Business Visitors (B-1)

Business travelers who can not use the Visa Waiver program or wish to stay in the U.S. for more than 90 days need to apply for a B-1 Business Visa prior to traveling to the US.

A B-1 visa allows business visitors to enter the US for a brief period in order to conduct limited business activities, such as consulting with business associates, attending a convention or conference or negotiating a contract. The B-1 visa is not a working visa, and the visitor may not run a business or receive salary or payment of any kind in the US. There is a considerable ‘gray area’ in between what is allowed and what isn’t, and VisaVersa can assist you in determining whether or not a B-1 visa is appropriate in your particular situation.

Persons admitted to the United States on a B-1 or B-2 visa are usually granted a 6-month stay, although the immigration officer can decide to allow a shorter stay on a case by case basis.

The B-1 Business Visa is a very broad visa category, and in some very specific situations might allow activities that are generally considered 'work' instead of 'business'. Some of the B-1 applications in specific subcategories that we often assist with are:

• Commercial Work - Installation or Repair
• TWIC
• Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) 
• OCS Wind

Each B-1 visa application is different. VisaVersa has assisted with hundreds of B-1 visa applications at many different US consulates all over the world. Some consulates have (much) longer waiting times than others. VisaVersa is familiar with these procedures and regulations.