B-1 Visas

Are You Visiting the U.S. for Business?

The B-1 Visa is available to those who are coming to the U.S. to do business on a temporary basis. It is a non-immigrant visa, intended for persons who must conduct commercial or professional activities in the U.S. temporarily. This may encompass conventions, consultations, conferences, and other professional activity.

A B-1 visa does not authorize the visa holder to perform salaried work in exchange for compensation. If you wish to accept employment in the United States, you should speak to an attorney about the right type of work visa for you.

What are the requirements?

Anyone who is entering the United States is presumed to be an immigrant. All B-1 Visa applicants must demonstrate their intentions of doing business with U.S. companies on a temporary basis only. B-1 applicants must show the following:

• That they are entering the U.S. for business purposes only
• That they are only remaining in the U.S. for a limited engagement
• That they have the funds to cover all of the expenses related to the trip
• That they have no intention of abandoning their life and residence in their home country
• That they will not receive financial compensation from the U.S. company during their time in the U.S.

Here are some examples of the types of activities approved under the B-1 Visa:

• Attending training sessions, seminars, conventions, and educational courses
• Consulting with business associates
• Negotiating a contract
• Researching the potential of setting up a foreign business or investment
• Performing a duty as a board member or executive of a U.S.-based business

You should contact an immigration attorney to determine if your proposed activities in the United States will be covered by a B-1 visa. Due to enormous demand, at the current time we do not offer consultations for non-business cases, but we will make appointments for people referred by current or former clients across a variety of immigration matters.