E-1
(1) Overview
The E-1 visa is for nationals of countries which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation, or which the United States maintains a qualifying international agreement, to be admitted to the United States solely to engage in international trade or his or her own behalf. Certain employees of a qualifying organization can also be eligible for an E-1 visa. South Korea is one of these treaty countries, so managers or mangers of companies that do significant trade with the United States, and employees with essential skills to run the company, can apply for an E-1 visa. The spouse or unmarried children under the age of 21 of the E-1 visa applicant can also apply for the E-1 visa, and the spouse can get a work permit and work while in the United States.
If you apply for the first time in Korea, you will receive a visa for a period of 5 years, and if you extend your stay after entering the United States, you can receive an additional period of 2 years. A person who has received an E-1 as a manager of a company can apply for permanent residence as a manager or executive of an employment immigration priority (EB-1) multinational corporation if certain conditions are met.
(2) Qualifications
Visa applicants must first be a national of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation or with which the United States maintains a qualifying international agreement, or which has been deemed a qualifying country by legislation. Therefore, a nationality of a company established in the United States must be Korean, and this requirement is met if at least 50% of the shares in the U.S. company are owned by Koreans. Next, a significant amount of trade must be conducted on a regular and continuous basis, and at least 50% of the total amount of international trade must be between the United States and the country of the applicant. Trade not only includes the trade of goods, but also the transfer of technology and services.
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