Treaty-country nationality
The trader must be a national of a qualifying treaty country, and the U.S. trading enterprise generally must share that treaty-country nationality through qualifying ownership.
Business & Trade Immigration
The E-1 Treaty Trader Visa
A focused nonimmigrant pathway for qualifying treaty-country nationals carrying on substantial trade principally between the United States and the treaty country.
Discuss Your E-1 StrategyA pathway built on active international trade
Show the pattern, direction, and continuity of the enterprise’s trade.
The E-1 visa is designed for nationals of qualifying treaty countries who come to the United States to carry on substantial international trade. The trade may involve goods, services, technology, or other qualifying commercial exchanges.
A strong case documents an established flow of transactions, shows that more than half of the enterprise’s international trade is between the United States and the treaty country, and clearly explains the applicant’s ownership or qualifying role.
Core requirements
What an E-1 case must establish.
Substantial trade
The record should demonstrate a sizable and continuing volume of international trade rather than a single transaction, even if that transaction is valuable.
Principal trade
More than 50 percent of the enterprise’s international trade must be conducted between the United States and the treaty country.
Our approach
Turn commercial activity into a clear immigration record.
Eligibility assessment
Review nationality, ownership, the nature of the trade, transaction history, and the applicant’s intended role in the United States.
Trade analysis
Measure the number, frequency, value, and direction of qualifying transactions and identify the strongest evidence of continuity.
Enterprise documentation
Organize contracts, invoices, shipping or service records, financial statements, and ownership evidence into a coherent presentation.
Application and interview
Prepare the consular or change-of-status filing, anticipate questions, and help the applicant explain the enterprise and trade clearly.
Your next step
Evaluate the trade pattern before building the E-1 application.
Early review can identify nationality, ownership, transaction-volume, and principal-trade issues before they delay the case.
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