United States · Business / Startup
United States E-1 Treaty Trader
First stay: 2 yrs
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
E-1 Treaty Trader is a business / startup route for United States. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $1,015
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Government fees$1,015
- $1,015Form I-129 filing fee for an E-1, E-2, E-3 or TN petition filed by paper (USD 965 online) when changing status inside the United States; the petitioner also pays the Asylum Program Fee of USD 600 (USD 300 for a small employer, USD 0 for a nonprofit).
RenewalRenewable
Admission is for up to 2 years and can be extended in steps of up to 2 years with no limit on the number of extensions; you must keep the intent to leave the U.S.
CitizenshipTime here doesn't count
Naturalisation requires years of lawful permanent resident status (5 years, or 3 if married to a U.S. citizen), so time in this temporary status does not count toward it.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship
- Work rights are limited
- Only for passports from 53 countries
What you'll need
Who can apply5
- The applicant is a national of a treaty country carrying on substantial trade.
- Principal trade means over 50% of the trader's international trade volume is between the United States and the treaty country.
- There is no minimum value or volume per transaction.
- Employees must share the employer's nationality.
- Employees must be executive or supervisory or hold special qualifications essential to the enterprise.
What you must show1
- Income sufficient to support the trader and family is a favourable factor for smaller businesses.
Steps2
- Apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate when outside the United States.
- Form I-129 cannot be used from abroad.
When you become tax resident
How United States decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 2 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 31 days in the current calendar yearMinimum days of presence in the current year.
- At least 183 days in the current year plus two preceding years (weighted 1, 1/3, 1/6)Weighted days of presence over the three-year period.
- Foreign-source income
U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.
All tax rules for United States Tax records checked
Full official text
Nonimmigrant visa for nationals of treaty countries who carry on substantial trade, principally between the United States and their treaty country, and for qualifying employees. 1 2 3 4
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $1,015 · Form I-129 filing fee for an E-1, E-2, E-3 or TN petition filed by paper (USD 965 online) when changing status inside the United States; the petitioner also pays the Asylum Program Fee of USD 600 (USD 300 for a small employer, USD 0 for a nonprofit). 3
Requirements
- The applicant is a national of a treaty country carrying on substantial trade. 1
- Principal trade means over 50% of the trader's international trade volume is between the United States and the treaty country. 1
- There is no minimum value or volume per transaction. 1
- Employees must share the employer's nationality. 1
- Employees must be executive or supervisory or hold special qualifications essential to the enterprise. 1
- Income sufficient to support the trader and family is a favourable factor for smaller businesses. 1
- Apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate when outside the United States. 1
- Form I-129 cannot be used from abroad. 1
Stay
- Initial stay up to 2 years; extensions in increments of up to 2 years with no limit on their number; automatic 2-year readmission on return from travel if admissible; intent to depart must be maintained.
- First stay: up to 24 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Only nationals of E-1 treaty countries; Kosovo and Yugoslavia are listed there but have no ISO 3166 code. Open to: Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bolivia, Canada, Switzerland, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Ethiopia, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Honduras, Croatia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Latvia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Paraguay, Serbia, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Suriname, Togo, Thailand, Türkiye, Taiwan.
Work
Work is limited to the treaty enterprise; spouses in E-1 status are work-authorised incident to status.
Family
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 of any nationality.
Official sources
- E-1 Treaty Traders · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10
- Treaty Countries · U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs (Internet Archive copy) · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-07-04
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-10-07
- 9 FAM 402.9-10: treaties and laws containing trader and investor provisions (CT:VISA-2190, 17 February 2026) · U.S. Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-02-17
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
E-1 Treaty Trader and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 Treaty Trader | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Entrepreneur parole (IER) | Needs an investment from $124k | 2.5 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Freelance professional M Colombia | Needs income of COP 8.8M+ a month ≈ $2,740 | 3 yr | Limited |
| BC Entrepreneur · Base Canada | Needs an investment of CAD 200k+ ≈ $140k | – | – |
| Self-employed residence Uruguay | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the E-1 Treaty Trader?
A fee of $1,015. Form I-129 filing fee for an E-1, E-2, E-3 or TN petition filed by paper (USD 965 online) when changing status inside the United States; the petitioner also pays the Asylum Program Fee of USD 600 (USD 300 for a small employer, USD 0 for a nonprofit).
How long can I stay on the E-1 Treaty Trader?
Initial stay up to 2 years; extensions in increments of up to 2 years with no limit on their number; automatic 2-year readmission on return from travel if admissible; intent to depart must be maintained.
Can I work on the E-1 Treaty Trader?
Limited. Work is limited to the treaty enterprise; spouses in E-1 status are work-authorised incident to status.
Can I bring my family on the E-1 Treaty Trader?
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 of any nationality.
Who can apply for the E-1 Treaty Trader?
Only nationals of E-1 treaty countries; Kosovo and Yugoslavia are listed there but have no ISO 3166 code. Open to: Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bolivia, Canada, Switzerland, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Ethiopia, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Honduras, Croatia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Latvia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Paraguay, Serbia, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Suriname, Togo, Thailand, Türkiye, Taiwan.
How are E-1 Treaty Trader holders taxed in United States?
No special regime in our records is tied to the E-1 Treaty Trader. The standard rules apply: U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.
More in United States
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 6 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- E-1 Treaty Traders · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10
- Treaty Countries · U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs (Internet Archive copy) · checked 2026-10-12
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12
- 9 FAM 402.9-10: treaties and laws containing trader and investor provisions (CT:VISA-2190, 17 February 2026) · U.S. Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual · checked 2026-10-12
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.