Business travelers may enter the United States using a B1, or “Visitor for Business” Visa. In practice, these visas are invariably issued as jointly with B2, or “Visitor for Pleasure” (i.e. Tourist) visa. This practice means that, if a candidate has an old tourist visa, it may be valid for a planned business trip. For those who come under the visa-waiver scheme, details of which are provided below, there is usually no need to apply for a visit visa at all if the candidate wishes to visit the US for three months or less.
While in the US as a business visitor, an individual may:
- Conduct Negotiations
- Solicit sales or investment
- Discuss planned investment or purchases
- Make investments or purchases
- Attend Meetings, and participate in them fully
- Interview and hire staff
- Conduct research.
The following activities require a working visa, and may not be carried out by business visitors:
- Running a business.
- “Gainful employment”
- Payment by an organization within the US
- Participating as a professional in entertainment or sporting events.
Those entering on visitor visas will generally be granted 6 months admission (the maximum allowable is one year) on entry. It may be possible to obtain a six-month extension to the visit visa as long as the candidate will be maintaining visitor status, and there are good reasons to do so.
NB: Visitor visas should generally be applied for in a country of which the candidate is a Citizen or permanent resident. Applications made in other countries often run a high risk of being denied. The most common reason for refusal of B1/B2 visas is the applicant showing insufficient evidence of social, family or economic ties to his/her country of residence that would ensure that s/he would return there following the visit to the USA.
A carefully prepared application has a greater chance of success.
Contact Business Immigration Attorneys
If you are in need of an attorney who specializes in Business Immigration services, contact The Korda Law Firm today for an initial consultation at (239) 298-0441 (Naples FL) or (323) 556-0693 (Beverly Hills CA).
