B-1 Visitor for Business Visa
You may be eligible for a B-1 visa if you will be participating in business activities of a commercial or professional nature in the United States, including, but not limited to:
- Consulting with business associates
- Traveling for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, or a conference on specific dates
- Settling an estate
- Negotiating a contract
- Participating in short-term training
- Transiting through the United States: certain persons may transit the United States with a B-1 visa
- Deadheading: certain air crewmen may enter the United States as deadhead crew with a B-1 visa
You Must Demonstrate the Following in Order to be Eligible to Obtain a B-1 Visa:
- The purpose of your trip is to enter the United States for business of a legitimate nature
- You plan to remain for a specific limited period of time
- You have the funds to cover the expenses of the trip and your stay in the United States
- You have a residence outside the United States in which you have no intention of abandoning, as well as other binding ties which will ensure your return abroad at the end of the visit
- You are otherwise admissible to the United States
If you are in the United States in another valid non-immigrant status, you may be eligible to change to B-1 status. To change to B-1 status, you must file a Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Non-immigrant Status.
B-2 Visitor for Pleasure Visa
You must apply for the B-2 visa directly at the American Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over your place of permanent residence, and be prepared to document your intention to depart the U.S. at the end of your authorized stay (employment, family, social ties to residence abroad) and adequate financial resources to provide for yourself while in the U.S.
If you are in the United States in another valid non-immigrant status, you may be eligible to change to B-2 status. To change to B-2 status, you must file a Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Non-immigrant Status.
Visa Wavier Program (ESTA)
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) offers an easy, effective method to travel to the US for business or pleasure. The program enables citizens of participating countries to travel to the US for 90 days or less without officially obtaining a US visa. It is important to note that no extension of stay or change of status is allowed.
The Current Participating Countries Are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.