Investors and Traders: Requirements for E-1 Visas - Substantial Trade

If the U.S. sponsoring company wishes to qualify as a treaty trader company, the company must be engaged in substantial trade in goods or services principally between the treaty country and the United States.

Substantial trade is defined as the systematic exchange, purchase or sale of goods and/or services. Factors that are analyzed to determine the substantiality of the trade include trade volume, value, continuity and size of transactions. Trade can be binding contracts that call for a future exchange, but the trade must be on-going prior to E-1 visa application. Regulations require that over fifty percent of the total volume of international trade must be between the U.S. and the treaty country.