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E (Treaty Trader/Treaty Investor) Visas

For general information on E (treaty trader/treaty investor) visas, please see the Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1273.html.

How to apply

E visa applicants are required to appear in person before a consular officer for a personal interview. Applicants may schedule an appointment for a visa interview by e-mailing requests to:  consularbridge2@state.gov.  E-visa applicants should arrange to forward documentation of the investment and enterprise to demonstrate that the applicant qualifies according to the E-1 or E-2 requirements set forth on the Department of State website referred to above at least 48 hours before their scheduled interviews to the Visa Unit in Bridgetown at the following address:

Visa Unit
U.S. Embassy Bridgetown
Wildey Office Park
Wildey, St. Michael
Barbados, West Indies
T: (246) 431-0225

The following forms and information are required at the time of the interview:

  • A signed visa application form (DS-156) for each applicant, with all questions answered.  Form DS-156 may be filled out on-line at http://evisaforms.state.gov/. 
  • A completed E visa supplemental application form (DS-156E) for the principal applicant.  Form DS-156E may be completed on-line at http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/visa.asp.
  • Male applicants aged 16 to 45 years must also present a completed form DS-157. This and other State Department forms in English are available at http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/visa.asp.
  • A passport for each applicant, with at least one blank page, valid through the applicant's intended stay in the United States.  If applicants have had previous visas, they should present the passports with the old visas at the time of application.
  • One (1) color photo (50mm x 50mm).
  • A nonrefundable USD131 or BBD265 Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application fee, for each applicant, in cash or bank cheque made out to the American Embassy.  There may be an additional reciprocity issuance fee depending on the nationality of the E visa applicant.  Please see http://intranet.ca.state.gov/beta/visas/reciprocity/9868.aspx for more information.

The applicant has the burden of demonstrating eligibility for E Visa classification as an investor or employee.

Processing Times and Procedures

It currently takes five business days to process an E visa application, but visa processing times may vary without notice.  The US Embassy in Bridgetown returns the passports of successful visa applicants by courier service.  If your application is approved, we will return your passport(s) to you at a location of your choice in Barbados via DHL within five business days.  Please make arrangements with the DHL representative in our lobby to pre-pay an airway bill for delivery of your passport(s).  The cost for DHL delivery one-way within Barbados is US$10, or BBD$20.  Passports will be returned to applicants who cannot wait in Barbados for visa processing to be completed; they will have to return their passports via courier to the Embassy for processing.  The passport will then be returned to the applicant via courier within ten business days of delivery to the Embassy.  The cost for DHL two-way passport delivery anywhere within the Bridgetown consular district is US$48.