USCIS Terminates E-1 and E-2 Treaty Trader and Investor Programs for Iranians

USCIS made the following announcement today.  Note: The announcement does not affect the E-1 / E-2 visa programs of other eligible treaty countries. 

USCIS today announced that, due to the Oct. 3, 2018, termination of the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights with Iran, Iranian nationals are no longer eligible for E-1 treaty trader and E-2 treaty investor changes or extensions of status based on the treaty.

The E-1 and E-2 nonimmigrant visa classifications allow an alien of a treaty country to be admitted to the United States for the purposes of engaging in international trade or investing a substantial amount of capital into a U.S. business.

E-1 and E-2 nonimmigrant visas are based on trade and investment treaties or specific legislation providing for reciprocal treatment of the respective countries’ nationals. The existence of a qualifying treaty or authorizing legislation is therefore a threshold requirement for issuing an E visa.

Due to the termination of the treaty, USCIS will send Notices of Intent to Deny to affected applicants who filed applications after the Department of State’s Oct. 3, 2018, announcement. Iranians currently holding and properly maintaining E-1 or E-2 status may remain in the U.S. until their current status expires