Non-Immigrant Visas

Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor Visa

Singaporeans became eligible for E-1 Treaty Trader and E-2 Treaty Investor visas when the U.S.–Singapore Free Trade Agreement took effect on January 1, 2004.  For an E-1 application, the company must be majority Singaporean owned, at least half of the trade must be between the U.S. and Singapore, and the company must already be engaging in trade when you apply for your visa.  For an E-2 application, the company must also be majority Singaporean owned and must have invested or be actively in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital in the United States.  To qualify for an E-1 or E-2 visa, you need to be the owner of the company or, if you are an employee, you must have executive or managerial duties, or you must have skills that make you essential to the employer’s operations.

E visas for Singaporeans are multiple-entry, are valid for two years and allow you to live and work in the United States accompanied by your spouse and dependent children.

What Are The Requirements For Getting An E Visa?

Qualifying for an E visa is a two-step process: first, the company must qualify, and then the individual applicant must qualify.  The following documents, as applicable to your situation, should be included:

Company Documents (E-1 or E-2)

Detailed company report on the nature of the business, current and projected investment and other business plans, current and planned employment of Singaporean and U.S. citizens.

• Evidence of establishment of U.S. business entity and/or branch offices:
  ◊ Certificate/articles of incorporation
  ◊ business license, copy of stock certificate(s)
• Evidence of business volume in the United States:
  ◊  company balance sheet
  ◊  consolidated financial statement for a parent/holding company
  ◊  copies of tax returns
• The Singapore company’s annual report, brochures, company registration documents

Company Documents (E-1 only)

• Evidence of actual trade between the U.S. company or office and Singapore:
  ◊  invoices/letters of credit/bills of lading
  ◊  correspondence showing trading activities, purchase orders, etc.
  ◊  orders for goods shipped or awaiting shipment

Company Documents (E-2 only)

• Evidence of investment in the United States:
  ◊  proof of purchase of capital goods, inventory
  ◊  lease or purchase of property contracts
  ◊  construction contracts, blueprints, property valuations
  ◊  photographs of building sites
  ◊  newspaper reports announcing new business venture

Individual Documents

• Standard Non-Immigrant Visa Application Documents (required)
• Nonimmigrant Treaty Trader/Investor Application DS-156E (required)
• Letter from the company providing specific information on the applicant and the reasons for his/her assignment in the United States. The letter should explain the employee’s role and supervisory responsibilities in the U.S. company or (if not a supervisor) his/her specialist role.
• Evidence of specialized skills and abilities
  ◊  diplomas and certificates of training completion
  ◊  résumé

Spouses and Dependent Children

If you already have an E-1 visa, your spouse and children under age 21 can apply for visas at any time.  They should include with their application a copy of your E-1 visa and a copy of your I-94 form to show that you have a valid visa and are in legal status in the United States.  Note that while you (the principal applicant) must be a Singapore citizen, your spouse or children can be citizens of another country.

CLICK HERE ON: HOW TO APPLY

Non-Singaporean E-1 and E-2 Applications

If you are not Singaporean and are applying for an E-1 or E-2 visa as a principal applicant, it will be much simpler for you to apply in your home country.  If, however, this is impractical for you, and if the U.S. Embassy or a Consulate in your home country has already determined that your company meets E-1 or E-2 standards, then it may be possible for us to process your visa here.  We will need to get verification from our colleagues in your home country before we can do your interview.

To facilitate this process, please include a letter in your application materials specifying at which U.S. Embassy or Consulate your company originally applied for its E-1 or E-2 status. Also, if you are replacing an E-1 or E-2 visa holder already in the United States, please include that person’s biodata or a copy of his or her visa.

If this is a first-time E-1 or E-2 visa application for your company, we will not be able to assist you. To determine whether the company is qualified, we would need to be able to verify the documents submitted, and as a practical matter, this can only be done in the country of origin.

Where Can I Get More Information?

For information about non-immigrant visas, please see the non-immigrant visa section of the U.S. Department of State’s Consular affairs website. If you have a specific question about your case, please e-mail the Singapore consular section.