Skip to main content

Can two partners own an E-1 business 50/50?

By December 22, 2021E-1 Visa, Immigration
Two business partners dressed in suits smiling

E-1 visa is a great visa for people who engage in international trade between the U.S. and their home country and the trade is substantial. The E-1 business is owned at least 50% by treaty country national(s). The question is: can two business partners apply for an E-1 visa if they own the business 50/50?

The answer is: yes. Two people can apply for an E-1 treaty trader visa if they each own 50% in the E-1 business and could qualify for an E-1 treaty trader status. The business partners could either have the same nationality, or they could have a different nationality (as long as they are each national of an E-1 visa treaty country).

If they have the same nationality, then the E-1 business would have one qualifying nationality (this is relevant for bringing E1 employees in the U.S. as the E1 employees have to have the same nationality as the E-1 business).

If they have different nationality, then the business would have 2 qualifying nationalities.

Example

Each partner (Italian nationals) owns 50% in a U.S. company. The company is based in the U.S. and sells goods to customers in Italy. Both partners can apply for an E-1 treaty trader visa based on the 50% company ownership. However, if only one partner decides to apply, that is also fine.

If both traders would be coming to the U.S. on an E-1 treaty trader visa, you would have to show that each is coming to the U.S. to engage in substantial trade, meaning that each partner should have an executive/managerial role in the E-1 company.

FREE E-1 Visa Resources

Click on the buttons below in order to claim your free E-1 Visa Guide, sign up for our free E-1 Visa Webinar, or watch our E-1 Visa videos.

Download Our E-1 Visa Guide
Sign Up For Our E-1 Visa Webinar
Join Our E-1 Visa Facebook Group
Watch Our E-1 Visa Videos

Set up an E-1 Visa Consultation

For a dedicated one-on-one E-1 Visa consultation with one of our lawyers, click on the button below to schedule your consultation.

Schedule a consultation

This website and blog constitutes attorney advertising. Do not consider anything in this website or blog legal advice and nothing in this website constitutes an attorney-client relationship being formed. Set up a one-hour consultation with us before acting on anything you read here. Past results are no guarantee of future results and prior results do not imply or predict future results. Each case is different and must be judged on its own merits.

Leave a Reply

FREE WEBINARS
GET YOUR FREE
We are happy to offer our E-1 visa guide that describes the E-1 visa requirements, and other advise to assist with your E-1 visa application.
E-1 VISA GUIDE
For more info visit our E-1 visa service Page or schedule a consultation so we can handle your E-1 visa process.