A foreign national who is a citizen of a country that has a specific treaty with the United States can enter and/or remain the United States to invest in a business or to engage in international trade under either an E-1 (Treaty Traders) or an E-2 (Treaty Investors) visa. 

E-1 Treaty Traders:

The E-1 nonimmigrant classification allows a national of a treaty country - a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation - to be admitted to the United States solely to engage in international trade on his or her own behalf. 

Certain employees of such a person or of a qualifying organization may also be eligible for this classification.

E-2 Treaty Investors:

The E-2 nonimmigrant classification allows a national of a treaty country - a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation - to be admitted to the United States when investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business. 

Certain employees of such a person or of a qualifying organization may also be eligible for this classification. 

The E2 Investor Visa allows an individual to enter and work inside of the United States based on an investment he or she will be controlling, while inside the United States.  This visa is must be renewed every other year, but there is no limit to how many times one can renew.  

There are several primary requirements for this investment must be "substantial."

E-2 cases can be approved by both the US Embassy in the treaty country or approved for a change of status by individual in the USA in a valid non-immigrant status.

The current list of treaty counties are available to review a this link: click here