E Visas

Eligibility

Before entering the United States, treaty traders or investors and Australian specialty occupation workers must apply and receive an E-1, E-2, or E-3 visa from a U.S. consulate or embassy overseas. A U.S. company may also request a change of status to E-1, E-2, or E-3 for a nonimmigrant that is already in the United States.

Treaty traders (E-1) conduct substantial trade in goods, including but not limited to services and technology, mainly between the United States and their country of origin of which they are citizens or nationals.

Treaty investors (E-2) invest a substantial amount of money and direct the operations of an enterprise they have invested in, or are actively investing in.

Australian specialty occupation workers (E-3) perform services in a specialty occupation.

See U.S. Department of State’s Treaty Countries for a current list of countries the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation with.

General Eligibility for E-1 Classification

To qualify for E-1 classification, you must:

• Be a national of a country the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation with;
• Carry on substantial trade; and
• Carry on principal trade between the United States and the treaty country which qualified you for E-1 classification.

Substantial trade generally refers to the continuous flow of sizable international trade items, involving numerous transactions over time. See the E-1 Treaty Traders page for more information.

General Eligibility for E-2 Classification

To qualify for E-2 classification, you must:

• Be a national of a country the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation with;
• Have invested, or are actively in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital in a bona fide enterprise in the United States; and
• Be seeking to enter the United States solely to develop and direct the investment enterprise.

See the E-2 Treaty Investors page for more information. There is a different classification for E-2 CNMI Investors.

General Eligibility for E-3 Classification

To qualify for E-3 classification, you must:

• Be a national of Australia;
• Have a legitimate offer of employment in the United States;
• Have the necessary academic or other qualifying credentials; and
• Fill a position that qualifies as a specialty occupation.