Visas for Exporters to the U.S.

Many Israeli manufacturers and service providers who export their products and services in the international marketplace may qualify for a temporary work visa to the United States – either for their own purposes or for the purpose of sending an employee on their behalf.

A temporary work visa for traders / exporters is not the same as a temporary business visitor visa (B1 Visa).  While the former contemplates actual work activities to be performed for the purpose of developing further trade on behalf of an employer, the latter generally contemplates only certain business related activities incidental to the visitor’s occupation outside of the United States.

Because it is the interest of both the United States and Israel to promote trade between the two countries, a treaty was signed and reciprocal legislation was enacted whereby qualifying Entities, or their qualifying Employees of the Treaty Trader countries, engaging in significant trade between the countries, may apply for and be granted an E1 temporary work visa.

Unlike temporary business visitors, who generally travel to the U.S. for very short periods (to conduct business meetings, business negotiations, attend conferences and conventions, and the like), the Exporter with the E1 visa may remain in the United States for extended periods of time and actually conduct business on behalf of their Israel employers, inside the United States.  The E1 visa allows the bearer to conduct most matters of the trade-related business on his own behalf or on behalf of his or her employer, as the case may be.  For the most part, the E1 visa furthermore allows the bearer to apply for and receive a social security card, driver license, open a bank account and receive remuneration in the United States from the Employer and other allowances not generally accorded to temporary visitors to the U.S. for business or travel purposes.  Furthermore, the E1 visa bearer may remain in the United States for virtually unlimited periods of time, as long as the exporter and/or employer continue to meet the E1 requirements under the law and renew their visa status, in a timely manner and as necessary.

The qualifying exporter to the United States who is lucky enough to meet all the requirements under the statute, may bring his or her (legally married) spouse and children under a derivative visa category as accompanying members of the household.  Furthermore, a spouse entering the U.S. under the derivative category may apply for an Employment Authorization Document to work at virtually any job in the United States for which he/she is qualified and eligible, while accompanying the spouse.  The qualifying E1 Exporter or Employee, on the other hand, may work only on behalf of the qualifying company.

For more information on E-1 visas see: https://www.en.klarfeldvisa.com/visas-for-exporters-to-the-us

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