Can I have American partners in an E-1 company?

Yes, it is possible to have American partners in a business tied to the E-1. What cannot change is the core requirement of the visa: the company must remain owned and controlled by nationals of the treaty country. As long as that connection is maintained, the presence of American partners or investors is compatible with the visa.

The E-1 is intended for citizens of countries that have a trade treaty with the United States who conduct substantial trade between the two countries. For that reason, the ownership structure is analyzed to confirm that the enterprise continues to qualify as a treaty country company and does not, in practice, pass to the control of parties outside the treaty.

When structuring a partnership, pay close attention to:

• How ownership and control are distributed among the partners.
• The documentation that establishes the treaty nationality of the principal owners.
• The consistency between the ownership structure and the declared commercial activity.

Because every arrangement has its own particularities, it is worth checking the current rules with USCIS and designing the partnership with the support of a trusted professional, avoiding the unrealistic promises found in marketing campaigns.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.