Treaty Trader must demonstrate that:-

• There will be a substantial number of trade transactions between the US and the treaty country.
• There will be a substantial dollar value to the trade between the US and the treaty country.
• The majority of international (i.e. not including transactions within the Treaty country or within the US) trade transactions undertaken by the applicant (have been and) will be between the US and the treaty country.
• The majority of the dollar value of trade (has been and) will be between the US and the treaty country.
• The trader (or his/her employees seeking E1 visas) has sufficient business acumen and experience to develop and direct the trade.
• The trader, and any other E1 staff, are able and willing to leave the US upon termination of their E1 status.
• The trader has a past history of conducting trade between the US and the treaty country.

The E1 Visa initially allows a stay of up to 2 years, although there is no limit to the total time the visa holder may remain in America providing they continue to meet all visa extension requirements. In addition, the spouse of an E1 Visa holder and dependent children are also granted this visa status.