B-1/B-2:
Business and Pleasure/Tourist Visas
The B-1/B-2 visa, for short visits for
business or tourism, allows a foreign citizen to travel to
the U.S. port-of entry and request permission of the U.S.
immigration inspector to enter. The B-1 visa
is for visitors for business while the B-2 visa
is available to visitors for pleasure. B-1
visits include business meetings and conferences. The
individual is issued the visa at their consulate with
evidence provided that they do not intend to immigrate to
the U.S. and must establish an unrelinquished residence to
which they will return at the end of their stay in the U.S.
The admittance is for 6 months.
Note: Visitors are not allowed to work, whether paid or not,
and are not allowed to attend schools, full-time English
language courses, or care for children (ie au-pair).
Applicants who plan to work must apply for a petition based
visa. Some country nationals though are permitted to travel
to the U.S. without a visa, permitted to remain for up to 3
months. They may not however change or extend their stay and
must return to their home country.
Application
procedure:
Use forms DS-156, DS-157, & data establishing
purposes of the trip and ties to the home country.
Application procedures may be specific to each consular
location.
B-1
in lieu of H-1:
Other classifications of visitor status exist for coming for
business in the U.S. These individuals coming to perform
duties that look like work may qualify under certain
circumstances for a B-1 in lieu of an H-1
visa. The individual must establish he or she is
coming temporarily to render services for the overseas
employer's benefit and the individual is paid abroad for
such services. |
