E Visas (E-1, E-2, and E-3) for Temporary Workers
The E visa category includes treaty traders and investors who come to the United States under a treaty of commerce and navigation between the United States and the country of which they are a citizen or national. This category also includes Australian specialty occupation workers.
Eligibility
Before entering the United States, treaty traders or investors and Australian specialty occupation workers must apply and receive an E-1, E-2, or E-3 visa from a U.S. consulate or embassy overseas. A U.S. company may also request a change of status to E-1, E-2, or E-3 for a nonimmigrant that is already in the United States.
Treaty traders (E-1) conduct substantial trade in goods, including but not limited to services and technology, mainly between the United States and their country of origin of which they are citizens or nationals.
Treaty investors (E-2) invest a substantial amount of money and direct the operations of an enterprise they have invested in, or are actively investing in.
Australian specialty occupation workers (E-3) perform services in a specialty occupation.
See U.S. Department of State's Treaty Countries for a current list of countries the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation with.
General Eligibility for E-1 Classification
To qualify for E-1 classification, you must:
l Be a national of a country the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation with;
l Carry on substantial trade; and
l Carry on principal trade between the United States and the treaty country which qualified you for E-1 classification.
Substantial trade generally refers to the continuous flow of sizable international trade items, involving numerous transactions over time. See the E-1 Treaty Traders page for more information.
General Eligibility for E-2 Classification
To qualify for E-2 classification, you must:
l Be a national of a country the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation with;
l Have invested, or are actively in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital in a bona fide enterprise in the United States; and
l Be seeking to enter the United States solely to develop and direct the investment enterprise.
See the E-2 Treaty Investors page for more information. There is a different classification for E-2 CNMI Investors.
General Eligibility for E-3 Classification
To qualify for E-3 classification, you must:
l Be a national of Australia;
l Have a legitimate offer of employment in the United States;
l Have the necessary academic or other qualifying credentials; and
l Fill a position that qualifies as a specialty occupation.
See the E-3 Certain Specialty Occupation Professionals from Australia page for more information.
E-1 or E-2 Classification as an Employee of a Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor
To qualify for E-1 or E-2 classification, you must:
l Be the same nationality as the main alien employer (who must have the nationality of the treaty country);
l Meet the definition of “employee” under relevant law; and
l Be either engaging in duties of an executive or supervisory position, or if employed in a lesser capacity, have special qualifications.
For more information on treaty traders, treaty investors and Australian specialty workers, visit our Temporary Worker page or call our Employer, Business, Investor and School Services (EBISS) information line at 800-357-2099.
How to File
To begin the petition process to adjust your status, you or your employer must:
l Read the instructions for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker;
l Complete and sign your Form I-129;
l Pay filing fee(s), if applicable; and
l Provide all required evidence and supporting documentation.
Want status updates about your case? Learn how to create a USCIS online account to stay informed.
Applying From Within the United States
E-1 or E-2 visas
You cannot apply for E-1 or E-2 status from outside of the U.S. There is a different classification for E-2 CNMI-Only Investors.
E-3 visas
You must include the following documents with our Form I-129:
l A Labor Condition Application (LCA);
l Academic or other credentials demonstrating qualifications for the position; and
l A job offer or other documentation from the employer establishing that you will be working in a specialty occupation and that you will be paid the higher of the actual or prevailing wage.
Applying From Outside the United States
E-3 visas
If we approve your Form I-129, we will forward a Form I-797, Notice of Action/Approval, to your employer, who should forward it to you.
Your next step is to apply for a U.S. visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, generally in your country of residence abroad. Please visit the Department of State's Temporary Workers webpage for visa information, instructions on how to apply, and U.S. Embassy contact information.
After You File
Once we receive your Form I-129, we will process your application and you will receive a:
l Receipt notice confirming we received your petition;
l Biometric services notice, if applicable;
l Notice to appear for an interview, if required; and
l Notice of our decision.
After the visa petition is approved, you can apply for an E-1, E-2, or E-3 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. For more information on visa application processing and issuance fees, see the Department of State website.
