On August 1, 2018, the KIWI Act (Knowledgeable Innovators and Worthy Investors Act) was signed into law with bipartisan support and will usher in a major change for economic relations between New Zealand and the United States, as well as immigration opportunities. The aptly named KIWI Act adds New Zealand to the list of countries eligible for the E-1 and E-2 visa categories.
The E-1 visa is for those who carry out substantial trade with the United States, while the E-2 treaty investor visa is for those from eligible countries who make a substantial investment into a business in the United States. This article focuses on the E-2 treaty investor visa, which unlike the EB-5 investment visa has no minimum investment requirement, with some approved investments as low as $100,000 if structured properly.
New Zealand is a welcome trading partner to the United States with recent data from the International Monetary Fund indicating a GDP over $186B dollars. The KIWI Act will facilitate an increased amount of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into small and medium enterprises, which many hail as the backbone of the American economy. Investors were unlikely to invest their resources or open a business in the USA when they could not freely travel in order to direct and manage the investment. By offering New Zealand investors the benefits of E-1 and E-2 status the United States has extended an invitation to that country that will help both economies.
If you are a New Zealand investor or business person and you want to be on the vanguard of your country’s trade and investment wave then contact Pilehvar Law today to discuss your business structure and the E-visa process.
