Many prospective clients come to our office wanting to explore visa options, asking about the investor visa and other professional work visas. These clients assume that steps need to be taken for them to qualify for a work visa. However, on many occasions, some of these clients already qualify for one particular work visa without even knowing it. So, what is this unknown work visa? The E-1 visa.

The E-1 visa, also known as the Treaty Trader work visa, is a nonimmigrant work visa available to many individuals from treaty countries who are involved in the business of facilitating trade between the United States and their treaty country.

To qualify for this visa, the applicant must be a national of a treaty country and must demonstrate that the majority ownership or control of the trading company belongs to nationals of the treaty country. Second, the trading company must have substantial and continuous trade between the United States and the treaty country. Lastly, on behalf of the company, the applicant must be coming to the United States to promote substantial trade and be acting in a supervisory or executive role.

It is common that clients already have a foreign company involved in the export/import business. These companies consequently facilitate substantial trade between their home country and the United States. Therefore, instead of taking steps such as looking for a job offer or investing in a new business in the United States, it is much more advisable to explore options with their existing business and seek a work visa like this.

The E-1 visa’s duration varies from treaty country to treaty country, but besides working in the United States, this visa allows the applicant and the applicant’s underage children and spouse to live in the United States.

Do you think you qualify for the E-1 visa, or do you want to learn more about it, please call our office at (915) 314-2363 to schedule a free consultation!