US-NZ council chairman Leon Grice said it had been difficult to get focus on the bill.

A bill that would make it easier for Kiwis to trade with and invest in the United States has passed its first hurdle.

The proposed KIWI (Knowledgeable Innovators and Worthy Investors) Act would give New Zealanders access to E1 trading and E2 investment visas.

It has passed the first round of the US Senate, next it will be presented to the House of Representatives.

Phil Houlding​, who works as a trade and economic counsellor at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, DC, said the news was "exciting".

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"First step to bringing in more Kiwi investors to US, building bilateral ties and creating jobs in the US and NZ."

123RF The KIWI bill has passed in the United States Senate, but still has a hurdle to overcome before it becomes law. (File photo)

Leon Grice, the US-NZ council chairman, said he thought the bill would be beneficial to New Zealand and entrepreneurs.

"New Zealand is one of the few close friends of the United States that doesn't have that visa class.

"It's something that we've been lobbying for. And it's something the Embassy's been working really hard on for a number of years."

The bill had been referred to committees for debate on July 20 last year, and had only now been passed in Senate.

"I think it's been really difficult to get focus on it, as it gets wrapped up in the general immigration issues as opposed to it being about job creation in the United States.

"It's just hard to find the moment where you can get a consensus in the congress."

TOM LEE/STUFF Trade Minister David Parker said he was "delighted" at the news.

Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker was delighted with the news.

"We are delighted that the Knowledgeable Innovators and Worthy Investors Act (KIWI Act) has passed the US Senate," he said.

"Our diplomats have been working to build political support for this in the US for many years."

Parker also thanked the US lawmakers who helped build support for the measure.

"The passage in the Senate is an encouraging development. There are strong business ties between our countries and this legislation would help grow trade and investment."

Exciting news out of the US Senate. KIWI act gives NZers access to E1 and E2 visas. First step to bringing in more kiwi investors to US, building bilateral ties and creating jobs in the US and NZ. Over to the House now...! https://t.co/IQovMlKFlF — Phil Houlding (@PhilHoulding) June 28, 2018

Grice said New Zealanders had to "hold their breath" to see how far the proposed legislation might come.

"The thing about the US, unlike in New Zealand, you can introduce a bill on the floor of the house, and get it read.

"[But] if you haven't got a consensus or the numbers to pass it, it just goes nowhere."

The bill had to be passed in both houses before being put in front of US President Donald Trump to sign and it became law, he said.

"Even if we don't get it through both chambers, it's something we're going to continue to push and lobby for.

"Any progress is good."