Investor Visas (E-1/E-2)

E-1/E-2 visa (treaty traders and treaty investors)

If you are a trader or investor (or are seeking to invest), the E-1/E-2 treaty trader or investor classifications may permit you to work in the United States.  You employees may also obtain E-1/E-2 visas, provided that you share the same nationality, and your spouse can work in the United States as well. 

The E-1 treaty trader visa allows a foreign national to engage in substantial international trade in the U.S., while the E-2 treaty investor visa allows an individual to enter the U.S. for the purpose of actively investing a substantial amount in an enterprise. E-2 investors either invest by creating their own business in the U.S., investing in an existing company, or completely buying an existing company from the current owner. 

Importantly, you must have the nationality of a treaty country to be eligible, and at least 50% of the U.S. entity for E-1 trader or E-2 investor visas must be owned by non-U.S. resident nationals of a treaty country.