VISAS FOR TEMPORARY VISITORS (B-1/B-2)

The B category of nonimmigrant visas is divided into two parts: B1 for business visitors and B2 for visitors for pleasure. The specific requirements of the statute are that the alien must be coming to the U.S. temporarily for business or pleasure, that they have a foreign address that they have no intention of abandoning, and that they will not engage in skilled or unskilled labor, study or work as a representative of foreign press, radio, film, or other information media in the U.S.

Some Common Uses of the B-1 Visa

1. Engaging in commercial transactions not involving gainful employment in the US. This would include negotiating contracts, litigation, consulting with clients or business associates.
2. Participating in scientific, educational, professional, religious or business conventions.
3. Religious workers coming temporarily to do missionary work if such work does not involve the selling of articles or solicitation and acceptance of donations, and the person does not receive any salary/remuneration except expenses.
4. Personal/Domestic servants who accompany returning US citizens who are temporarily assigned to US or who permanently reside in a foreign country.
5. Certain personal/domestic servants of a B, E, F, H, I, J, L, O, P, Q or R.
6. Professional athletes such as golfers and race drivers who receive no salary, only tournament money.
7. An airline employee who would otherwise be an E except no treaty between the US and the airline’s country or alien is not a national of a treaty country (e.g., Swede working for Colombia airline).
8. An alien who is a member of the Board of Directors of a US corporation and who is coming to the US for a board meeting.
9. Foreign corporate personnel who are coming to the US to set up a US subsidiary, as well as persons exploring E-2 investments.
10. Certain aliens installing equipment pursuant to a contract of sale.
11. Certain commercial truck drivers engaged only in international hauling.
12. An alien attending an executive seminar.
13. Race track personnel including jockeys, sulky drivers, trainers or grooms who are accompanying a foreign based employer.
14. An alien coming to the US to observe the conduct of a business or other professional or vocational activity that does not involve hands-on business activity.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of certain eligible countries to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without having to obtain a B visa. If you will travel to the U.S. by air or sea, you must have a nontransferable round-trip ticket. Under most situations, an individual who enters the U.S. under the VWP is not eligible for change of status or extension of stay in the U.S.

List of eligible countries »

For more information about B visas or the Visa Waiver Program, please visit USCIS website below:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on Business or Pleasure Visitors»

For information on ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), please visit USCBP website below:

Electronic System for Travel Authorization »

Some Common Uses of the B-2 Visa

1. Tourists.
2. Social visits to friends/relatives.
3. Health purposes.
4. Participants in conventions of social organizations.
5. Participants in amateur musical, sports or similar events with no remuneration.
6. Dependents of US Armed Forces personnel.
7. Accompanying D or B-1 aliens.
8. Aliens coming to the US to marry a US citizen, but who will depart (unlike the K-1)
9. Certain aliens coming to the US to marry a nonimmigrant. Additional conditions apply.
10. Certain non-spouse partners (regardless of gender) who are accompanying a principal E, H, or L for duration of stay.
11. Certain language students in course of short duration when the course of study is under 18 hours per week.