Israelis Now Eligible for U.S. Investor Visa

After years of bureaucratic delays, the Israeli government has approved procedures that will allow Israeli businessmen to more easily receive visas to enter the United States. The E2 visa, known as the “investor visa,” allows an individual to enter and work inside the United States based on a “substantial” investment they will be controlling. The primary beneficiaries in Israel will be the heads of Israeli start-ups that open sales offices in the U.S.

President Barack Obama signed a law that extended the E2 program to Israelis three and half years ago — on the condition that Israel would implement a similar visa for Americans. At the time, the Knesset took up legislation to create that visa category, but with bureaucracy and delays, it was only last week that Israel said it was ready to implement its side of the deal.

According to Israeli experts, the visa will allow Israeli businesspeople to more easily open up businesses in the U.S. The visa includes provisions for families and workers, meaning that if a high-tech company wants to open a branch in the U.S., they will be able to send a full complement of staff under the visa.