B Visa Overview

The B visa category applies to citizens of foreign countries who wish to visit the United States for a temporary period.  There are two types of B visas: B-1 (for business) and B-2 (for pleasure or medical treatment).  A B-1 visa would be issued for an individual desiring to enter the U.S. to consult with business associates; attend a scientific, educational, professional or business convention or conference; settle an estate; or negotiate a contract.  A B-2 visa would be issued for an individual wishing to enter the U.S. for touring, amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, and activities of a social or service nature.

Foreign travelers who are citizens from certain eligible countries may also be able to visit the U.S. without a visa for tourism or business for 90 days or less on the Visa Waiver Program.  (See Visa Waiver Program below.)

A. Duration of Stay

A business visitor (B-1) will be granted a period of entry sufficient to conduct his or her business.  Generally, these visits are approved for less than three months.  

A non-business visitor (B-2) will automatically be granted a six-month period of entry.  Only in unusual circumstances will a B-2 visa holder be granted a period of entry that is shorter or longer than six months.  

It should be noted that it is possible to obtain a period of admission of one year on initial entry to the U.S.  Additionally, extensions of up to six months may be granted.

B.    Application Process

In order to obtain a B visa, you need only apply with the U.S. consulate; an application to the Immigration Service is not required.

C.  Items for Travel

It is useful, in order to assure entry at the border, for the B-1 visa holder to carry a letter from his or her company, similar to the letter supporting the visa application that affirms:

 • The purpose of the trip.

• The limited duration of the trip.

• The visa holder's steady employment with the company and strong ties with his or her home country.

 The individual applying for the tourist visa should carry a letter of invitation, together with such other pieces of documentation as hotel reservations or evidence of other travel arrangements.

 The B-1 and B-2 visa holder should also bring with him or her:

• Copies of the documentation that accompanied the visa application.

•The return portion of his or her round-trip ticket and evidence of prepaid accommodations or confirmed hotel reservations.

• Sufficient funds to cover the period of stay requested by him or her.

D.    Special Conditions

It should be noted that an alien entering the U.S. with a B visa must not engage in gainful employment (labor for hire) in the U.S.  Additionally, the undertaking of an academic study program is not permitted (with a few limited exceptions).

E.   Basic Requirements for Obtaining B-1/B-2 Status

There are five basic requirements for issuance of a B visa, as specified by The State Department:

1.    The alien is entering the U.S. for a limited duration.


2.    The alien intends to depart the U.S. at the expiration of his or her stay.


3.    While in the U.S., the alien maintains a foreign residence which he or she has no intention of abandoning.


4.    The alien has adequate financial arrangements to travel to, sojourn in, and depart from the U.S.


5.    The alien will engage solely in legitimate activities relating to business or pleasure.

F.   Additional Information

No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance. Therefore, final travel plans or the purchase of non-refundable tickets should not be made until a visa has been issued.

Unless previously canceled, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, if the traveler has a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport, do not remove the visa page from the expired passport. You may use it along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.

Visitors are not permitted to accept employment during their stay in the U.S.

G.  Family Members

There is no derivative status for B visas, which is why family members must qualify independently for a B visa.

H.  The Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States without a visa for stays of 90 days or less. Travelers must be eligible to use the VWP and have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval prior to travel. 

If you are eligible to travel on the VWP, but prefer to have a visa in your passport, you may still apply for a visitor (B) visa.

Citizen or National of a VWP Designated Country 

You must be a citizen or national of VWP-participant country. The following 38 countries are Visa Waiver Program participants:

AFlag of Andorra AndorraFlag of Australia AustraliaFlag of Austria Austria

BFlag of Belgium BelgiumFlag of Brunei Brunei

CFlag of Chile ChileFlag of Czech Republic Czech Republic

DFlag of Denmark Denmark

EFlag of Estonia Estonia

FFlag of Finland FinlandFlag of  France France

GFlag of Germany GermanyFlag of Greece Greece

HFlag of Hungary Hungary

IFlag of Iceland IcelandFlag of Ireland IrelandFlag of Italy Italy

JFlag of Japan Japan

LFlag of Latvia LatviaFlag of Liechtenstein LiechtensteinFlag of Lithuania LithuaniaFlag of Lithuania Luxembourg

MFlag of Malta MaltaFlag of Monaco Monaco

NFlag of Netherlands NetherlandsFlag of New Zealand New ZealandFlag of Norway Norway

PFlag of Portugal Portugal

SFlag of San Marino San MarinoFlag of Singapore SingaporeFlag of Slovakia SlovakiaFlag of Slovenia SloveniaFlag of South Korea South KoreaFlag of Spain SpainFlag of Sweden SwedenFlag of Switzerland Switzerland

TTaiwan Taiwan

UFlag of United Kingdom United Kingdom 

For more information on VWP please visit this link: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/visa-waiver-program.html

Also visit Visa Waiver Program Update 2016  from CBP.

