Aside from mass tourism, many people also travel to the US for employment purposes. With American culture that encourages competition, making it easy for pursuing business plans, there are also many places that seek workers.
Hence, the B1 visa (a temporary business visit visa) enables foreign individuals to travel to negotiate contracts, attend conferences, business events or educational events, settle estates, consult with business associates within the US, and develop business relationships.
Furthermore, what’s amazing about the B1 Visa is that there are no rules as to how many visas can be issued to a single person per year. Thus, if the visa expires, an application for a new one can be done straight away.
Who Needs a B1 US Business Visa?
Nationals from one of the Visa Waiver Program countries do not have to apply for a US business visa. This is because they can apply for ESTA – Electronic System or Travel Authorization instead, which permits travellers to obtain the visa quicker without visiting the US Embassy at all. The rest of the individuals travelling for short term business meetings/events/negotiations will need a B1 Visa.
Eligibility for B1 US Visa
People that are eligible for this type of visa must be travelling for a business purpose. Although eligibility rules for business visas are not as harsh as other visas, there still are specific criteria that need to be satisfied. To qualify, a person will need to:
- provide proof that they are travelling to the US purely for business-related purpose
- provide evidence that enough finances are in the applicant’s bank account so they can cover their visit within the US
- provide evidence confirming a return to home country (such as exit flight booking). This is to show that as soon as the visa expires a person will not intend to stay longer.
Along with supporting additional documents, if all the above criteria are met, then a visa is usually granted.
B1 Business Visa – Application Steps
Step-by-step instructions when it comes to applying are simple and can be explained in 5 steps.
- Firstly, candidates will need to complete a DS-160 form (an online application form for US non-immigrant candidates). A form will ask simple personal questions (such as name, address, contact details or date of birth) and a detailed purpose of visit. Although a DS-160 is used for all temporary travels there is a specific section tailored for B1 visa. The form needs to be filled out and submitted electronically to the Department of State’s official website. There are two ways of filling in a DS-160: through the Consular Electronic Application Center or by using third-party services. Once submitted, a confirmation notification will pop up with a number that is required for the next step.
- Second step: paying a visa fee. A fee for this type of visa is equal to $160. This step is crucial so the next step can be completed. Apart from the application fee, other expenses such as the visa issuance fee might have to be additionally paid. Once all fees are paid, applicants may proceed with the next step. Receipts of both fees have to be attached to the document.
- Next, an interview has to be scheduled. Applicants who are between the age of 14-79 must schedule and attend an interview for a visa to be granted. Interviews are done at the US Embassy or Consulate where an application is held. Interviews must be scheduled quickly, due to the long wait. Once the interview is scheduled, a confirmation letter will be sent (this must be brought with the applicant on the day of the interview).
- Provide supporting documents that will be attached to the application. Standard requirements include A DS-160 confirmation page along with a code, valid passport (must be valid for at least 6 more months when exiting the US), details of social media accounts, interview confirmation (page or number), US visa photo, and a letter describing the detailed purpose of the trip. For this particular business visa, a standard requirement is also a letter from a company that describes the purpose of the trip along with an employment contract from the home firm. A letter must state the person’s job position, the purpose of travel, person accommodation and if applicable any sponsorship tied with the trip.
- There are also additional requirements that need to be attached to the standard ones. These are financial statements proving that a person can cover their expenses in the US (this can be presented with the use of bank statements). Evidence confirming ties with the home country (employment contract, property deed or loan statement) anything that proves a person will return home. Criminal records for official authorities that confirm no previous convictions are tied with the candidate are also a need. Lastly, if candidates have visited the US before, documents confirming that may also be asked for.
The last stage is attending the interview. Once everything is gathered and the interview is scheduled, candidates are required to bring everything with them to the interview. Questions about the trip will be asked, including background questions, the reason for travel, what business will be conducted, and when the candidate is planning to return to their home country. Answers must be very specific and detailed.
Visa Photograph Guidelines
For the application to be approved, an appropriate visa photo must be provided. If an incorrect picture is attached to the application, denial is almost certain. A picture is marked as correct when the following statements apply:
- a picture measures 51×51 mm (2×2 inches)
- picture’s background is white
- a picture is printed on high-quality paper
- a picture is in colour
- a picture is recent (no more than 6 months)
- applicant’s face is visible from forehead to chin
In regards to the applicant’s facial expression, it must be neutral (frowning and smiling are forbidden). Candidates must also have their eyes open and mouth closed.
They should wear their daily clothes and avoid white or reflective tops/shirts/dresses (uniforms are also not permitted). Headwear and glasses should be removed for the duration of the picture unless a person has a medical condition or a religious belief that allows them to keep them on. Any devices such as headphones are not acceptable.
When applying online – like for a B1 visa, a digital picture is required. Then, the picture must be in the format of JPEG, must be equal to or less than 240 kb in size, and be in a square aspect ratio. Pixels should measure 600×600 in dimension.
Processing Time, Validity and Extension of B1 Visa
The processing time varies depending on the supporting documents provided. It can take roughly a couple of weeks to up to a couple of months. This is also dependable on the time of the year the application is made, as in summer the workload of the US embassy is high. Notification will be sent once the visa is ready for collection.
In regards to validity, the B1 visa has a short-term validity, as it’s a temporary travel visa. Its validity lasts up to 6 months (similar to a tourist visa). A person is able to extend their visa if the US firm requires the person to stay. This must be done through the employer as a letter of confirmation is required to confirm that an extended stay is important for business.
Yet, it is essential to remember that a person is not allowed to work for a US firm (and earn money), they must be able to cover their expenses for an extended period as well.
Can I Get a Green Card or Access to the Healthcare System as a B1 Visa Holder?
When it comes to getting a green card, a B1 visa holder has weak chances of obtaining one. This is because when applying for a B1 visa, the application asks for evidence of return, and therefore, the applicant is unable to have plans to stay in the US. Permanent residence with a B1 visa is only applicable if the applicant has a family in the US and an application is made to join them, if the applicant marries a US citizen, or if the applicant finds a job and employer is willing to sponsor their visa (so eventually they can apply for a green card).
A free access healthcare system with a B1 visa is not available. And as the American healthcare system is one of the most expensive ones in the world, it is highly recommended to purchase health insurance before a trip. Roughly expenses for treatments such as broken bone or staying in hospital can cost about $2,500-$10,000 on average.
Can B1 Visa Holders Bring Dependents to the USA?
With the B1 visa, bringing dependents into the US is not possible with this type of visa. For any dependent to be able to join, a B2 visa application for a tourist visa has to be applied for.
