Investor Visas: What are my options?

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Investor visas have a distinct category in U.S. immigration law. The nonimmigrant E visa category is for foreign traders and investors who would like to establish businesses in the U.S., on a temporary basis.

Investor Visas

Different Types of Investor Visas (E Visas)

The three main types of E visas are E-1, E-2, and E-3. All of these investor visas require a treaty between the U.S. and a treaty country.  E-1 countries have a treaty trader agreement with the U.S; while E-2 countries have a  treaty investor relationship. E-3  is reserved for Australian nationals who are coming to the U.S. to perform in a “speciality occupation.” Some countries are classified as both E-1 and E-2; therefore, nationals may be eligible for either type of visa. However, some countries have only a treaty trader or treaty investor agreement with the U.S.

The U.S. Department of State maintains a current list of treaty countries.

Treaty Countries

Country Classification Entered into Force
Albania E-2 January 4, 1998
Argentina E-1 December 20, 1854
Argentina E-2 December 20, 1854
Armenia E-2 March 29, 1996
Australia E-1 December 16, 1991
Australia E-2 December 27, 1991
Australia 12 E-3 September 2, 2005
Austria E-1 May 27, 1931
Austria E-2 May 27, 1931
Azerbaijan E-2 August 2, 2001
Bahrain E-2 May 30, 2001
Bangladesh E-2 July 25, 1989
Belgium E-1 October 3, 1963
Belgium E-2 October 3, 1963
Bolivia E-1 November 09, 1862
Bolivia 13 E-2 June 6, 2001
Bosnia and Herzegovina 11 E-1 November 15, 1982
Bosnia and Herzegovina 11 E-2 November 15, 1982
Brunei E-1 July 11, 1853
Bulgaria E-2 June 2, 1954
Cameroon E-2 April 6, 1989
Canada E-1 January 1, 1994
Canada E-2 January 1, 1994
Chile E-1 January 1, 2004
Chile E-2 January 1, 2004
China (Taiwan) 1 E-1 November 30, 1948
China (Taiwan) 1 E-2 November 30, 1948
Colombia E-1 June 10, 1948
Colombia E-2 June 10, 1948
Congo (Brazzaville) E-2 August 13, 1994
Congo (Kinshasa) E-2 July 28, 1989
Costa Rica E-1 May 26, 1852
Costa Rica E-2 May 26, 1852
Croatia 11 E-1 November 15, 1982
Croatia 11 E-2 November 15, 1982
Czech Republic 2 E-2 January 1, 1993
Denmark 3 E-1 July 30, 1961
Denmark E-2 December 10, 2008
Ecuador 14 E-2 May 11, 1997
Egypt E-2 June 27, 1992
Estonia E-1 May 22, 1926
Estonia E-2 February 16, 1997
Ethiopia E-1 October 8, 1953
Ethiopia E-2 October 8, 1953
Finland E-1 August 10, 1934
Finland E-2 December 1, 1992
France 4 E-1 December 21, 1960
France 4 E-2 December 21, 1960
Georgia E-2 August 17, 1997
Germany E-1 July 14, 1956
Germany E-2 July 14, 1956
Greece E-1 October 13, 1954
Grenada E-2 March 3, 1989
Honduras E-1 July 19, 1928
Honduras E-2 July 19, 1928
Ireland E-1 September 14, 1950
Ireland E-2 November 18, 1992
Israel 15 E-1 April 3, 1954
Israel 15 E-2 May 1, 2019
Italy E-1 July 26, 1949
Italy E-2 July 26, 1949
Jamaica E-2 March 7, 1997
Japan 5 E-1 October 30, 1953
Japan 5 E-2 October 30, 1953
Jordan E-1 December 17, 2001
Jordan E-2 December 17, 2001
Kazakhstan E-2 January 12, 1994
Korea (South) E-1 November 7, 1957
Korea (South) E-2 November 7, 1957
Kosovo 11 E-1 November 15, 1882
Kosovo 11 E-2 November 15, 1882
Kyrgyzstan E-2 January 12, 1994
Latvia E-1 July 25, 1928
Latvia E-2 December 26, 1996
Liberia E-1 November 21, 1939
Liberia E-2 November 21, 1939
Lithuania E-2 November 22, 2001
