Israelis will soon be able to obtain E-2 Investor Visas for the United States after the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee on Monday finalized the statutes needed for the implementation of a bilateral agreement signed by both countries a year ago.
The bilateral agreement will allow citizens from each country to obtain work visas in the other country.
The U.S. E-2 Investor Visa, unlike other U.S. work visas, is issued to applicants who can prove they can fund a new business in the United States and that the new investment would create local jobs. Enabling Israelis to obtain such visas will make it easier for Israeli startups, diamond dealers, venture capital firms and real estate agencies to operate in the United States.
Until now, Israelis who wanted to work in the U.S. have had to go through many more hoops because of the stringent criteria for other visa categories, such as having to show exceptional skills and expertise, demonstrate unique achievements, or prove they already have commercial ties with U.S. entities.
In the other direction, Israel agreed to create a new category of visa, B-5, for American investors seeking to set up shop in Israel. This will allow American investors to stay in Israel for longer than with other work visas (more than 63 months). It will also allow the spouses of such investors to receive a general work permit in Israel.
The bilateral Treaty Investor agreement was adopted by the Israeli cabinet in 2017, but its implementation was delayed until Israel could finalize the statutes associated with the new B-5 visa.