Nonimmigrant Visas

Comments

Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

Submitted by Sanjay Adhikari (not verified) on Wed, 10/26/2022 - 22:45 Permalink

Hi Sir,

My mom got rejected for a B1/B2 visa despite showing all evidence of being able to sustain oneself. The reason I understand is apparently because her only son in the US is in CPT (that shows immigration intent). I have another interview for mom scheduled in January. Wanted to understand how I can improve my chances of bringing her to visit me here in US while I am in CPT. I know I have to show her desire to return (business, looking after her mom etc), but I have already scheduled an appointment for her and filled out the visa form. At this point, I would really appreciate some consultation on how I can successfully invite her to US.

Appreciate your help!

Thanks, Sanjay

Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

This will require some discussion. You are welcome to post a message for our next community conference call. We have one almost every other Thursday. https://forums.immigration.com/forums/free-conference-call-for-us-immig…

If you cannot wait, feel free to set up a consultation with us: https://www.immigration.com/our-fees

Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

Submitted by Venky Samudrala (not verified) on Mon, 02/27/2023 - 21:10 Permalink

Hi,

This is Venky, currently residing in New Jersey,United states.

I am currently on an H1 visa, with approved I I40 and working for a financial company in a full time role.

I am seeking some advice on the following problem.

We are a small family, My parents stay in India. In 2018, I lost my daddy. My mother is illiterate and completely dependent on me. She got her visitor visa (B2) for the United States and she visited me in 2020 and 2021.

With a visitor visa I can only keep her 6 months with me. She is not able to manage alone in India on her own for the rest of the 6 months. We understand that as she is 60+ years old and illiterate she is not able to manage in India without our physical presence.

I would like to work in the US for some more time, but at the same time I want to keep my mom with me in the United States.

Is there any way of keeping her legally with us in the USA based on humanitarian reasons?

Disclaimer
This answer is for information purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

Submitted by Prafulla Bhagat (not verified) on Fri, 03/17/2023 - 13:31 Permalink

Namaste! Rajiv ji,

I have been listening to your podcasts discussing various situations and scenarios with valuable information about real life examples you share during your weekly podcasts and want to thank you for your time helping people like me through your forums. I have a question if you could share your thoughts on it I will greatly appreciate your response.

If someone has a B-1 B-2 Visa valid for 10 years. Then they get H-1B Visa for 3 years and enters US using it. What happens to the B-1 B-2 Visa? Is it cancelled after H-1B is issued? If not, what if H-1B Visa expires or if it is revoked prematurely, does B-1 B-2 Visa still remain valid and can be used for travel in and out of US?

Thank You!

Disclaimer
This answer is for information purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

The SOP should be that all existing visas are revoked when you apply for an H-1B. But, normally, consulates do not revoke existing visas like B-1/B-2. In such cases, those visas are still valid.

Disclaimer
This answer is for information purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

Submitted by Pratiksha kapse (not verified) on Mon, 09/18/2023 - 06:22 Permalink

Hello! I have successfully filed i539 and have receipt from USCIS. Now expecting an offer from an employer and wanted to be prepared for h1b transfer stuff, what are the things I should be mindful at this point, I havent let company know about B COS, Should I start applying for canada visitor visa so that by the time h1b petition from new employer gets approved I will be ready with canada visa, if appointments are open can book that and go form there?

Disclaimer
The responses are provided without any guarantee of accuracy. A one-on-one consultation with competent counsel is recommended. Not intended to create an attorney-client relationship.

Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

You may want to post your question for our next free community conference call held every Thursday.

One Thursday at https://forums.immigration.com/forums/free-conference-call-for-us-immigration-questions.233/

Next Thursday on LinkedIn audio: www.linkedin.com/in/rajivskhanna

If you need a one-on-one video conference, you can request a paid consultation. The fees are here: https://www.immigration.com/our-fees

 

Disclaimer
The responses are provided without any guarantee of accuracy. A one-on-one consultation with competent counsel is recommended. Not intended to create an attorney-client relationship.

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