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S. 1194Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

AMIGOS Act

Sponsored by Sheldon WhitehouseSen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Introduced April 15, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 1:39 AM UTC

The AMIGOS Act adds Portugal to the list of countries whose citizens can apply for U.S. E‑1 (treaty trader) and E‑2 (treaty investor) visas, but only if Portugal gives comparable visa treatment to U.S. nationals. It also updates the immigration law to use gender‑neutral language and to allow investors who have lived in the foreign country for at least three continuous years to qualify. The changes affect Portuguese nationals seeking U.S. visas and U.S. citizens seeking reciprocal treatment in Portugal.

Key Provisions

  • Portugal is recognized as a treaty country for E‑1 and E‑2 visas if the Portuguese government provides similar nonimmigrant status to U.S. nationals.
  • The statutory language is revised to replace gendered pronouns (“him”, “he”) with neutral terms (“the alien”).
  • A new eligibility clause allows an alien who gained nationality through a financial investment and has not previously held the visa to qualify if they have been domiciled in the foreign state for a continuous period of at least three years before applying.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

April 15, 2021

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

April 15, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

April 15, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued April 15, 2021

II

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1194

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 15, 2021

Mr. Whitehouse (for himself and Mr. Toomey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To include Portugal in the list of foreign states whose nationals are eligible for admission into the United States as E–1 and E–2 nonimmigrants if United States nationals are treated similarly by the Government of Portugal and to otherwise modify the eligibility criteria for E visas.

1.

Short titles

This Act may be cited as the Advancing Mutual Interests and Growing Our Success Act or the AMIGOS Act.

2.

Nonimmigrant traders and investors

For purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) of section 101(a)(15)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(E)), Portugal shall be considered to be a foreign state described in such section if the Government of Portugal provides similar nonimmigrant status to nationals of the United States.

3.

Modification of eligibility criteria for E visas

Section 101(a)(15)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(E)) is amended—

(1)

in the matter preceding clause (i)—

(A)

by inserting (or, in the case of an alien who acquired the relevant nationality through a financial investment and who has not previously been granted status under this subparagraph, the foreign state of which the alien is a national and in which the alien has been domiciled for a continuous period of not less than 3 years at any point before applying for a nonimmigrant visa under this subparagraph) before , and the spouse; and

(B)

by striking him and inserting such alien; and

(2)

by striking he each place such term appears and inserting the alien.