B-1 Business Visitor

Those who want to come or stay in the U.S. temporarily for business must apply for a B-1 visa. The B-1 visa is for those attending business meetings, seminars, or conferences.

Evidence of family and/or employment ties to your home country is important to prove that your purpose for coming to the U.S. is to visit, and not to permanently stay, which is usually the main issue with the U.S. Embassy or with the USCIS. Financial support evidence is also requested to prove that these applicants would not have any incentive to work illegally while on a B visa.

The B visa holders enter the U.S. and get an I-94 with a stamp of how long they are allowed to remain in this country on a B-1 or B-2 status. They are usually given six months. An extension is also allowed as long as it is filed before the expiration of the visitor status. Staying here beyond the date stamped on the I-94 or the extension date results in being out of status and unlawfully present and may eventually trigger the 3 or 10 year bars.