B-1 Visitor Visas are available for foreign personnel which are participating in business activities of a commercial or professional nature in the U.S., including:

 

• Consulting with/advising business associates (e.g. Project team)

• Negotiating a contract

• Participating in short-term training

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Eligibility Criteria.  To be eligible to obtain a B-1 visa, you must show that:

 

• The purpose of the employee’s trip is to enter the U.S. for a legitimate business reason

• The employee plans to remain for a specific limited period of time

• The employee/employer has the funds to cover the expenses of the trip and his/her stay in the U.S.

• The employee has a residence outside the U.S. in which he/she have no intention of abandoning, as well as other binding ties which will ensure the employee’s return abroad at the end of the visit

• The employee is otherwise admissible to the U.S.

 

Period of Stay/Extension of Stay.  Initial period of stay:  1 to 6 months; 6 months is the maximum.  A multiple-entry visa allows the employee to make numerous visits to the US, as long as a reasonable business necessity for the travel can be demonstrated.

 

Extension of Stay.  Up to 6 months; maximum total amount of time permitted in B-1 status on any one trip is generally 1 year.

 

At the port of entry, an immigration official must authorize the employee's admission to the U.S., and, if the employee is eligible for admission, he/she will be admitted initially for the period necessary to carry out the business activities, up to a maximum period of 1 year. 

 

Family of B-1 Visa Holders.  Spouses and children are not eligible to obtain a dependent visa, and each of them must apply individually for B-2 visitor visas.

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