Investor Visas

Treaty Trader (E-1) Visa & Treaty Investor (E-2) Visa

The US welcomes foreign nationals by providing them with temporary visas which allow them to work and live in the United States for the purposes of investment or trading (commerce) between the U.S. and the individual's country of nationality. These visas are commonly known as Investor Visas or as Trader Visas.

Trading and investment activities that qualify individuals for an E-1 or E-2 visa must meet several requirements.

If you would like to speak with an immigration attorney to discuss your ability to obtain a visa, call Gerardo Menchaca at 210-858-9681.  We will be glad to discuss your case via video or telephone conference or at our offices in San Antonio, Texas.

Treaty Trader Visa (E-1), also known as Trader Visas, E1 or E-1 Visa

The treaty trader E-1 visa is designed to allow individuals to come to the US as essential employees in continuing substantial trade between the US and the country of the individual?s nationality.

Our immigration attorneys will help eligible international businesses establish the necessary requirements for an individual to obtain an E-1 Visa.

Treaty Trader Visa (E-2), also known as Investor Visas, E2 or E-2 Visa

The treaty investor E-2 visa allows an individual and his family to come to the US to ensure the successful operation of a business involving an investment in a real operating business.  This business must involve a substantial investment.  A proportionality test helps us determine if an investment is considered substantial.

Call us for a consultation to see if an investor visa or a trader visa is right for you. Call 210-858-9681 for an appointment.

Spousal Visas for those Married to E-1 Visa & E-2 Visa Holders

A husband or wife of an E-1 and E-2 visa holder is generally able to live and work in the US.  Sons and daughters may live and go to school in the US, but may not work in the US.

Commercial Treaty Nations

Only individuals from "treaty nations" are eligible for investor visas or trader visas.  This is a partial list of these nations:

Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China (Taiwan), Colombia, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Democratic Rep. of the), Congo (Rep.), (Kinshasa), Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Grenada, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Moldavia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia, Islands, Western Sahara.

Call our offices for the most current and complete list of treaty nations.

EB-5 Permanent Residency, also known as the million-dollar visas or an EB5 Visa

Some individuals who can invest $1 Million dollars (and only $500,000.00 dollars in some cases) may qualify directly for permanent residency.  A limited number of these EB5?s are available every year.

 

Our immigration attorneys have current information about the million-dollar investment visas.  

EB-5 Regional Centers

An EB-5 Regional Center provides foreign investors and their families an investment vehicle to obtain permanent residency by investing US$500,000 into a regional center project that creates 10 U.S. jobs in a Targeted Employment Area.  EB-5 Regional Centers provide a good option in your path towards permanent residency.  If you have chosen an EB-5 Regional Center to invest with, we will be glad to represent you before USCIS as you apply for your green card.