The US State Department announced, effective March 1, 2016, new streamlined registration and expanded processing locations for E-1 treaty trader and E-2 treaty investors visa applications processed in Canada.
Applications to register companies to qualify as E-1 and/or E-2 visa employers must be done at the US Consulate in Toronto. E-1 and E-2 visa applications for employees of companies not already registered, or of companies that have let their registration expire, must be submitted to the Toronto consulate.
E-1 and E-2 visa applications for employees of companies registered with the US Consulate in Toronto, as well as their dependent family members, may now apply at the US Embassy in Ottawa, as well as the US consulates in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montréal. Previously, only the Toronto and Vancouver consulates handled E visa applications.
Appointments are prioritized for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are citizens of treaty countries. The US State Department publishes a complete list of treaty countries online, click to see a complete list. Limited appointments are available for citizens and residents of countries other than Canada.
E visa company registration indicates that a consular officer has determined that a company met E visa standards on a prior application. Registered companies are given a Notice of E Visa Company Registration. There are more streamlined E visa application procedures while the registration is valid, unless there are substantive changes to the enterprise that would jeopardize its E visa status. If there are substantial changes in the company’s ownership structure or operations since the registration notice was issued, the consular officer may require additional corporate documents to ensure the treaty enterprise still qualifies.
For more information about the E-1, E-2 and other US temporary and permanent visas, please see Dentons United States Immigration Guide.
