Nonimmigrant visa

Nonimmigrant visa

Treaty Investors

Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge

Entrepreneurs, Business owners, Investors

Specialized knowledge employees

• You and at least 50% of the business owners must be nationals of the same treaty country.

• You must direct or control the business through either 50%+ ownership or a high-level director or managerial role.

• The investment must be substantial and at risk, with the legal source of funds documented.

• Funds must be the investor's personal assets, and the investment must be in a commercial enterprise (i.e., a business that sells products or services).

• The business must be profitable and ideally create at least one U.S. job within the first five years.

• The U.S. position must require specialized knowledge (expertise that is distinct, advanced, and critical to the employer's operations).

• The U.S. sponsor must belong to a multinational group with a corporate presence in the U.S. and at least one other country.

• You must have been employed abroad as a manager, executive, or specialized knowledge worker by an entity of the multinational group for at least one year within the three years immediately preceding the visa application.

• Renewable indefinitely, allowing long-term business opportunities in the U.S.

• Highly flexible and can be used for almost any type of business.

• Enables international companies to transfer key employees with technical or proprietary knowledge that is hard to find in the U.S.

• Facilitates a smooth transition to permanent residency.

• Focuses on the employee's role within the company rather than their overall career accomplishments.

• Requires a substantial upfront investment, with funds at risk (no set minimum, but typically over USD $100,000).

• Some consulates have long wait times for E-2 application interviews.

• Requires committing investment funds before receiving approval.

• Offers fewer green card pathways compared to the L-1A.

• Requires at least 1 year of prior employment within the same corporate group, making it unsuitable for new hires.

• Maximum renewals are capped at 5 years.

• New companies are granted only a one-year initial visa, which must then be renewed.

• Employment is limited to the same corporate group, with no options to switch employers.

Not required

Required

5 years¹

1-3 years

Indefinitely, 5-year increments²

2-year increments¹

2-4 months

1-3 months

15 business days³

15 business days

Yes

Yes

^{1, 2}Shorter for some nationalities.

³Available only for change of status, not for consular processing.

¹Up to a total of 5 years in L-1B status.