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Non-Immigrant Visas

Treaty Traders

Section 101(a)(15)(E) provides nonimmigrant status for a national of any of the countries with which an appropriate treaty of commerce and navigation exists, who is coming to the United States to carry on substantial trade, principally between the United States and his/her own country. The Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation, which entered into force on October 13, 1954, provides this authority for Greek nationals. Requirements for treaty traders include:

  1. The applicant must be a national of a treaty country;
  2. The trading firm in the United States has the nationality of the treaty country;
  3. The international trade be "substantial" in the sense that there is a sizable volume of trade;
  4. The trade be principally between the United States and his/her own country, which is defined to mean that more than 50 percent of the trade involved must be between the United States and the country of the applicant's nationality; and
  5. The visa applicant be employed in a supervisory or executive capacity or, if his/her functions are more minor, he/she has some special qualifications which make his/her services essential to the efficient operation of the firm. Persons employed in an unskilled manual capacity are not entitled to classification as treaty traders.

The term "trade" is defined to include not only commercial exchange but also international banking, insurance (generally maritime insurance), transportation, communications, news gathering enterprises, and ticket sales by travel agencies, but does not include advertising or facilitation of trade.

The word "substantial" when used with regard to investment has a relative connotation vis-a-vis the type of operation and is not an absolute term. The intent of the provision is to permit the entry of aliens who have substantial capital to invest in bona fide enterprises, as distinguished from the investment of a relatively small amount of capital in a marginal enterprise for the sole purpose of earning a livelihood.

Please note that the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between the United States and Greece provides for the issuance of treaty trader visas (E-1) only; Greek citizens are not eligible for treaty investor visas (E-2).

All applicants must apply for their visas in person, by appointment. For a list of required application forms and supporting documents, please click here.