E-1 Visa for Treaty Traders in the United States
Operate, manage, and expand your business in the United States through the E-1 visa.
A visa designed for companies and entrepreneurs engaged in substantial international trade between their home country and the U.S.
What Is the E-1 Visa?
- Business owner
- Executive
- Supervisor
- Essential employee
How the E-1 Visa Program Works
For Companies
If your company conducts significant business operations with the United States, the E-1 visa allows you to transfer key personnel or establish corporate representatives within U.S. territory.
- Expand operations directly within the United States
- Facilitate logistics, negotiations, and supply chain operations
- Transfer executives, managers, or essential employees
- Unlimited renewals as long as trade remains active
- More cost-effective than other employment-based visas
- Flexible entry and exit from the United States
- Treaty nationality (at least 50% ownership by citizens of the treaty country)
- Continuous, substantial, and well-documented trade
- More than 50% of total trade volume conducted with the United States
- Real, regular transactions involving goods, services, or technology
- Legitimate operations and financial capacity to sustain trade
- Complete preparation of the corporate E-1 case
- Legal structuring of international trade flows
- Expert-reviewed financial and commercial documentation
- Strategic planning for essential employees or executives
- Guidance through consular interviews and renewals
For Individual Applicants
If you direct, manage, or are substantially involved in a business that actively trades with the U.S., the E-1 visa allows you to live and work in the country legally and on a renewable basis.
- Live and work legally in the United States
- Unlimited renewals as long as trade continues
- Ability to bring family members under E-1 and E-1D status
- Flexibility to enter and exit the U.S. freely
- Opportunity to lead negotiations and operations from the U.S.
You must demonstrate:
- Nationality of a treaty country
- A key role as an executive, manager, or essential employee
- Duties directly related to international trade
- Evidence of the company’s substantial trade activity
- A regular flow of transactions between both countries
We guide you in demonstrating your key role, responsibilities, and eligibility under the treaty.
- Eligibility analysis
- Case development based on your role (executive, manager, essential employee)
- Preparation of professional and business evidence
- Consular interview preparation
- Ongoing support for renewals and family applications
Get a clear strategy for your E-1 visa.
Frequently Asked Questions About the E-1 Visa
For companies
A continuous volume of real transactions with sufficient monetary value to demonstrate regular and significant commercial activity.
No. It may include services, technology, digital goods, consulting, and more.
Yes, as long as each employee meets the treaty nationality and essential role requirements.
For Applicants
No. Real and verifiable trade activity is required.
Typically 2 to 5 years, depending on the consulate. Renewals are unlimited.
Yes. Your spouse and children under 21 receive derivative status.
Spouses may apply for work authorization.
Get Legal Advice for the E-1 Visa
The E-1 visa requires clear, consistent, and well-documented evidence.
Errors in documentation can lead to unnecessary delays or denials.
Our team reviews your trade activity, structures your case, and develops a solid legal strategy to minimize risk and maximize approval chances.