HOUSTON E-2 TREATY INVESTOR VISA ATTORNEYS 

Experienced E-1 Treaty Trader & E-2 Treaty Investor Visas & Consular Processing Attorneys

What is an E-1 Treaty Trader Visa or an E-2 Treaty Investor Visa?

Foreign nationals who wish to invest in the U.S. do not necessary need $1,000,000 as stated under employment-based fifth preference.  Investors can come to the U.S. and invest either as an E-1 Treaty Trader or an E-2 Treaty Investor visas.  E-1 Treaty Trader & E-2 Treaty Investor visas are non-immigrant visas which allow nationals of certain countries to come and invest in the United States and to remain here to manage and control such investments.   The investor can purchase existing businesses, creating new entities, or merging an existing foreign company to the U.S. company; so long as the merger satisfies all requirements for E visas discussed below.  The Houston E-2 Treaty Investor Visa Lawyers at the Law Offices of Steven Tuan Pham are experienced immigration lawyers that have assisted numerous companies around the world to invest in the U.S. through consular processing.  In addition, our West Houston E-2 Treaty Investor Visa Attorneys assisted various E-2 Treaty Investors in the U.S. to extend and maintain their statuses through E-2 extension petitions with the USCIS.  Please contact our Houston E-2 Treaty Investor Lawyers should you have any questions regarding E-1 Treaty Trader or E-2 Treaty Investor visas.

How are the benefits of an E-1 Treaty Trader Visa or an E-2 Treaty Investor Visa?

The E-1 and E-2 Visas are extremely useful because they allow nationals of “treaty countries,” which are countries who have Treaties if Friendship, Commerce, & Navigation and/or Bilateral Investment Treaties with the U.S., to come and invest in the U.S. with relatively small investments.  Unlike many other non-immigrant visas, which limit the number of years in which the foreign national can remain in the U.S., E-2 and E-1 Treaty visa-holders can remain in the United Sates for an indefinite period, so long as they continues to control and manage their business.  Furthermore, spouses and children under the age of 21 of the visa holder are also permitted to come and remain in the U.S.  The E-1 and E-2 dependent spouse may obtain employment authorization and work for any employer while in the U.S. There is no restriction on the type of businesses that the foreign national may operate, even if such business is not within the same industry as the investor’s background and experience, or in the same line of business as the foreign company. Lastly, children under 21 that are not married can remain as an E-2 dependent and may attend public school, including colleges and university.  Best of all, the children pay in-state tuitions, which is 1/3 of the international student rate for most public schools in the U.S.

Procedures For Filing E-1 Treaty Trader Visa or an E-2 Treaty Investor Visa 

E-1 Treaty Traders and E-2 Treaty Investors may apply for E visas through the U.S. consulate abroad.  The visa would allow the E visa holder the ability to travel back and forth to the home country, so long as the visa is still valid.  Foreign nationals who reside in third countries can apply for E-visas through “third Country Visa (TCV).  The third country visas allow foreign nationals in the U.S. or in a third country to file an E visa at the third country, such as Canada and Mexico.  However, recent regulation does not permit the TCV applicant to reenter the U.S. within 30 days from the date of denial.  Thus, if the E visa through a third country is denied, the person cannot enter the U.S. even if the person has a valid I-94 obtained previously.

Those that are currently in the U.S. can also file for an E2 Treaty Investor or an E1 Treaty Trader “visa status” with the USCIS while in the U.S.  That is, if you are currently under another non-immigrant visa, such as an H-1B specialty worker visa or a B-1 and B-2 visitor visas, you may change your status to an E visa category by filing in the U.S. with CIS.  The difference between an actual visa, issued by the U.S. Consulate, verses a visa-status, issued by the USCIS, is that a visa allows the foreign national to travel  back and forth from the home country and the U.S. to manage and control his/her businesses.  On the other hand, the visa-status in only confers the applicant the rights and privileges of a visa, but such status is determined to have been abandoned once the person leaves the U.S.  As such, prior to leaving the U.S., it is advisable that foreign national who only has visa status from the USCIS file and obtain a travel document (advance parole) prior to leaving the U.S.  Alternatively, the foreign national can also file the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa with the U.S. consulate abroad subsequent to leaving the U.S.  The person must be mindful that the visa application process can take up to a couple of months, even if without complications.

How Can an E-2 Treaty Investor Stay in The U.S.?

As stated above, an E visa holder may stay in the U.S. indefinitely, so long as the person continues to stay in the U.S. to control and manage his or her investment. However, the visa holder is required to file extensions with every 2-3 years to ensure that the investor is still qualified under such category.  The initial E-1 and E-2 Visa is usually valid for 2 years; though, the U.S. consular have previously issue E-2 Treaty Investor Visa for up to 5 years.  However, at the end of the initial period, the visa holder will need to file for extensions.  If the foreign national maintains statuses, the USCIS usually issue E-2 approvals that are valid for 3 years.  As such, it is important that the E visa holder maintain valid status and continue to operate and manage his or her investment in the U.S.  The Houston Texas E-1 Treaty Trader Attorneys and the West Houston Treaty Investor Lawyers at the Law Offices of Steven Tuan Pham will assist you in maintaining and presenting records for your E-2 Extension applications.  Please call our Houston E-2 Treaty Investor Visa Extension Attorneys at 713-517-6645 for assistance in your applications.

Requirements For E-1 Treaty Trader and E-2 Treaty Investor Visas