Termination of E-1 and E-2 Visa Change and Extension of Status Eligibility for Iranian Nationals

USCIS has announced today that nationals of Iran and their dependents are no longer eligible to change or extend their stay in E-1 or E-2 status due to the termination of the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights with Iran. Iranian nationals who have submitted an extension or change of status application after October 3, 2018 and have not received a decision on their application yet will receive a Notice of Intent to Deny. Iranians currently holding and properly maintaining E-1 or E-2 status may remain in the U.S. until their current status expires. Iranian nationals can still apply for E visas at consulates outside of the country however the visa is heavily regulated.  To learn more about the E-1 visa please click here. To learn more about E-2 visas, please click here. You can find out more about the E-2 visa renewal process by clicking here.

Treaty status and visa reciprocity changing without warning is not uncommon. E-2 reciprocity for French nationals was decreased from 60 months to 15 months in August 2019. Visa validity for Pakistan nationals was also updated in March 2019. Existing E-1 and E-2 visa holders are highly encouraged to immediately seek legal advice regarding their options.