Foreign trade and investment are at the center of the E visa classification which encourages existing companies and entrepreneurial start-ups to do business in the United States. An increasingly popular option for foreign nationals seeking to live and work in the United States, E-1 and E-2 visas are available to citizens of qualifying countries that have a treaty with the United States pursuant to 9 FAM 402.9-2. A citizen of a treaty country may be eligible to enter as either an E-1 Treaty Trader or E-2 Treaty Investor if he or she intends to serve as a manager or executive, or will utilize special qualifications essential to the efficient operation of the enterprise (an “essential employee”).

Visas are usually issued for five years, although shorter periods may be dictated by reciprocity limitations with certain countries or at the discretion of the U.S. Consulate. Each single admission to the United States is usually limited to two years, with an indefinite number of two year extensions available provided that E classification requirements are met and the foreign national ultimately intends to return to the home country upon completion of the assignment. As such, the visas are intended to provide temporary status in the United States. There is no direct path to permanent residence for E-1/E-2 visa holders although some limited options may be available. 

This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.

To view this content, please continue to their sites.

Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Why am I seeing this?

LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.

For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]