Other specialized visas

Mexican nationals are eligible for Treaty Trader and Treaty Investor Non-Immigrant Visas.

Applicants for the Treaty Trader visa - the ‘E-1 Visa’ - must be engaged in existing, substantial international exchange of goods or services.

Applicants for the Treaty Investor visas (the E-2 Visa) must be actively involved in a substantial commercial enterprise.

Spouse and children of both Treaty Traders and Treaty Investors are also eligible for the same type of visas as the sponsoring family member.

Treaty Trader/Treat Investor Visa Requirements

The requirements for a Treaty Trader (E-1) Non-Immigrant Visa are:

• The applicant must be a national of Mexico or another treaty country.
• The applicant must be employed in a supervisory or executive capacity, or possess highly specialized skills essential to the successful and efficient operation of a commercial enterprise. Ordinarily, skilled or unskilled workers generally do not qualify.
• The trading firm for which the applicant is coming to the United States must have the nationality of the treaty country (in this case, Mexico).
• The international trade must be “substantial” in the sense that there is a sizable and continuous volume of trade.
• The trade must be principally between the United States and Mexico (more than 50% of all international trade involved must be between the U.S. and Mexico).
• Trade means the international exchange of goods, services, and technology. The item of trade and title of that item must pass from one party to the other in exchange for consideration.

The requirements for a Treaty Investor (E-2) Non-Immigrant Visa are:

• The investor, either a real or corporate person, must be a national of Mexico or another treaty country.
• The investor must be coming to the United States solely to develop and direct the enterprise. If the applicant is not the principal investor, he or she must be employed in a supervisory, executive, or highly specialized skills capacity. Ordinarily, skilled and unskilled workers do not qualify.
• The investment must be substantial. It must be sufficient to ensure the successful operation of the enterprise. The percentage in investment required for a low-cost business enterprise is generally higher than the percentage of investment required for a high-cost enterprise.
• The investment must be in a real operating commercial enterprise. Speculative or idle investment does not qualify. Uncommitted funds in a bank account or similar security are not considered an investment.
• The investment may not be marginal. It must have the capacity to generate significantly more income than just to provide a living to the investor and family, or it must have a significant economic impact in the United States.
• The investor must have control of the funds, and the investment must be at risk in the commercial sense. Loans secured with the assets of the investment enterprise are not considered to be at risk.

How to Apply for an E-Visa

Applicants must send a packet demonstrating that their business is qualified for the E-Visa and that the applicant is qualified for the E-Visa. Generally, these packets include business tax returns, business plans, registration papers, articles of incorporation for the business, payroll reports, photos of the business, etc., as well as a resume or a narrative that explains how the individual is qualified.

Only after their E-Visa packet is received by the Embassy can the applicant receive an appointment date. Generally, appointments will be scheduled for within two weeks of receipt of the E-Visa packet. (Appointments can be scheduled for a later date if the applicant desires.)

Please send your packet to:

Embajada de los Estados Unidos
NIV Seccion: E Visas
Paseo de la Reforma #305
Col. Cuauhtémoc
06500 Mexico D.F.

Upon receipt of the packet, the Embassy will contact the applicant regarding an appointment time. E-Visa applicants are interviewed on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday (not including Mexican or American holidays falling on these days).

All E-Visa applicants and any accompanying family members except for children under 14 must come to the Embassy for an interview. E-Visa applicants must fill out the following forms on the Internet before coming to Embassy:

• DS-156 (for all applicants),
• DS-156E (for the principal applicant) y
• DS-157 (for any male applicants, ages 16 to 45).

All applicants must also bring a receipt for the PESO EQUIVALENT of $131 USD from Banamex per applicant.

Other ORIGINAL documents to bring for the interview include:

• Valid passport with a minimum of 6 months validity and available empty pages
• Original birth certificate of children
• Original marriage certificate
• Any other supporting documents the applicant feels are necessary

Questions about E-Visas

Any questions about E-Visas should be directed to MexicoCityEVisas@state.gov

More information on "How to apply."