资格
在进入美国之前，条约贸易商或投资者和澳大利亚专业职业工人必须向美国驻外领事馆或大使馆申请并获得E-1、E-2或E-3签证。对于已经在美国的非移民，美国公司也可以要求将身份变更为E-1、E-2或E-3。
条约贸易商(E-1)主要在美国与其公民或国民所属的原籍国之间进行实质性的货物贸易，包括但不限于服务和技术。
条约投资者(E-2)投资大量资金，并指导他们已投资或正在积极投资的企业的经营。
澳大利亚专业职业工人(E-3)在专业职业中提供服务。
参见美国国务院条约国家(Treaty States)，查看当前与美国保持贸易和航行条约的国家名单。
E-1分类的一般资格
要符合E-1级的资格，你必须:
l 是与美国有通商和通航条约的国家的国民;
l 进行大宗贸易;而且
l 在美国和有资格获得E-1级别的条约国家之间进行主要贸易。
实质性贸易通常是指大量国际贸易项目的持续流动，在一段时间内涉及大量交易。更多信息请参见E-1条约贸易商页面。
E-2分类的一般资格
要符合E-2级的资格，你必须:
l 是与美国有通商和通航条约的国家的国民;
l 已向美国境内的一家善意企业投入或正在积极投入大量资金;而且
l 仅谋求进入美国开发和指导投资企业。
更多信息请参见E-2条约投资者页面。E-2 CNMI投资者有不同的分类。
E-3分类的一般资格
要符合E-3级的资格，你必须:
l 是澳大利亚公民;
l 在美国有合法的工作机会;
l 具有必要的学术或其他资格证书;而且
l 填补一个有资格成为专业职业的职位。
更多信息请参见来自澳大利亚的E-3特定专业职业专业人员页面。
E-1或E-2条约贸易商或条约投资者雇员的分类
要符合E-1或E-2级别的资格，你必须:
l 与主要外籍雇主具有相同的国籍(该雇主必须具有条约国家的国籍);
l 符合有关法律对“雇员”的定义;而且
l 担任行政或监督职务，或以较低职位受雇，具有特殊资格。
有关条约贸易商、条约投资者和澳大利亚专业工人的更多信息，请访问我们的临时工人页面或致电我们的雇主、企业、投资者和学校服务(EBISS)信息热线800-357-2099。
如何文件
如要开始申请调整你的身分，你或你的雇主必须:
l 阅读表格I-129的说明，非移民工人申请;
l 填写并签署表格I-129;
l 支付申请费(如适用);而且
l 提供所有所需的证据和证明文件。
想了解案情的最新进展吗?了解如何创建USCIS在线账户以保持信息灵通。
从美国国内申请
E-1或E-2签证
你不能从美国以外的地方申请E-1或E-2身份。只有E-2 cnmi投资者有不同的分类。
e - 3签证
你必须在表格I-129中附上以下文件:
l 劳动条件申请(LCA);
l 证明该职位资格的学术或其他证书;而且
l 雇主提供的工作机会或其他文件，证明你将在专业领域工作，并将支付高于实际工资或现行工资的工资。
从美国以外的地方申请
e - 3签证
如果我们批准了你的表格I-129，我们将向你的雇主转发一份表格I-797，行动/批准通知，由雇主转发给你。
你的下一步是在美国大使馆或领事馆申请美国签证，通常是在你的国外居住国。请访问国务院临时工人网页获取签证信息，如何申请的说明，以及美国大使馆的联系信息。
一旦我们收到你的表格I-129，我们将处理你的申请，你将收到:
l 收到通知，确认我们已收到您的申请;
l 生物识别服务通知(如适用);
l 如有需要，通知参加面试;而且
l 通知我们的决定。
签证申请被批准后，你可以在美国大使馆或领事馆申请E-1、E-2或E-3签证。有关签证申请处理和发放费用的更多信息，请参见国务院网站。
Citation: 1. E Visas (E-1, E-2, and E-3) for Temporary Workers
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