THE HOLT LAW GROUP

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.