B1 Visa USA (US Business Visa)

Learn More: B1 Business Visa

Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa. Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (visa category B-1), for tourism (visa category B-2), or for a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2). The visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port of entry and request permission of the U.S. immigration inspector to enter the United States.

If the purpose of the planned travel is business related, for example, to consult with business associates, attend a scientific, educational, professional or business conference, settle an estate, or negotiate a contract, then a business visitor visa (B-1) would be the appropriate type of visa for the travel. However, there are specific requirements which must be met by applicants to qualify for a visitor visa under U.S. immigration law.

The first step to apply for a visa is complete online a non-immigrant visa application (DS-160). During your application, you will be required to make an appointment for an interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you live. Once you have electronically submitted your DS-160 online application, you will receive the application form confirmation page which you need to bring for your interview on the selected day during the application process. Please, take care to answer all questions on the application accurately and completely; otherwise, you may have to correct your application and reschedule your visa interview appointment.

Required Documents to Apply

Passport. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States.
Digital photograph
Travel itinerary, if you have already made travel arrangements.
Dates of your last five visits or trips to the United States, if you have previously traveled to the United States. You may also be asked for your international travel history for the past five years.
Résumé or Curriculum Vitae. You may be required to provide information about your current and previous education and work history.
Other Information. Some applicants, depending on the intended purpose of travel, will be asked to provide additional information when completing the online application.

Important Instructions

An individual on a visitor visa for business purposes (B1) is not permitted to accept employment or work in the United States.
The business visa is valid for 10 years.
Your stay in the U.S with visitor visa is limited to 180 days per entry.
A valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid. Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. You may use your valid visa in your expired passport along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.
All answers must be in English, using English characters only, except when you are asked to provide your full name in your native alphabet.

For your interview:

You are required to bring your confirmation page with your application ID number on it.
Bring your passport (valid for travel) to the United States – your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States. Each individual who needs a visa must submit a separate application, including any family members listed in your passport.
Application fee payment receipt you make online

Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified:

The purpose of your trip
Your intent to depart the United States after your trip and/or
Your ability to pay all costs of the trip.

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Frequently Asked Questions

United States B1 Business Visa FAQ

What is the U.S. B1 Business visa?

A U.S B1 Business visa is a traditional paper visa that is affixed to a visa page on your passport. It is a temporary, non-immigrant visa, allowing the holder to travel to the United States for business purposes.

What do I need to apply for a U.S B1 Business visa?

We require the following to submit your application:

Your Passport. It must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States.
Digital photograph
Travel itinerary, if you have already made travel arrangements.
Dates of your last five visits or trips to the United States, if you have previously travelled to the United States. You may also be asked for your international travel history for the past five years.
Résumé or Curriculum Vitae. You may be required to provide information about your current and previous education and work history.
Other Information. Some applicants, depending on the intended purpose of travel, will be asked to provide additional information when completing the online application.

How long does it take to process a U.S B1 Business visa?

It depends on the processing time you choose. We offer three options:

Standard Processing: 14 business days.
Rush Processing: 12 business days
Super Rush Processing: 10 business days.

How long is the U.S. B1 Business visa valid for?

The U.S. business visa is valid for 10 years after issue. In addition, it is a multiple entry visa and allows for a maximum stay of 180 days per entry.

What is the cost to obtain a U.S. B1 Business visa?

The visa cost for the U.S business visa is 160 USD. Additionally, there is a service fee of 89 USD for standard processing. For rush processing and super rush processing the service fee is 119 USD and 149 USD, respectively

My B1 Business visa is still valid but my passport has expired. Do I have to obtain a new visa?

Not necessarily. In this situation, you must carry your expired passport with the valid U.S visa, along with your new valid passport. However, your vital personal information (name, sex, date of birth, and nationality) must be the same on both passports. If any changes have been made to your personal data for any reason (change in name due to a marriage for example) then you will have have to obtain a new visa.

What conditions must the applicant’s passport meet for the U.S B1 Business visa?

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States. This applies to each and every stay within the visa's 10 year validity period.

What happens if my B1 Business visa expires while in the US?

Even if your visa expires while in the US, you will be fine as long as you leave the US within the 180 days stay per entry limit.

Can I work while in the US on a B1 Business visa?

No, you cannot receive any type of wages from a US based company on a B1 visa. This only allows you to conduct business related to your current employment from your country of residence.

What types of business activities are allowed under the B1 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

What is the eligibility criteria to obtain a B1 Business 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 a 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

Can I start a business while in the US on a B1 Business visa?

Yes, technically you can. However, you cannot be paid any wages by that business. In addition, since one of the eligibility criteria to obtain a B1 Business visa is:

You plan to remain for a specific limited period of time
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.

And since your business intentions have to be disclosed at the time of application, it may make it difficult to get an approval. We suggest you contact an immigration attorney for guidance if your intention to come to the US on a B1 business visa is to start a new business for alternate visa options.

What is the difference between the B1 and B2 visas?

The B2 visa is strictly for tourism purposes, while the B1 allows you to engage in certain business activities. Note that both are short term, non-immigrant visas.

Can I extend my stay beyond the 180 days limit?

If you wish to extend your stay, then you must file a request with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Does having a B1 Business Visa guarantee me entry to the US?

No. As with any visas, it merely grants you permission to travel to a particular country. Whether you are allowed entry will be at the discretion of the Immigration official.

