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—By Ashley Lin

一部分與美國締結條約的國家的公民要進入美國進行投資，他們進入美國時申請的即是E-2非移民類簽證。例如德国，日本以及臺灣公民皆可以申請E-2簽證，但是目前中國大陸公民还不符合该簽證要求。

詳細國家名單可查詢：https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/treaty.html

1. E-2投資人簽證申請者滿足條件：

• 申請人是與美國締結條約的國家的公民
• 申請人在美國已投入或正在積極籌投入備數額充足的資本
• 到美國開發并指導投資企業.（可以通過 50%以上的擁有權，或實質控制企業經營來證明）

2. 如果滿足以下條件，可以從美國本土以外引進外國雇員：

• 雇員與雇主是同一國家的居民
• 從事主管或高級管理職位，或者擁有對公司運營有非常重要作用的技能

3. 簽證有效期：

一次簽證申請最多有效期為兩年，可重復延期，每次延期有效期最多兩年（護照有效期內）。雇主或雇員單獨離境再返回美國時可以自動獲得兩年的簽證。

4. 配偶與子女：

• 投資人或雇員的配偶與21歲以下子女可以一起隨同申請E-2簽證
• 配偶可以申請在美合法工作，且工作不受限制。

5. 申請流程：

• 網上填寫DS-160表，并提交照片
• 大使館面試

 

The E-2 nonimmigrant classification allows a national of a treaty country to be admitted to the United States when investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business.

https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/e-2-treaty-investors

1. To qualify for E-2 classification, the treaty investor must:

• Be a national of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation. 8 CFR 214.2(e)(7)
  1. Taiwan is among the treaty countries. https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/treaty.html

• Have invested, or be actively in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital in a bona fide enterprise in the United States. 8 CFR 214.2(e)(13)

A substantial amount of capital is: 8 CFR 214.2(e)(14)

1. Substantial in relationship to the total cost of either purchasing an established enterprise or establishing a new one
2. Sufficient to ensure the treaty investor’s financial commitment to the successful operation of the enterprise

• Of a magnitude to support the likelihood that the treaty investor will successfully develop and direct the enterprise. The lower the cost of the enterprise, the higher, proportionately, the investment must be to be considered substantial.
• Be seeking to enter the United States solely to develop and direct the investment enterprise. This is established by showing at least 50% ownership of the enterprise or possession of operational control through a managerial position or other corporate device. 8 CFR 214.2(e)(16)

 

2. Bringing foreign employee (visa is classified as E-2,) to work is allowed if certain requirements are met: 8 CFR 214.2(e)(3)

• Engage in duties of executive or supervisory character or employee has special qualifications that make the alien’s services essential to the efficient operation of the enterprise; see details of special qualifications at 8 CFR 214.2(e)(18).
• The employee must have the same nationality as the principal alien employer.

 

3. Admission period:

maximum initial period is 2 years. May file Form  I-129 for extension.  8 CFR 214.2(e)(20)

the E-2 treaty investor or employee may travel abroad and will generally be granted an automatic two-year period of readmission when returning to the United States.

4. Partners and children

• Treaty investors and employees may be accompanied or followed by spouses and unmarried children who are under 21 years of age.
• Spouses of E-2 workers may apply for work authorization by filing Form I-765 with fee. If approved, there is no specific restriction as to where the E-2 spouse may work

5. Applying for E-2 visa:

• Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160， upload photo
• Schedule an Interview

Interested parties should refer to the U.S. Department of State website for further information about applying for an E-2 nonimmigrant visa abroad.  Upon issuance of a visa, the person may then apply to a DHS immigration officer at a U.S. port of entry for admission as an E-2 nonimmigrant.

 

Reference:

https://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-11261/0-0-0-17197/0-0-0-17551.html

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/employment/treaty.html