Luxembourg E-1 March 28, 1963
Luxembourg E-2 March 28, 1963
Macedonia 11 E-1 November 15, 1982
Macedonia 11 E-2 November 15, 1982
Mexico E-1 January 1, 1994
Mexico E-2 January 1, 1994
Moldova E-2 November 25, 1994
Mongolia E-2 January 1, 1997
Montenegro 11 E-1 November 15, 1882
Montenegro 11 E-2 November 15, 1882
Morocco E-2 May 29, 1991
Netherlands 6 E-1 December 5, 1957
Netherlands 6 E-2 December 5, 1957
New Zealand 16 E1 June 10, 2019
New Zealand 16 E2 June 10, 2019
Norway 7 E-1 January 18, 1928
Norway 7 E-2 January 18, 1928
Oman E-1 June 11, 1960
Oman E-2 June 11, 1960
Pakistan E-1 February 12, 1961
Pakistan E-2 February 12, 1961
Panama E-2 May 30, 1991
Paraguay E-1 March 07, 1860
Paraguay E-2 March 07, 1860
Philippines E-1 September 6, 1955
Philippines E-2 September 6, 1955
Poland E-1 August 6, 1994
Poland E-2 August 6, 1994
Romania E-2 January 15, 1994
Senegal E-2 October 25, 1990
Serbia 11 E-1 November 15,1882
Serbia 11 E-2 November 15,1882
Singapore E-1 January 1, 2004
Singapore E-2 January 1, 2004
Slovak Republic 2 E-2 January 1, 1993
Slovenia 11 E-1 November 15, 1982
Slovenia 11 E-2 November 15, 1982
Spain 8 E-1 April 14, 1903
Spain 8 E-2 April 14, 1903
Sri Lanka E-2 May 1, 1993
Suriname 9 E-1 February 10, 1963
Suriname 9 E-2 February 10, 1963
Sweden E-1 February 20, 1992
Sweden E-2 February 20, 1992
Switzerland E-1 November 08, 1855
Switzerland E-2 November 08, 1855
Thailand E-1 June 8, 1968
Thailand E-2 June 8, 1968
Togo E-1 February 5, 1967
Togo E-2 February 5, 1967
Trinidad & Tobago E-2 December 26, 1996
Tunisia E-2 February 7, 1993
Turkey E-1 February 15, 1933
Turkey E-2 May 18, 1990
Ukraine E-2 November 16, 1996
United Kingdom 10 E-1 July 03, 1815
United Kingdom 10 E-2 July 03, 1815
Yugoslavia 11 E-1 November 15, 1882
Yugoslavia 11 E-2 November 15, 1882

What is the Difference Between E-1 and E-2 Visas?

Trade vs. Investment
The main difference between the E-1 and E-2 investor visas is that the E-1 allows  foreign nationals to engage in substantial international trade between the U.S. and the foreign country, while there is no such provision for E-2 visa holders.  On the other hand, E-2 visa holders are able to develop and direct the operations of a business in the U.S., in which the foreign national is actively in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital.
Key Employees
Foreign nationals who are key employees to the efficient operation of an enterprise are eligible for either an E-1 or E-2 visa, depending on which treaty the foreign country has with the U.S. Usually, executive or managerial roles will suffice but not unskilled or manual labor.
Principal Employers
The E-1 and E-2 investor visas are also for principal employers  from treaty countries.  A principal employer is one who is either a person with nationality of the treaty country or an enterprise/organization that is 50% or more owned by treaty nationals.

Investor Visas Attorney

Cheryl Fletcher is an immigration attorney who assists foreign investors with their visa applications. If you meet the E visa requirements, she will complete the application form and put together a comprehensive application package to improve your chances of getting the visa.  Please call  561-507-5772, email: [email protected], or contact us via or contact form.

2023-05-01T19:26:52-05:00
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