If my family is traveling with me, can they obtain a dependent visa?

No, spouse and children are not eligible to obtain a dependent visa if you hold a B1 Business visa. They must separately apply for a B2 visa.

Visa Policy of the United States of America

View U.S. Business Visa sample

Learn more about United States Tourism

The United States of America is also called the land of opportunity. It is the place where dreams can come true, which is why many people believe in the American dream. As far as business is concerned, the US can be everything. As long as you play your cards right, you should be just fine. Keep in mind that opportunity is everything when it comes to American business, and for you to succeed, you need to be the best at what you do. It is essential to know about the dos and don’ts when it comes to business in the US, and we will discuss them below.

Before talking about business customs in the US, we will cover a little bit about the entry in the country. As you may very well know, the United States of America has a strict visa policy, and immigration is not a subject to be played with. However, the country does have a Visa Waiver Program, and as long as your country of origin is in it, you can have an easy time getting into the US.

If you are visa exempt, however, you still need to get a travel document. We are talking about an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). Fortunately, you can apply for it online, and iVisa can help you get it in as little as 6 hours. The document is valid for 2 years since the date of issue, it grants multiple entries, and you can stay in the United States for no more than 90 days per entry.

On the other hand, in case you are not visa-exempt, you need to pay a visit to the nearest US diplomatic mission and apply for a US business visa there. You need to make sure that it is possible to travel for business purposes in the US since there are a few nationalities that are not granted entry in the country. If you can, you need to apply for a B1 visa, which is a document exclusively for business purposes. Once you get that, you are good to go.

Now that we covered the visa part, we are ready to discuss business customs and etiquette in the US. As far as business relationships are concerned, people tend to have different perspectives. One is that Americans are non-personal people who seem cold at first glance, while others think that they are warm, informal, and very friendly. The truth is somewhere in the middle. American business people are incredibly friendly, talking on a first name basis and making conversation like they have known you for years. However, what you need to remember is that they do not base their business relationship on a personal rapport. Opportunity and money are all that matter. So, if you do not want to get too close, it is entirely acceptable. Americans will try to close a deal first, and if a personal relationship is developed after, that's fine. Even so, we recommend openness, friendliness, and a lot of enthusiasm.

‘Time is money’ is not just a say in the United States. They really mean it. That is why it is important not to waste anybody’s time. You have to be punctual, you need to get straight to the point, and make sure to avoid moments of silence in a negotiation. Someone will start talking just to kill the silence. And always be direct. It will work in your favor.

As far as greetings and meetings in the US are concerned, do not expect too much formality. The greetings are informal, generally accompanied by a handshake. Since Americans are enthusiastic, you can expect a firm handshake. The other person will most likely put his hand over yours. Some say it is a gesture to establish dominance, but do not read too much into it. However, make sure to read the people’s body language. Once a rapport is created, you can be hugged. But keep in mind that some people are not that into it. They value their personal space, which is why you should stay at least 2 feet away from them. If you are coming from a culture where personal space does not exist, try to refrain yourself. On the other hand, if you originate from a culture where personal space is essential, do not be surprised if your American partners will try to hug or put their hands on your back.

Another thing that is worth mentioning is that American use ‘How are you?’ as a greeting, but they are not really interested in your life story. You can give a simple and to-the-point ‘Fine, thanks!’ and move on.

Business cards are often changed in the United States, but more as a formality. In some cultures, it is a must to look carefully at the card before putting it in your wallet. In the US, however, you can expect the recipient to not even look at it and stuff it in a pocket. Do not get offended because it is not accustomed in the US to study the business card before putting it away. It’s just how they do things.

When it comes to dressing code, it depends on the field of activity, but you can never go wrong with business attire. You can wear a suit the first time you go to a meeting, but then you can wear the same clothes as your business partners. Since Americans are not all formal, do not be surprised if you see people in a meeting wearing smart casual outfits.

Last but not least, the communication style in the US may seem a bit confusing at first. The first thing you need to know is that yes means yes, no means no, and ‘maybe’ is not a polite way to say no. It actually means maybe. Although interrupting a person while speaking is incredibly rude in most cultures, it will happen in business meetings with Americans. But do not take it personally since they interrupt each other, not only you. Also, people in the US are not afraid of conflict. They argue openly, and they are not subtle at all. It may be a while until you get used to it, but if you want to adopt the American ways when it comes to business, you have to do the same.

Getting down to business in the United States means precisely that. People are direct, open, they use a lot of sports references, and they like to be straight shooters. Wasting any business person’s time is a crime, and delaying things will bring trouble. If you want to succeed, you need to adopt some of the US business customs and etiquette, but you should easily get used to it.

Where can I read more?

Other Available Visas: United States?

Get Your U.S. Business Visa (B1) Online Now

How to Apply: B1 Business Visa

How to Apply: Embassy Registration

Why Register with the Embassy

Required Information to Apply

Learn More: B1 Business Visa

Required Documents to Apply

Important Instructions

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get Your U.S. Business Visa (B1) Online Now

How to Apply: B1 Business Visa

How to Apply: Embassy Registration

Why Register with the Embassy

Required Information to Apply

Learn More: B1 Business Visa

Required Documents to Apply

Important Instructions

TestimonialsOur customers have great stories about us

Frequently Asked Questions

Testimonials
Our customers have great stories about us