There is a lot of red tape involved in getting a work visa for the United States. The annual allotment of H1B visas is exhausted shortly after they become available, in April. Only in exceptional cases, such as when an employee has worked for the same business abroad for at least one year during the preceding three years, may they apply for an L1 visa. As a result, New Zealand nationals will find it far simpler to gain employment in the United States under the E2 visa category and the E1 visa category. At what time do you expect this to be completed? There may be a long wait for New Zealanders to be allowed to participate in the E2 and E1 visa programmes, even with the backing of both houses of Congress. There is a unique kind of visa called E3 for those with advanced degrees from Australia. Perhaps E3 visas might be expanded to include New Zealanders. Hawaiian Democrat Mazie K. Hirono and Utah Republican Mike Lee have sponsored the Knowledgeable Innovators and Worthy Investors (KIWI) Act to expand eligibility for the United States’ E1 treaty trader and E2 treaty investor visas to people of New Zealand.
There is an expectation that the KIWI legislation would boost trade between the two countries. It is fitting that this new law should be adopted as the two nations celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties.
Hirono and Lee claim that the bipartisan Bill would make it easier for citizens of New Zealand to apply for the highly sought-after E1 and E2 visas from the United States.
New Zealanders’ access to E1 and E2 visas will boost economic growth in the United States.
Senator Hirono argues that allowing New Zealanders to apply for the E1 treaty trade visa and the E2 treaty investment visa will help the United States economy expand even more. Hirono added, “Our strong cultural and economic linkages to the Indo-Asia Pacific area are bolstered by the growth of New Zealand’s tourism economy, which directly supported almost 2,100 employment in Hawaii last year.” Senator Hirono argued that the KIWI Act’s expansion of business visas would have a positive impact on the economy of Hawaii and the rest of the United States.
As Senator Hirono said, “New Zealand has long been a staunch partner of the United States, and both nations have gained greatly from our sustained economic cooperation,” and Senator Lee agreed. “To help expand on that connection, I am delighted to endorse and co-sponsor the KIWI Act,” Senator Lee said, referring to legislation that reduces barriers for non-immigrant New Zealanders interested in investing in the United States.
Reports on the economy indicate that the United States values New Zealand as a significant strategic and economic partner. Investing directly from New Zealand into the United States has resulted in more than $500 million in the capital, according to financial records.
Inviting foreign workers to come to the United States on E1 and E2 visas will provide new employment opportunities. According to Groser, granting New Zealanders E1 and E2 visas to enter the United States will boost bilateral ties between the two countries and enable merchants and investors to grow their operations in the American market, creating more employment for Americans. He expressed his desire for the bill to be passed as soon as possible, saying, “We hope that Congress will realise the benefits of this Bill to both New Zealand and the United States.”
Edward Farrell, chairman of the United States-New Zealand Council, has said, “Americans & New Zealanders collaborate closely in business, technology, research, security, & entertainment, yet the lack of access to trader & investor visas has been a serious barrier to increased economic growth and greater bilateral cooperation.” E1 and E2 visas were established for the sole purpose of facilitating investment into and the development of new jobs inside the United States economy. It’s worth noting that, as of right now, “the United States permits temporary access for merchants from over 50 nations (under E1 visas) and for investors from over 80 countries (under E2 visas),” Farrell said.
Farrell believes that New Zealand deserves the same access as any other major “partner, supporter, and friend of the United States and a powerful thought leader around the world.”
The timing is long overdue, but it is in our best interests,” Farrell added. Senators Tim Kaine (Democratic Representative for Virginia), John McCain (Republican Representative for Arizona), Roger Wicker (Republican Representative for Mississippi), Cory Gardner (Republican Representative for Colorado), and Patty Murray (Democratic Representative for Washington) have all expressed support for the KIWI Act (Democratic representative for Washington).