II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2989 

To provide for eligibility for E–1 and E–2 nonimmigrant visas for nationals 

of Iceland. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 28 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 22), 2023 

Mr. KING (for himself, Ms. MURKOWSKI, and Mrs. SHAHEEN) introduced the 

following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the 

Judiciary 

A BILL 

To provide for eligibility for E–1 and E–2 nonimmigrant 

visas for nationals of Iceland. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Nordic Trader and 

5 Investor Parity Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress makes the following findings: 

8 (1) The United States and Iceland have a long 

9 and steady bilateral relationship. 


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1 (2) Diplomatic relations between Iceland and 

2 the United States may be traced back to July 7, 

3 1941, on which date members of the United States 

4 Armed Forces arrived in Iceland as part of— 

5 (A) a bilateral defense agreement; and 

6 (B) Presidential Proclamation 2487, dated 

7 May 27, 1941 (relating to an unlimited national 

8 emergency in the United States). 

9 (3) On June 17, 1944, the United States was 

10 the first country to recognize the independent Re11 public of Iceland. 

12 (4) In 1949, Iceland became a founding mem13 ber of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 

14 (5) On May 5, 1951, the United States and Ice15 land entered into the bilateral Defense agreement 

16 pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty signed at 

17 Reykjavik May 5, 1951 (2 UST 1195; TIAS 2266), 

18 which provides for the defense of Iceland. 

19 (6) The United States is the largest trading 

20 partner of Iceland, accounting for approximately 20 

21 percent of Iceland’s total trade in goods and serv22 ices. 

23 (7) Iceland serves the commercial and trading 

24 interests of the United States economy, and IceVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:52 Oct 01, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2989.IS S2989

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1 landic companies bring investments and jobs to the 

2 United States. 

(8) With 1 3 ⁄3 of all visitors to Iceland arriving 

4 from the United States, Iceland is a growing tourist 

5 destination for the people of the United States. A 

6 visa is not required for United States citizens seek7 ing to visit Iceland. 

8 (9) Treaty trader visas (commonly referred to 

9 as ‘‘E–1 visas’’) and treaty investor visas (commonly 

10 referred to as ‘‘E–2 visas’’)— 

11 (A) were established to facilitate and en12 hance economic interactions between the United 

13 States and other countries; and 

14 (B) are temporary nonimmigrant visas 

15 that may be issued to nationals of a country 

16 with which the United States maintains a trea17 ty of friendship, commerce, and navigation. 

18 (10) An E–1 visa may be issued to an indi19 vidual seeking to enter the United States for the 

20 purpose of engaging in substantial trade. An E–2 

21 visa may be issued to an individual seeking to enter 

22 the United States for the purpose of developing and 

23 directing the operations of an enterprise in which 

24 the individual has invested. 


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1 (11) Eligibility for E–1 and E–2 nonimmigrant 

2 visas for citizens and nationals of Iceland is critical 

3 to facilitating Icelandic business and investment in 

4 the United States, and such eligibility will benefit 

5 the economies of both the United States and Ice6 land. 

7 (12) Nationals of more than 80 countries are 

8 eligible for E–1 or E–2 visas. 

9 (13) Iceland is the only Nordic partner whose 

10 nationals are not eligible for such visas. 

11 (14) Iceland is 1 of only 3 North Atlantic Trea12 ty Organization member countries whose nationals 

13 are not eligible for such visas. 

14 (15) Iceland is one of very few United States 

15 allies whose nationals do not benefit from treaty 

16 trader and investor visas. Providing eligibility for 

17 such visas to nationals of Iceland would ensure par18 ity between Iceland and other countries with which 

19 the United States maintains treaties of friendship, 

20 commerce, and navigation. 

21 (16) Iceland does not place barriers on United 

22 States investors or traders wishing to enter the Ice23 landic market. 


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1 (17) Adding Iceland to the list of countries 

2 whose nationals are eligible for E–1 and E–2 non3 immigrant visas would— 

4 (A) improve the strong relationship be5 tween the United States and Iceland; and 

6 (B) promote and increase investment in 

7 the United States by nationals of Iceland. 

8 SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY OF ICELANDIC TRADERS AND INVES9 TORS FOR E–1 AND E–2 NONIMMIGRANT 

10 VISAS. 

11 For purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) of section 

12 101(a)(15)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

13 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(E)), Iceland shall be considered to be 

14 a foreign state under such section if the Government of 

15 Iceland provides similar nonimmigrant status to nationals 

16 of the United States. 

Æ 


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