E-1 Treaty Trader
E-1 Treaty Trader
Live and work in the U.S. to direct substantial international trade between your treaty country and the United States.
Live and work in the U.S. to direct substantial international trade between your treaty country and the United States.
Advantages
Advantages
No investment required
No investment required
Based on the volume of your trade, not a capital investment.
Based on the volume of your trade, not a capital investment.
Renewable indefinitely
Renewable indefinitely
Granted in up-to-two-year periods and renewable as long as the qualifying trade continues.
Granted in up-to-two-year periods and renewable as long as the qualifying trade continues.
Spouse & Children Accompany
Spouse & Children Accompany
Spouses are generally allowed to work and children under 21 may attend U.S. schools.
Spouses are generally allowed to work and children under 21 may attend U.S. schools.
Requirements
Requirements
Treaty Country Citizenship
Treaty Country Citizenship
You must hold a passport from one of the 80+ countries maintaining a valid treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States.
You must hold a passport from one of the 80+ countries maintaining a valid treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States.
You must hold a passport from one of the 80+ countries maintaining a valid treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States.
Substantial trade
Substantial trade
A continuous flow of numerous, sizable transactions. There's no fixed dollar minimum, but the trade must already be underway and significant.
A continuous flow of numerous, sizable transactions. There's no fixed dollar minimum, but the trade must already be underway and significant.
A continuous flow of numerous, sizable transactions. There's no fixed dollar minimum, but the trade must already be underway and significant.
Principally with the U.S.
Principally with the U.S.
More than 50% of your total international trade volume must be between the U.S. and your treaty country.
More than 50% of your total international trade volume must be between the U.S. and your treaty country.
More than 50% of your total international trade volume must be between the U.S. and your treaty country.
Qualifying trade
Qualifying trade
Trade means the international exchange of goods, services, or technology, with title passing between the parties.
Trade means the international exchange of goods, services, or technology, with title passing between the parties.
Trade means the international exchange of goods, services, or technology, with title passing between the parties.
Your role
Your role
You must be the principal trader, or an employee in an executive or supervisory role, or one with skills essential to the operation.
You must be the principal trader, or an employee in an executive or supervisory role, or one with skills essential to the operation.
You must be the principal trader, or an employee in an executive or supervisory role, or one with skills essential to the operation.
Our E-1 Process
Our E-1 Process
1
Discovery & Strategy
Discovery & Strategy
Discovery & Strategy
We confirm your treaty eligibility and test your trade against the two core thresholds that it's substantial, and that more than half of it is with the U.S.
We confirm your treaty eligibility and test your trade against the two core thresholds that it's substantial, and that more than half of it is with the U.S.
2
Petition Assembly & Filing
Petition Assembly & Filing
We assemble the evidentiary record that proves the volume and direction of your trade, and file the petition with USCIS or the appropriate U.S. Consulate abroad.
We assemble the evidentiary record that proves the volume and direction of your trade, and file the petition with USCIS or the appropriate U.S. Consulate abroad.
3
Consular Interview Preparation
Consular Interview Preparation
we conduct rigorous mock interviews training you to confidently articulate your trade volume, the flow of goods or services between the U.S. and your treaty country, and your role in the business to the consular officer.
we conduct rigorous mock interviews training you to confidently articulate your trade volume, the flow of goods or services between the U.S. and your treaty country, and your role in the business to the consular officer.
4
Approval & Ongoing Counsel
Approval & Ongoing Counsel
Beyond securing your visa, we provide ongoing compliance advice as you scale your U.S. operations and prepare for eventual renewals.
Beyond securing your visa, we provide ongoing compliance advice as you scale your U.S. operations and prepare for eventual renewals.
Visa Application & Change of Status
Visa Application & Change of Status
E-1 Visa
Where You Apply
U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad
Current Location
Outside the U.S. (or willing to travel)
Travel Ability
High: Grants a physical visa stamp allowing international travel & reentry.
Processing Speed
Varies by post; premium processing is not available for consular cases.
E-1 Change of Status
Where You Apply
Inside the U.S. (via USCIS)
Current Location
In the U.S. in valid status
Travel Ability
Low: Grants legal status only. If you leave, you'll need a consular visa to return.
Processing Speed
Typically months; premium processing available for a decision within 15 business days.
Checklist
Checklist
Proof of treaty-country nationality
Evidence of substantial trade
A breakdown showing more than 50% of your international trade is with the U.S.
Evidence of your role (executive, supervisory, or essential-skills) if you're an employee
Business financials demonstrating active, ongoing trade
Family documents if spouse/children included
How We Work
How We Work
A deliberately limited caseload
A deliberately limited caseload
We take on fewer matters than a high-volume firm, by design. Your case receives focused, senior-level attention, not a place in a queue of hundreds.
We take on fewer matters than a high-volume firm, by design. Your case receives focused, senior-level attention, not a place in a queue of hundreds.
Every filing reviewed, then reviewed again
Every filing reviewed, then reviewed again
Before anything reaches the government, it passes through a careful, multi-step review. The small errors and inconsistencies that trigger Requests for Evidence, delays, and denials are precisely what that process is built to catch.
Before anything reaches the government, it passes through a careful, multi-step review. The small errors and inconsistencies that trigger Requests for Evidence, delays, and denials are precisely what that process is built to catch.
Direct access to your attorney
Direct access to your attorney
You work with the attorney handling your case from start to finish, clear answers, proactive updates, one point of accountability, not a rotating cast of assistants.
You work with the attorney handling your case from start to finish, clear answers, proactive updates, one point of accountability, not a rotating cast of assistants.
The content on this website is for informational purposes only, does not constitute legal advice, and does not establish an attorney-client relationship until a formal engagement agreement is signed. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
© 2016-2026 Mamdani Law. All Rights Reserved.
The content on this website is for informational purposes only, does not constitute legal advice, and does not establish an attorney-client relationship until a formal engagement agreement is signed. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
© 2016-2026 Mamdani Law. All Rights Reserved.
The content on this website is for informational purposes only, does not constitute legal advice, and does not establish an attorney-client relationship until a formal engagement agreement is signed. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
© 2016-2026 Mamdani Law. All Rights Reserved.