US B-1 Business Visitor Visa

Who is this visa for?

The B-1 is for people who need to travel to the US for legitimate business on behalf of an employer or business based outside the United States.

• You are visiting the US temporarily for business, not to live or work there
• Your employer and your salary remain outside the United States
• You can show strong ties to your home country and intend to return
• You have funds to cover your trip, or your foreign employer is covering the costs
• You do not intend to take up employment with, or be paid by, a US company

What you can do on a B-1 visa

The B-1 covers business activities that stop short of productive US employment. Permitted activities generally include:

• Attending business meetings, conferences, conventions and trade shows
• Negotiating contracts and consulting with business associates
• Settling an estate or dealing with property matters
• Taking part in short professional, business or educational training (unpaid by a US source)
• Conducting independent research (with no benefit accruing to a US institution)
• Interviewing and hiring staff for a foreign employer

What you cannot do

A B-1 is not a work visa. It does not allow you to take up a job in the US or perform the day-to-day work of a US business.

• Being employed by, or receiving a salary from, a US company
• Performing hands-on, productive or "gainful" work while in the US
• Running a business day-to-day or providing paid local services
• Studying for credit (that requires an F or M student visa)
• Staying beyond the period CBP grants you on entry

Requirements

You must satisfy a consular officer that your trip is genuinely for temporary business and that you will return home afterwards. Documentary evidence is important, though the interview is decisive.

• A passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay
• A completed DS-160 confirmation page and paid MRV fee
• Evidence of the business purpose (invitations, meeting or conference details, employer letter)
• Proof of ties to your home country (job, family, property) and intent to return
• Evidence of funds to cover the trip, or confirmation your employer will cover costs

How to apply

• Complete the online DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application and print the confirmation page
• Pay the MRV visa application fee (currently around US$185 — confirm the latest amount)
• Create a profile and schedule your visa interview at a US embassy or consulate
• Gather your supporting documents evidencing the business purpose and your ties abroad
• Attend the interview, where a consular officer decides whether to issue the visa
• If approved, collect your passport with the visa and plan your travel

B-1 vs B-2: what is the difference?

The B-1 and B-2 are two halves of the same visitor category. The B-1 is strictly for business activities such as meetings, conferences and contract negotiation, while the B-2 is for tourism, visiting family and friends, or medical treatment.

Many travellers are issued a combined B-1/B-2 visa, which covers both purposes on a single visa. Choose a B-1 specifically when your travel is business-focused; if you also expect to sightsee or visit relatives, the combined B-1/B-2 may suit you better. Neither visa permits paid work in the United States.