Recently, the US and Israeli heads of state held various discussions over the first quarter of 2019 and it is estimated that by May 1, 2019, the US government will authorize the applications by Israeli citizens under the E-2 investor visa category.
The E-2 US Investor Visa
The E-2 visa permits a citizen of a treaty country to apply for an E-2 visa and enter the US.
The E-2 allows non-US citizens to work and live in the US by investing (US$ 100,000+) in an American company which must also generate employment for local Americans. The investor (and dependent family that are eligible) can stay in the US for a period of two years, this is then renewed subject to approval for 2-year periods subsequently.
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Israeli eligibility for the E-2 Investor Visa
The US Embassy in Tel Aviv is set to process these applications should the approval go through in May. They already process investor visa applications for Israelis that hold a dual citizenship. The E-2 Investor Visa will make it easier for budding Israeli companies, predominantly in the Tech sector, to access the US market. Similarly, the US will be able to draw in some of the most coveted tech talent in the world from the ‘Mediterranean Silicon Valley’ of Tel Aviv.
