The E-1 treaty trader visa and the E-2 investor visa are appealing options for foreign business persons, investors, managers, and employees who wish to stay in the United States for extended periods of time to oversee: 1) an enterprise that is engaged in trade between the United States and a foreign country; or 2) a major investment in the United States.

Who is Qualified For Investor Visas

The E visa isn’t for just anyone who has a trade or investment. This visa class is exclusively for what the USCIS terms “treaty traders and investors”. This means that all applicants must be nationals of a country that holds a treaty of trade and commerce with the United States.

If you’re wondering if your country is a treaty country, you can look for it on the comprehensive list provided by the Department of State.

The regulations state that you must be a national of one of these countries, but you do not necessarily need to be currently living there. If you are unsure whether or not you qualify under this requirement, speak with your E-1 or E-2 visa attorney.

What is the E-1/E-2 Processing Time?

Fortunately, the investor visas have relatively short processing times. Your I-129 petition should take about six months to process, though this depends heavily on the caseload of the USCIS service center that processes your petition.

As stated above, you can expedite this six-month processing time by opting for the premium processing service. This optional feature shortens your visa processing time to 15 calendar days. If the USCIS fails to meet this deadline, you will be refunded your premium processing fee.

If you are going through consular processing, then your processing time will depend on how busy your home country’s U.S. consulate or embassy is. You will need to make an appointment for your interview and then wait until that date, which can be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

Can I Get an Extension?

Once your E visa has been granted, you will be able to stay in the U.S. for an initial period of two years. While this may seem short compared to other nonimmigrant visas, the E visa allows you to apply for an unlimited number of extensions. The USCIS website even states that E-2 visa holders that travel abroad are typically given an automatic two-year extension when they return. If this is the case, you would not need to file a new I-129 petition.

How Our Investor Visa Attorneys Can Help

Our Immigration Attorneys will prepare and file the necessary applications and supporting documentation on your behalf. If you would like to get in touch with one of our investor visa attorneys, you can fill out the contact form on our website or call us 24×7!