Articles Posted in E2 Investor Visas

We had a lot of interest in the past few weeks from our Blog readers as well as the Facebookpage (facebook.com/myimmigrationlawyer), about the future of Entrepreneurs in this country. There are many concerns that our current immigration system is driving talented people away.

I wanted to share this great article by Stuart Anderson about the American Dream.

Immigrant entrepreneurs capture the imagination and provide economic benefits to the United States. Nothing more symbolizes the American Dream than the “rags to riches” stories of immigrants who came to this country with little more than the clothes on their backs and started a successful business. Immigrants like Ovidiu Colea.

Recently, USCIS issued new procedures for applying for, submitting, and renewing E visas at the U.S. Consulate in Italy. The new procedures concern renewals, additional applicants for an already existing E visa enterprise, and first time applicants. All E visa petitions are being processed through the U.S. Consulate in Rome, Italy.

There are two types of renewals for an E visa, either with an interview or without an interview. For those cases that do not require an interview, the E visa renewal must meet the following requirements: You are a citizen or permanent resident of Italy and currently present in Italy; all ten fingerprints were captured at a prior consular interview (not at the airport); your previous visa is currently valid, or has expired within the last twelve months; you are applying for the exact same type of visa as your current/previous visa; your visa does not have Clearance Received annotated on it. If your E visa petition meets these requirements, the E visa package will require the DS 160 form, DS 156E form, last three years of corporate tax returns, passport, and original receipt of processing fee.

If the E visa renewal does require an interview, one must write to the U.S Consulate in Rome at RomeEvisas@state.gov by putting “E VISA RENEWAL WITH INTERVIEW” in the subject line. The Rome Consular Section will contact you to make the appointment. The required documentation (DS-160; DS-156E; original receipt of processing fee; passport and last three years of corporate tax returns) must be hand carried to the interview.

I am currently in Israel enjoying a much needed vacation. The upcoming E2 visa for Israelis is a hot topic around here, and once people know what I do, the questions start coming.

During my stay here, I have communicated with the Israeli Embassy in Tel Aviv, in an effort to get some answers about the future filing process. I have to say that this Embassy is one of the most efficient to respond and communicate back, and I am sure it will be very useful in the future.

This is the response i received from this post:

Since President Obama signed the E2 Investor Visa Bill with Israel, we get a lot of questions from prospective applicants as to when can they start applying for the Visa.

The most updated information on this subject was provided at the American Immigration Lawyers Association National Conference in Nashville, TN, that I attended as well. The information was presented at the Department of State open Forum by Mr. David S. Newman, Director, Office of Legal Affairs, Visa Services based in Washington DC. Mr. Newman stated that reciprocity must be established at this time between Israel and United States before the Visa filing can take effect.

The implementation of the Investor Visa with Israel will not be effective until the terms and conditions of the final agreement are determined between the two countries, issues of binding commitment from Israel on all terms of the agreement.

We have been following the E2 visa Bill for Israel for months, well the wait is over.

President Obama, today, signed into law legislation making Israelis eligible for two-year investor visas.

The legislation from Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) cleared the House and Senate without objection. Israel is already one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment to the United States, but the E-2 visas for investors to come investigate business opportunities should help both the United States and Israel.

Since the passage of the E2 Investor Visa Bill by the house in March, many Israelis have been calling my office asking when can they finally move here and start the business of their dreams. Well,the Senate passed the bill by unanimous voice vote last week. It had been unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives on March 19 and now heads to President Obama for his signature.

The measure added Israel to the list of countries eligible for E-2 investor visas. Once signed into law by President Obama, as expected, the bill will put Israel on a list with more than 79 other countries whose citizens are eligible for the visas.

The Embassy of Israel in Washington applauded the passage of legislation, saying it enables “Israeli nationals to make large investments in the U.S. economy, creating many additional jobs for Americans.

This is a recent update on the E2 Visa Bill for Israeli Nationals. Many investors from Israel would like nothing better than the opportunity to do so and thus earn the right to live and work in the U.S.

On February 9, 2012, legislators introduced H.R. 3992 which would allow otherwise eligible Israeli nationals to receive E–2 nonimmigrant visas if similarly situated United States nationals are eligible for similar nonimmigrant status in Israel.

On 2/28/12, the House Judiciary committee passed H.R. 3992 by a voice vote. The measure must next be scheduled for vote by the entire House of Representatives.

As we reported previously on this blog, on February 9, 2012, legislators introduced H.R. 3992 which would allow otherwise eligible Israeli nationals to receive E–2 nonimmigrant visas if similarly situated United States nationals are eligible for similar nonimmigrant status in Israel. We have provided below a copy of the Bill. At this time this is not Law yet, and the Bill will need to go through several stages if and when it will become effective.

Upon introduction, bills are assigned a number. At the beginning of each biennial session. Separately, the Senate and the House debate the bill, offer amendments and cast votes. If the bill is defeated in either the Senate or the House, the bill dies.

Sometimes, the House and the Senate pass the same bill, but with different amendments. In these cases, the bill goes to a conference committee made up of members of Congress. The conference committee works out differences between the two versions of the bill.

Israelis may soon be able to live and work in the US as small Business owners by investing money in active and new Businesses. The US Congress is currently legislating a bill that, if passed, will make it easier for Israeli businessmen and investors to receive a visa to the US.

Jewish US Congressman Anthony Weiner from New York placed a bill on the House Judiciary Committee’s table that will allow Israeli investors access to this benefit.

The E2 visa is a special non-immigrant visa available to nationals of treaty countries entering the US to do the following: