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Do I have to live in the U.S. if I have an E-1 visa? I am unable to enter the U.S. due to the Corona virus outbreak. Will this impact my E-1 visa renewal?

By May 18, 2020March 29th, 2021COVID-19

E-1 visa is a great visa for treaty traders who engage in international trade between the U.S. and their home treaty country.

Is there a residency requirement for an E-1 visa?

No, there is no residency requirement for an E-1 visa – there is no requirement that the treaty trader lives in the U.S. Therefore, you can keep your primary residence in your home country and it is completely fine if you only spend couple days/weeks per year in the U.S. This will not affect your E-1 renewal.

I had to let go the employees I had in my home country and I am currently the only person providing servicing to my U.S. clients. Will this impact my E-1 visa renewal?

No. There is no requirement for the E-1 visa that you have employees either in your home country or in the U.S. (however having U.S. employees is always good for the E-1 application/renewal). If you are currently in your home country and you are providing services to your U.S. clients (e.g. providing consulting services to the U.S. clients) that is completely fine.

One thing to keep in mind is that if in the future you will be the only person providing services to your U.S. clients, you should do that when you are physically outside the U.S. as if you were living in the U.S. and providing the services to your U.S. clients, the trade would not be considered international.

The E-1 trade declined due to the Corona Virus outbreak. Will this affect my E-1 visa renewal?

If the trade only decreased for a short period of time and by the time of your E-1 renewal the trade would increase again, we think that it would be fine. As Covid-19 is a global pandemic, we also think that the Consulates will understand that due to restrictions in many country, the trade declined during this period.

Please click here if you want out find out more about the E-1 application process.

You can find key immigration information related to the Corona Virus below

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