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Treaty Trader (E-1) and Treaty Investor (E-2) Visas
Visa Services
Overview
How To Apply
E-1, E-2 Application Guidance
Family Members of E Visa Holders

Overview

Treaty Trader (E-1) and Treaty Investor (E-2) visas are for citizens of countries with which the United States maintains treaties of commerce and navigation, including France.

You must be coming to the United States to engage in substantial trade, including trade in services or technology, in qualifying activities, principally between the United States and the treaty country; develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which you have invested a substantial amount of capital; or fill an executive/supervisory role or provide skills essential to the operations of a firm that qualifies as an E-1 or E-2 business.

How To Apply

1.  Each applicant should carefully complete Form DS-160 (*very important, see below) and upload photo (your photo must meet the photograph requirements).

2.  Create a user account and pay the visa fee and schedule a consular appointment interview.

3.  E-1 visa principal applicants and most E-2 visa applicants must complete the DS-156E (more information on visa E-2).

4.  Within two days of scheduling the consular appointment interview, submit required documents by email to: ParisEVisaApplications@state.gov the required format (see below under Document and Format Requirements).*Note: Submitting the requested documentation is a prerequisite to the in-person interview at the U.S. Consular Section. Failure to email the required documents before the interview will results in delays in processing.

5.  Appear for your interview at the Embassy and hand carry the complete E visa application package. See prohibited items

6.  If issued, the embassy will keep your passport during processing and will deliver your passport, visa, and documents to you using the method you selected when you registered for the visa appointment. Processing time is normally 3-5 business days after the interview. However, processing times may vary and there is no guarantee that your visa will be ready within this time frame. We urge travelers to apply as early as possible and to not make firm travel plans (e.g. purchase plane tickets, make non-refundable hotel reservations) before the visa has been received.

Visa E-2 (Important Information)

*Very important: Failure to fully and accurately complete the DS-160 and DS-156E will result in processing delays. Please note that each section of the DS-160 and the DS-156E must be filled out entirely. Information on parts I and II of the DS-156E must be updated within the past year, or more recently to reflect any substantial changes. It is not acceptable to answer questions on the DS-160 or DS-156E simply by referring to documentation submitted (i.e. “please see petition.”).

E-2 Visas

E Visas for Family Members of Current E Visa Holders

If you are the legally married spouse or unmarried child under the age of 21 of an E visa holder, you may schedule your appointment for a derivative visa online. First register and pay the application fee(s), one for each applicant, using the online appointment system.  Then, schedule your interview. Please DO NOT SEND any documents or passports.

At the time of the interview, the following documents are required for each family member: a DS-160 confirmation page generated by the online system, passport, and photocopy of the principal applicant’s E visa. In addition, bring the marriage certificate (Acte de Marriage) or birth certificate (Acte de Naissance) to demonstrate proof of the relationship between the principal applicant and the derivative family members. All applicants above the age of 14 and under the age of 80 must appear at the embassy for a personal interview. Children under the age of 14 do not need to come to the Embassy.