Investor Visa With Israel?
March 14th, 2012 by SRW Lawyers
The investor or “E-2” visa is available for foreign nationals who want to start-up or buy a U.S. business. It gives the investor the right to live and work in the U.S. directing his business. The spouse of the investor can apply for his/her own employment authorization. The E-2 visa is only available to nationals of a country that has entered into a bilateral or reciprocal agreement or treaty with the United States. To date, there are over eighty countries that have such treaties or agreements with the U.S. For a list of those countries, see http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_3726.html.
Amazingly, Israel is not one of those countries with an investor treaty. That may change soon with a Bill (# H.R. 3992) currently in Committee with Congress. If passed, it would make Israeli nationals eligible to enter the United States as nonimmigrant traders and investors as provided for under the Immigration and Nationality Act if Israel provides reciprocal nonimmigrant treatment to U.S. nationals. Curiously, Israel and the U.S. have had an agreement since 1954 that permits the E-1 or “trader” visa (e.g., import-export business). The E-1 visa is a “transactional” visa based upon volume of trade between the two countries rather than the “investor” or E-2 visa which is based upon the “substantiality” of the dollar investment.
Contact Mr. Barone at our office to learn more about the E-1 or E-2 visas or for more information.
