E-1 visa

The E-1 Treaty Trader Visa allows an individual to enter and work inside of the United States based on commerce he or she will be conducting while inside the United States. Treaty trader visas are available only to citizens of certain countries based on whether a reciprocal treaty exists with the United States, and the company performing the trading must be at least 50% owned by citizens of the same country as the trader the visa is granted to. Persons with the treaty country's nationality must own at least 50% of the enterprise. Additionally, more than 50 percent of the international trade involved must be between the United States and the treaty country.

To receive an E-1 visa the following requirements need to be met:

(1)  Treaty exists between the United States and the applicant's country of citizenship;

(2)  The Individual and/or business possess the nationality of the treaty country;

(3)  Activities constitute trade within the meaning of law INA 101(a)(15)(E);

(4)  The applicant must be coming to the United States solely to engage in substantial trade;

(5)  Trade is principally between the United States and the treaty country of the applicant's nationality;

(6) The applicant, if an employee of a trading firm, will have an executive/supervisory position or possesses skills essential to the firm’s operations in the United States.