Vous faites du commerce avec les États-Unis ? Vous pourriez avoir droit à un visa
Shirin Navabi • April 3, 2025
Click here to read this article in English
Pour les propriétaires d'entreprises internationales et les entrepreneurs engagés dans le commerce transfrontalier avec les États-Unis, la possibilité d'étendre leurs activités et d'établir une présence physique aux États-Unis peut être plus accessible que prévu. Le visa E-1 Treaty Trader
est spécialement conçu pour faciliter ce type d'activité commerciale et offre une voie stratégique permettant aux personnes qualifiées de vivre et de travailler aux États-Unis tout en gérant ou en développant des relations commerciales.
Alors que l'année 2025 a été marquée par une tendance à la modification de la politique d'immigration, le visa E-1 reste une option viable et accueillante. En dépit d'un examen plus approfondi des différentes catégories d'immigration, ce visa reste adapté à ceux qui participent à des échanges commerciaux réguliers et qualifiés avec les États-Unis. Sa structure et son objectif s'alignent bien sur les réalités commerciales actuelles, ce qui en fait un choix stable, même en cas de changement de politique.
Le visa E-1 est accessible aux ressortissants des pays qui ont conclu un traité de commerce et de navigation avec les États-Unis. Pour en bénéficier, les demandeurs doivent démontrer qu'ils sont engagés dans un commerce substantiel - défini comme un flux continu de transactions internationales importantes - principalement entre leur pays d'origine et les États-Unis. Il met plutôt l'accent sur les échanges commerciaux actifs, tels que le transfert régulier de biens, de services ou de technologies.
Ce visa s'applique à un large éventail d'industries, y compris, mais sans s'y limiter, l'industrie manufacturière, la logistique, les services professionnels, le conseil, la finance, le tourisme et la technologie. Si plus de 50 % de vos échanges internationaux se font avec les États-Unis et que votre activité commerciale est cohérente et bien documentée, le visa E-1 peut correspondre à votre modèle d'entreprise actuel.
Outre sa flexibilité, le visa E-1 est renouvelable tant que l'activité commerciale se poursuit. Il offre également des avantages aux membres de la famille éligibles : les conjoints et les enfants célibataires de moins de 21 ans peuvent accompagner le titulaire principal du visa, et les conjoints peuvent demander une autorisation de travail aux États-Unis, ce qui offre un soutien supplémentaire et des opportunités financières à la famille.
Cette catégorie de visa est particulièrement adaptée aux professionnels qui opèrent déjà sur les marchés internationaux et qui cherchent à officialiser ou à étendre leur présence aux États-Unis. Elle récompense un engagement actif, des performances commerciales avérées et des partenariats commerciaux à long terme.
Si vous êtes actuellement engagé dans le commerce avec les États-Unis et que vous envisagez d'étendre vos activités commerciales, le visa E-1 Treaty Trader peut constituer une solution claire et efficace. Les avocats du cabinet Santos Lloyd Law Firm sont là pour vous aider à évaluer vos qualifications et vous guider à chaque étape du processus avec clarté, stratégie et confiance.
Ce blog n'est pas destiné à fournir des conseils juridiques et rien ici ne doit être interprété comme établissant une relation avocat-client. Veuillez prendre rendez-vous avec un avocat spécialisé en droit de l'immigration avant d'agir sur la base de toute information lue ici.
On January 14, 2026, the Trump administration announced a freeze on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries . The administration states that this “visa freeze” is intended to review security protocols, “reduce risks,” and control immigration flows. However, the immediate reality is that this change in policy has temporarily suspended visa processing and restricted travel for applicants from numerous countries across the globe. While the legal landscape surrounding these suspensions is highly fluid and subject to change, it is important to consider how this “visa freeze” might impact your current status or immigration plans. The scope of the restrictions varies drastically depending on your country of origin and specific visa category. Most notably, a nationality-based travel ban restricts visa issuance for 19 countries : Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Beyond this targeted ban, a broader freeze affects applicants from a designated list of up to 75 countries, leading to indefinite delays for many visa petitions. However, it is important to note that immigrant visa applications first need to be processed through USCIS, which has not paused processing applications from the 75 countries. Thus, it is important to contact an attorney to understand at what point in the process this visa freeze may affect your case. While Brazil is included in the list of 75 countries, at the time of this publication, the freeze does not include non-immigrant visas for Brazil . Non-immigrant visas are granted to foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States on a temporary basis for specific purposes, such as tourism, studying, or temporary work. This means that Brazilian applicants can still safely pursue non-immigrant employment options, such as O visas for individuals with extraordinary ability or P visas for internationally recognized athletes, without being subjected to the current travel bans or suspensions. This alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. There are many changes and uncertainties, so please consult with a qualified attorney at Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C. to understand how these evolving policies might affect your specific case
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In recent weeks, the U.S. government has moved to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for multiple countries, sparking a wave of last-minute litigation and creating significant uncertainty for beneficiaries. This shift is having a profound impact on those who rely on TPS for lawful presence and work authorization in the United States. Across the country, federal courts have intervened to pause or block scheduled TPS terminations for several countries, including Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, and Syria. In response to these court orders, USCIS has updated its webpages to indicate that TPS status and related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) are extended for these populations. However, USCIS is intentionally not providing specific new end dates for EAD validity while the litigation remains in flux. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has prominently noted that it "vehemently disagrees" with these court orders and is actively working with the Department of Justice on next steps. This legal landscape remains highly unpredictable and varies drastically depending on the country of origin. For example, on February 9, 2026, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay allowing the government to proceed with the termination of TPS for Nicaragua, Honduras, and Nepal while the underlying legal challenges continue. Because of this ruling, the automatic extension of work authorization for these individuals has ended, and employers are now required to reverify the work authorization of affected employees, who must present alternative valid documentation to continue their employment. These rapid changes and the lack of clear end dates are causing complications beyond the workplace. Because driver's licenses often track the length of an individual's authorized stay, many DMVs are currently declining to issue or renew driver's licenses for impacted TPS populations. For employers, managing internal communications, avoiding onboarding errors, and navigating Form I-9 compliance has become increasingly complex. It is more important than ever to be well-prepared and proactive in monitoring these rapid changes. At Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C., our immigration attorneys are ready to guide you through this evolving process and ensure you are informed, and supported. Please contact us if you have questions or need assistance.
