B-1 Visa: Business Visitors


The B1 Business Visitor visa is available to visitors seeking short-term entry into the U.S. to engage in legitimate business activities of a commercial or professional nature that do not involve receiving salary or payment of any kind from a U.S. source.

Note: B1 visa holders may not receive salary, compensation, etc. from any U.S. source except for reimbursement of incidental travel expenses only.


B1 Visa is appropriate for:
 
A.       Employees of a foreign company coming to the U.S. to:
     
    Solicit sales, negotiate contracts, or take orders from established customers

    Engage in consultations with U.S. business associates

B.       Foreign business persons coming to the U.S. to:
     
    Attend professional conferences or conventions or executive seminars

    Undertake independent research, such as product or market research

    Make investments

C.        Foreign physicians coming to the U.S. to:
     
    Observe new procedures and

    Offer consulting services without performing any patient care

D.       Personal/domestic servants accompanying:
    
    Returning U.S. citizens who are temporarily assigned to the U.S. and who permanently reside in a foreign country

    B, E, F, H, I, J or L visa holders
E.        Professional entertainers coming to the U.S. to:
    
    Participate in a cultural program sponsored by their home country to perform before a nonpaying audience

    Participate in a competition for which there is no remuneration, other than a prize (monetary or otherwise) and expenses

F.       Professional athletes coming to the U.S. to:
    
    Participate in a tournament or sporting event, and receive no salary or payment other than prize money

G.       Foreign missionary workers coming to the U.S. to:
    
    Perform missionary work on behalf of a religious denomination, provided that they will not receive any remuneration from the U.S. other than an allowance or other reimbursement for expenses incidental to their stay

    Engage in an evangelical tour provided they do not receive remuneration from a U.S. source, other than offerings contributed at each evangelical meeting

    Preach or exchange pulpits with their U.S. counterparts, provided the church in their native countries reimburses them

    Participate in voluntary service program which benefits a U.S. local community provided they do not receive any salary or remuneration other than an allowance or reimbursement for expenses incidental to their stay from the U.S. sponsor

    Benefits of the B1 Visa
       
A.       You do not require an approved visa petition from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to apply for the
B1 visa

B.       You can apply for a B1 visa in person at an American Consulate nearest to your residence

C.       The B1 visa is quicker and easier to obtain