Masterclass by Birkan Ulusoy: Selling on Shopify in the U.S. Market
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Let’s Take Your E-Commerce Business to America
I’m Birkan Ulusoy. I live in New York and have been working in e-commerce marketing for 15 years. I provide consultancy services for Turkish companies entering the American market. Recently, there has been a significant increase in demand for e-commerce projects focused on relocating to the United States.
Over the past two years, I have helped more than 20 families move to America through e-commerce, although these requests mostly came from relatives and close connections. With Trump’s presidency and the changes made to visa procedures, relocating to the U.S. through e-commerce has become much more attractive. Seeing the ongoing demand, I decided to turn this into a paid service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the E-1 visa and the E-2 visa?
The E-1 visa is based on foreign trade between the U.S. and Turkey. In other words, there must be a “substantial exchange of goods or services” between the two countries. The E-2 visa, on the other hand, is based on making a capital investment in the U.S., meaning you must establish a business or invest in an existing one. In my consultancy, we mainly focus on the E-1 trade model because Turkish companies gain a strong advantage through product sales to the U.S.
What level of trade volume is required to obtain an E-1 visa?
Although there is no officially fixed amount, it is generally expected to have at least $150,000–200,000 USD in annual, consistent trade between the U.S. and Turkey. The higher and more consistent the trade volume, the stronger the chances of visa approval. E-commerce sales are one of the most practical ways to document this trade.
Can my family come with me when I move to the U.S.?
Yes. With an E-1 visa, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can accompany you to the U.S. Your spouse can obtain a work permit. Your children can attend school for free.
What do you do during the consultancy process?
- Establishing a U.S. company
- Setting up a Shopify-based e-commerce store
- Brand & product positioning for the U.S. market
- Organizing sales to document trade activity
- Support in preparing the necessary documents for the visa process
In other words, we not only build the business model but also make it visa-compliant.
How long does this process take?
Setting up the company and launching the e-commerce operations takes about 2–3 months. The visa process, depending on consular workload, can take 6 months-1year to finalize.
Do I need to make a large investment for this?
The E-1 visa is not an investor visa, so it does not require investment. However, since regular trade activity is expected in the U.S., there will be costs such as products, logistics, and consultancy. Typically, a budget of around $5,000–10,000 USD is sufficient to get started.
If I cannot relocate to the U.S., will my money be wasted?
No. Because the e-commerce company we establish as part of the consultancy will continue operating in the U.S. market. Regardless of the visa outcome, you will still have the opportunity to grow your business. This process is designed as both a business opportunity and a visa pathway.