What to Know About the US Treaty Trader (E1) Visa

The U.S. E1 trader visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows a citizen of a country that has a trade agreement with the United States to establish a business and live temporarily in the U.S. solely for the purpose of conducting international trade in technology, goods and services in his or her own name and account.

According to the trade agreement signed between Turkey and the United States on February 15, 1933, Turkish citizens who meet the necessary conditions can obtain an E1 visa to engage in international commercial activities in the United States. Sectors considered valid for the US trade visa include international banking, insurance, transportation, tourism and communications.

Who can get an E1 visa to the USA?

People who can get an American E1 visa are listed below.

  • Turkish citizens who want to do business with the USA
  • Companies that will send key personnel to manage their US branch
  • Companies that will send personnel to establish branches in the USA
  • Personnel of a Turkish company operating in the USA (including managers, directors and experts)
  • Immediate family members of E1 visa holders

Eligibility Criteria for US Business Visa

Eligibility criteria for a US business visa are listed below.

  • The business company you plan to come to the United States with must be Turkish national, in other words, Turkish nationals must own at least 50 percent of the business.
  • International trade must be significant; there must be a large and continuing volume of trade.
  • More than 50 percent of that international trade must be between the United States and Türkiye.
  • Title to commercial items must pass from one party to another.
  • You must be a key employee, employed in a supervisory or managerial capacity, or have specialized skills necessary for the efficient operation of the firm.

Terms of Business with the USA

Trade with the United States consists of trade items such as goods, services, international banking, insurance, transportation, tourism, technology and transfer, and some news gathering activities. Significant trade generally means trade between the United States and Turkey in an amount sufficient to ensure a continuous flow of international trade items. A continuous flow implies a large number of transactions over time, and there is no minimum requirement for the monetary value or volume of each transaction in trade with the United States.

Where to Get a US Trader Visa?

You can obtain an American trader visa from the US Consulate General in Istanbul. The US Embassy in Ankara does not give appointments for Group E trader/investor visa applications.

How to Get a US E1 Business Visa?

Follow the steps below to get a US E1 trader visa.

  • Complete the DS-160 visa application form online.
  • Prepare the necessary documents for the business visa.
  • Make an online appointment from the Consulate General in Istanbul.
  • Send the necessary documents to the Consulate General’s E type visa unit.
  • Attend the visa interview on the appointment day.

What are the documents required for a US Trader Visa?

The documents required for the US trader visa are listed below.

  • Nonimmigrant trader/investor application form (DS-156E)
  • DS-160 visa application form confirmation page
  • Photocopy of personal information page in passport
  • A petition stating that you will return at the end of your visa period in the USA
  • Cover letter including company and applicant information
  • Company business plan
  • Documents proving company ownership
  • Documents proving commercial activity
  • Documents regarding your professional qualifications
  • If you are applying via representative, form G-28
  • TR residence/work permit for foreign nationals
  • Marriage certificate if you are applying for a spouse
  • If you are applying for a child, a copy of the birth certificate

Prepare all application documents in accordance with the US Consulate General’s American E visa directives and add them to the application file in the correct order. US visa application files that are not prepared in accordance with the criteria will be returned to you and your interview will be postponed.

DS-156E Form for E1 Visa

For the E1 visa, you can prepare the DS-156E form on the computer in .pdf format or print it out and fill it out by hand.

If your company is not fully operational in the United States at the time of your visa application, provide an estimate of your company’s potential income, job creation, and turnover on the U.S. Form DS-156E .

Documents Proving Commercial Activities with America

You must present all documents proving that you have conducted commercial activities with the United States, such as purchase invoices, shipping receipts (US Bill of Lading), sales invoices, warehouse receipts, contracts, bank statements, customs clearance and continuity of trade.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most frequently asked questions to our consultants about the US E1 visa are answered below.

How to Make an Appointment for the USA E1 Visa?

You can make an appointment for the US E1 visa from the US Consulate General in Istanbul. Pay the $205 application fee from the online visa appointment system and send an e-mail to [email protected] to activate your account. You cannot make an online appointment without activating your appointment account.

After the Istanbul Consulate General E Type Visa Unit sends you an e-mail, you must prepare your application file in the format given in accordance with the given instructions and send it scanned to the same e-mail address. In the final stage of your US E1 visa application, you must attend a visa interview at the US Consulate General.

How Long Does It Take to Grant a US Trader Visa?

The US trader visa is issued for a maximum of 5 years, with multiple entries and a 2-year residence permit for each entry. You must renew the US trader visa when it expires and maintain the same conditions as when you receive the visa while extending it.

What Other Types of Visas Can I Get to Start a Business in the United States?

There is no specific visa type for start-ups in American immigration regulations, but there are visa types that entrepreneurs can apply for.

You can go to the USA by establishing a company in America, establishing an employee-employer relationship and becoming an employee of the company. Most of these visa types, which can be defined as American entrepreneur visas, are non-immigrant visas.