The E-1 treaty trader visa lets you enter the United States to engage in international trade on your own behalf. Here are its 3 requirements: treaty-country nationality, substantial trade, and principal trade.
The 3 Requirements of an E-1 Visa
Here are the 3 requirements of an E1 visa, which allows you to enter the United States to engage in international trade on your own behalf.
- You must be a national of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty regarding this subject matter.
- You must carry on “substantial trade”, and
- You must carry on “principal trade” between the United States and the treaty country of which you are a citizen or national.
Is Your Country on the List?
Fortunately, there are many such countries, and you can find out whether your country is on the list by Googling “E1 Treaty Countries.”
What Counts as “Trade”?
The word “trade” refers to the international exchange of items of trade between the United States and the treaty country, including:
- Goods
- Services
- Banking
- Insurance
- Transportation
- Tourism
- Technology, and/or
- Certain news-gathering activities
Substantial Trade and Principal Trade
And “Substantial trade” refers to the amount of trade sufficient to ensure a continuous flow of international trade items between the United States and the treaty country.
Finally, “principal trade” between the United States and the treaty country means that over fifty percent (50%) of the volume of international trade of the E1 visa applicant is between the US and the treaty country.
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This is Joseph Bovino, US immigration, business, and trademark attorney.
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