On May 1, 2019, U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that E-2 Treaty Investor visas became available for Israeli nationals. For citizens of a treaty country, an E-2 visa is a convenient way to obtain a visa to enter, work, and live in the United States. The E-2 Treaty Investor visa is a non-immigrant visa where investors can purchase an existing company or create a new company and continue to renew the visa as long as the company is maintained. Barst attorneys can assist Israeli nationals in choosing the appropriate project and team.
The general requirements to qualify for an E-2 Treaty Investor visa include:
- Treaty country:
The investor must be a national of a country with which the U.S. holds a treaty of commerce and navigation. Accordingly, Israelis now qualify.
- Substantial investment:
The investor must have invested a substantial amount of capital into a legitimate U.S. business, which USCIS describes as sufficient to ensure the treaty investor’s financial commitment to the successful operation of the enterprise.
- Establishing ownership of the enterprise:
The investor must be staying in the U.S. to oversee their investment with no intention of permanently remaining in the U.S. This is established by showing at least 50% ownership of the enterprise or possession of operational control through a managerial position or other corporate device.
- Operating enterprise:
The investment must be in an operating enterprise; it must meet applicable legal requirements for doing business within its jurisdiction.
The E-2 Treaty Investor visa is an exciting and valuable opportunity for Israeli citizens. For example, self-employed Israeli entrepreneurs who wish to expand into the U.S. market, but who cannot necessarily meet the burdensome requirements and standards for an L-1 visa, may have an option for E-2 classification. Established or emerging Israeli companies that meet E-2 registration requirements will have a less cumbersome way to transfer personnel to their operations in the U.S.
For more information on the E-2 Treaty Investor visa or to begin your visa process, contact one of our experienced attorneys at Barst.
BarstLLP has been a leading immigration and business law firm in NYC since 1930. Our current team of NYC immigration attorneys averages 20 years of legal experience. Each of our experienced attorneys is dedicated to providing every client with representation that is tailored to their particular needs.