Immigration has never been easy, but it has certainly got more complex over time. A long time ago, all that was really needed to make a home in a new country was a ticket on a ship. These days, there are strict laws, complex application programs and lots of red tape. 

In some cases, the path to the country you most want to call home is not a direct one. The U.S. is a good example of that. Because their immigration programs are largely based around family ties, it can be hard to get a foot in the door. Turkish Citizenship option seems one of the popular routes to solve this problem. 

That’s why many people choose to take a different route, by getting legal status in a different country first, and then taking advantage of visa programs and treaties. Turkey is one of those countries, and here’ how their U.S. visa treaty can help you to find a path to the U.S. Once you have a Turkish Citizenship, you can apply for E1 or E2 visa. 

About the Turkish Citizenship Program

Many countries in Europe and elsewhere now have golden visa or immigration by investment programs. However, many of those require you to first become a permanent resident and have several years of permanent residency status under your belt before you can apply for citizenship. 

Turkey is one of a few countries who have opted to allow people to apply for citizenship by a more direct route. They do not require you to apply for permanent residence first, and you can get Turkish citizenship in as little as 60 days with an investment of $250,000 in a government approved program. 

Once you have a Turkish passport, you will be able to do everything a Turkish citizen can do – including applying for residency in other countries like the U.S., using the E1 or E2 visa program. 

How to Acquire Turkish Citizenship?

Getting Turkish citizenship via the golden visa program is relatively easy, by immigration standards. 

First, you will need to meet the immigration requirements related to your character, criminal record, security history and health status. 

Next, you will choose an investment. These range from investing $250,000 in property to investing $500,000 in fixed capital, a Turkish bank account, Turkish government bonds or various investments, or create jobs for 50 people or more. 

When you apply, you will need to open a Turkish bank account. Then the paperwork is submitted for review by the Turkish government. Provided everything meets the requirements of the program, you can get a Turkish passport within about 60 to 120 days. 

What is US Treaty Visa?

There are many different types of visa in various countries around the world. The U.S. categorizes these into immigrant (someone who will stay permanently) and non-immigrant (people who will not.)

The visa treaty allows citizens of certain countries to apply for non-immigrant visas to enter and stay in the U.S. under certain conditions. They are usually not allowed to work for anyone other than themselves, and there is a time limit on the amount of time they can stay in the country on any one visa. 

What Is the E1 Visa?

The E1 visa allows key employees of companies that are involved in trade and commerce in America to enter the U.S. to perform the duties associated with their role in the company. 

This visa is only available to people who are citizens of countries that have an E1 visa treaty with the U.S. – like Turkey. 

What Is the E2 Visa?

The E2 visa is for people from countries that have a treaty with the U.S. (like Turkey) who want to make a significant investment in a business in the United States. This investment must be in a real, operating business, rather than just a financial instrument, and it must generate a significant return. Which means it cannot be a subsistence business that is created solely to fund your family’s stay in the United States. 

How to Apply E1 & E2 Visa with Turkey Citizenship?

All U.S. visa applications are processed online, and you first need to create an account on US Visa. 

You will need to download form number DS-160 and complete the application. Make sure you complete all applicable fields on the form and attach any supporting documentation that is requested. 

There is a nonrefundable fee of $205 for each applicant on your visa application, which must be paid when you submit the documents. 

The U.S. Government will receive the forms, verify all information and make a decision based on your completed application. 

What Are the Conditions for E1 & E2 Visa

In order to successfully apply for a U.S. E1 or E2 visa, you need to meet the application conditions. These include:

• You must be a citizen of a country that has an E1 and E2 visa treaty with the U.S. 
• You must meet the employment and investment requirements for the program
• You must be admissible to the U.S., which includes your criminal history, character, medical history and other criteria
• You must be able to prove that you will be starting the business or making the investment the immigration program requires

Because this is a popular program, and a good way to get your “foot in the door” in the United States, the government is very meticulous in vetting and verifying all information applicants provide. So, you should always ensure that your application is genuine and bona fide, and that your paperwork reflects that. 

Even if your application is denied the first time, you can reapply, but that does mean extra costs and a much longer processing time. So, it makes a lot of sense to get it right the first time. 

What Could Make You Inadmissible to the U.S.?

Even if you have the required documentation and meet all the requirements for the visa itself, there are still things that might mean you cannot be admitted to the U.S. This just means that you are not legally allowed to enter or stay in the United States. 

There are several things that might make you inadmissible to the Unites States, including:

• A criminal record with one or more serious offences
• Participation in certain kinds of military activity
• Having been diagnosed with one of a limited number of serious health conditions

These regulations exist to make sure that the U.S. government only allows people who are not a serious risk to the safety of people in the United States are not given visas to enter and stay in the country. 

If you have these kinds of issues on your personal history, that does not mean that you are automatically excluded, but it does make the process more complex. So, it’s always a good idea to get professional advise before you begin your application. 

Proof of Investment or Trade for Visa

In order to successfully apply for an E1 or E2 visa, you need to provide proof that the investment or trade opportunity are real. There are several ways you could do this, such as:

• Provide leases for commercial premises that will be used for the venture
• Provide copies of contracts or purchase agreements
• Proof of wire transfers of investment amounts
• Joint venture agreements
• Proof of the trade of goods or services
• Your professional credentials in the form of your resume and any qualifications that will be used for the venture

Because each venture is unique and different, and because every application is different, there’s no hard and fast rule for what kind of paperwork you need to support your application. In each case, you would need to consider what kind of information would be best suited to proving that you are genuinely going to be engaging in trade or business in the U.S. and provide that information. 

You should also know that your documents will need to be verifiable, so if you are providing copies of the originals, you should probably have them notarized to confirm that they are true copies of the original. 

E 1 – E 2 Visa Processing Times

Immigration is never a fast process, and immigration to the U.S. can take a very long time. However, the E1 and E2 visas, because they are nonimmigrant visas, are usually shorter. 

Provided your application is complete when you submit it, and there are no questions or problems with the application or documents, your application could be processed in as little as 4 to months. 

Always ensure that your application is complete before you submit it. The more information the U.S. government needs to ask you to provide, the longer the process will take. 

Contact Us

Smart Citizenship has been helping people to move around the world for many years, and we specialize in citizenship by investment programs. 

Our team is happy to provide advice and assistance to anyone who is hoping to apply for citizenship in Turkey via the golden visa program, and those who are already Turkish citizens who want to apply for the E1 or E2 visa program. 

There are many ways to move to the country you want to call home, and Smart Citizenship can help you to make that happen.