E1 Visa: Treaty Trader

E1 Visas  are available only to nationals of specific countries.  (http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_3726.html)  The United States has established treaties with these countries in order to promote trade.  If your company carries out a significant level of trade with the United States, or if you work for such a company, you may be eligible for an E1 Visa. 

The requirements for obtaining an E1 Trader Visa include, but are not limited to the following:

• The applicant and the business must have nationality of the treaty country
• Number and frequency of international transactions must be “substantial”
• Most of the international trade must be between US and Treaty country
• Involves the exchange of goods, services or technology across international borders
• The visa applicant must have an upper-level managerial or executive role, or highly specialized skills essential to the business’ ability to operate successfully (skills must be unique to the business)

To verify that you meet the requirements for an E1 Visa, and to be sure that your application is filed correctly, it is important that you speak with an experienced immigration attorney.  The attorneys at Gunderson, Denton & Peterson have experience with these matters and can help you as you try to navigate through the often complex legal issues that arise when working with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS") and the U.S. Department of State.