Like tourists, Israeli business-persons currently wait up to six weeks for a US visa.
Israel-America Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) president Zalman Shoval predicts that Israeli businesspeople traveling to the US will be able to obtain E2 visas in a few months. The E2 treaty investor visa is granted to businesspeople from 71 countries.
Currently, Israeli businesspeople wait like ordinary tourists for up to six weeks to obtain a US visa. Only AmCham members receive visas within a few days. Shoval says the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Industry, Trade and Labor are working on an AmCham initiative to sign an investment treaty with the US, which will include the granting of E2 visas more quickly. The investment treaty declares that Israel and the US will take all necessary measures to facilitate the activities of investors and businesspeople in each other's country.
Israel and the US have a free-trade agreement, but an investment treaty is important for obtaining E2 visa status. Shoval predicted that next month, the 20th anniversary of the US-Israel free trade agreement, the new investment treaty would come into effect.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on May 18, 2005