B-1/B-2 Visitor Visas

The B-1 visa provides the best opportunity to promote a business venture in the U.S. Individuals eligible for this visa range from small business owners to athletes, musicians and entertainers.

B-1 visa applicants must be able to:

- describe the nature of their business and plans in the U.S.;
- prove the exact length of time that they need to conduct their business;
- prove their intention to return to their home country after business has been concluded.

The B-2 visa is the ideal entry pass for tourists interested in seeing the U.S. through brief pleasure trips. The State Department defines "pleasure trips" as legitimate activities of a recreational character such as:

- tourism;
- health-related activities;
- participating in conventions, conferences, or convocations of fraternal, social, or service organizations;
- primarily for tourism but who will also engage in a short course of study;
- to attend courses for recreational purposes;
- to select a school or university, interview, take entrance examinations, or for registration purposes.

The B-2 Visa can also be used by spouses or children of C- or D -visa holders who wish to accompany crew-members or aliens in transit to the U.S.

B-2 applicants must prove that:

- they are coming to the U.S. for recreation or medical attention;
- they are only going to remain in the U.S. for a specific amount of time;
- they have enough money to pay for their trip;
- they have a permanent residence in their home country to which they intend to return.

B-1/B-2 visa visitors may not engage in any employment and may not enroll in a full course of study.

The maximum length of stay in the U.S. for B-1/B-2 visa holders is 6 months. The immigration officer at the port of entry determines how long each visitor is allowed to stay in the country. Most visitors have their I-94 cards stamped with a 6-month stay; however the immigration officer has the right to issue a shorter stay on a case by case basis.

B-1/B-2 visa holders have the possibility of extending their stay in the U.S. for up to 6 additional months. Therefore with extensin B-1/B-2 visa applicants may stay in the U.S. for up to one year. However, this is contingent upon the approval of the extension application by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS takes into consideration factors such as the foreign national's intention of departing the United States at the end of the proposed extension period, and if they are deemed to have desires to remain in the country. The applicant must submit the extension of stay application before the current authorized stay expires. The applicant is also required to provide proper evidence of financial support.

Visa Waiver Pilot Program

Visitors from the ‘qualified countries’ (listed below) who are coming to the U.S. for tourism/vacation or business for less than 90 days may be eligible to visit the U.S. without a visa.

Currently, 36 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Visitors entering on the Visa Waiver Program cannot work or study while in the U.S. and cannot stay longer than 90 days or change their status to another visa category.

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