A B visa is one of a category of non-immigrant visas issued by the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

government to

foreign national A foreign national is any person (including an organization) who is not a national of a specific country. ("The term 'person' means an individual or an organization.") For example, in the United States and in its territories, a foreign nationa ...

s seeking entry for a temporary period. The two types of B visa are the B-1 visa, issued to those seeking entry for business purposes, and the B-2 visa, issued to those seeking entry for tourism or other non-business purposes. In practice, the two visa categories are usually combined and issued as a "B-1/B-2 visa" valid for a temporary visit for either business or pleasure, or a combination of the two. Nationals of certain countries do not usually need to obtain a visa for these purposes.

Acceptable and prohibited uses of a B-1 or B-2 visa

Acceptable uses of a B-1 visa

Under the category of temporary visitor for business, a B-1 visa may be used to enter the U.S. to engage in any of the following activities. * Hold business meetings * Perform certain business functions as a member of the

board of directors A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit orga ...

of a U.S. corporation * Purchase supplies or materials * Interview and hire staff * Negotiate contracts, sign contracts, or take orders for products manufactured outside the United StatesB-1 Permissible Activities
. ''United States Customs and Border Protection''. July 30, 2015. * Attend a convention, meeting, trade show, or business event for scientific, educational, professional, or business purposes * Settle an estateBusiness Visa Center FAQs
. ''Bureau of Consular Affairs''. United States Department of State. Retrieved February 17, 2019. * Perform independent research * Receive practical medical experience and medical instruction under the supervision and direction of faculty physicians at a U.S. medical school's hospital as part of a third-year or fourth-year internship as long as the visitor is a studying at a foreign medical school and the visitor is not compensated by the hospital without remuneration from the hospital * Observe U.S. medical practices and consult with medical colleagues on techniques, as long as the visitor is a medical doctor, the visitor receives no compensation from a U.S. source, and the visitor does not provide patient care while in the U.S. * Take photographs, as long as the visitor is a professional photographer and the visitor receives no compensation from a U.S. source * Record music, as long as the visitor is a musician, the recording will be distributed and sold only outside the U.S., and the visitor will give no public performances * Create art, as long as the visitor is a creative artist, the visitor is not under contract with a U.S. employer, and the visitor does not intend to regularly sell such artwork in the U.S. * Perform certain professional services * Perform as a professional entertainer as part of a cultural exchange program performed before a nonpaying audience and funded by visitor's country * Perform as a professional entertainer as part of a competition for which there is no compensation other than travel expenses or, in certain limited instances, a prize * Perform work as crew on a private yacht that sails out of a foreign home port and cruises in U.S. waters * Perform services on behalf of a foreign-based employer as a

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

, sulky driver,

horse trainer A horse trainer is a person who tends to horses and teaches them different disciplines. Some of the responsibilities trainers have are caring for the animals' physical needs, as well as teaching them submissive behaviors and/or coaching them for e ...

, or horse groomer * Compete in a particular athletic competitionBusiness Travel to the United States
. ''Bureau of Consular Affairs''. United States Department of State. March 2014. with the only compensation being prize money as long as the prize money is not the recipient's primary source of income * Try out for a professional sports team as long as the visitor is not compensated other than reimbursement of travel expenses * Participate in an athletic tournament or athletic sporting event as a professional athlete, as long as the visitor's only compensation is prize money, the visitor's principal place of business or activity is outside the U.S., the visitor's primary source of income is outside the U.S., and the visitor is either part of an international sports league or the sporting activities involved have an international dimension * Survey potential sites for a business * Perform as a lecturer or speaker * Work for a foreign exhibitor in connection with exhibits at international fairs or international exhibits, as long as the visitor's employment responsibilities are primarily outside the U.S. * Install, service, or repair commercial or industrial equipment or machinery that was sold by a non-U.S. company to a U.S. buyer when specifically required by the purchase contract; construction work is not allowed * Perform a minor amount of volunteer services, excluding construction, for a religious organization or a nonprofit charitable organization, as long as volunteering is not the primary purpose of entering the U.S. * Participate in a training program that is not designed primarily to provide employment * Observe how a business operates or how professional activities are conducted * Seek investments in the U.S., without actually performing productive labor or actively participating in the management of a business * Participate in

Peace Corps The Peace Corps is an independent agency and program of the United States government that trains and deploys volunteers to provide international development assistance. It was established in March 1961 by an executive order of President John ...

training as a volunteer or under contract * Participate in the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoni ...

Institute for Training and Research internship program, as long a foreign government does not employ the visitor * Drill for oil on the

Outer Continental Shelf The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) is a feature of the geography of the United States. The OCS is the part of the internationally recognized continental shelf of the United States which does not fall under the jurisdictions of the individual U. ...

* As a minister of religion, engage in an evangelical tour, as long as the visitor does not intend to take an appointment with any one church and the visitor will be supported by offerings contributed at each evangelical meeting * As a minister of religion, temporarily exchange pulpits with U.S. ministers of religion, as long as the visitor will continue to be reimbursed by a foreign church and will not be compensated by the U.S. church * Perform missionary work, religious instruction, religious aid to the elderly or needy, or religious proselytizing as a member of a religious denomination, as long as the work does not involve the selling of articles, the solicitation of donation, the acceptance of donations, administrative work, or is a substitute for ordinary labor for hire, and the visitor will not be compensated from U.S. sources other than an allowance or other reimbursement for travel expenses incidental to the temporary stay * Participating in an organized project conducted by a recognized religious or nonprofit charitable organization that benefits U.S. local communities, as long as the visitor is a member of, and has a commitment to, the particular organization, the visitor receives no compensation from a U.S. source other than reimbursement of travel expenses * Work as a personal employee or a domestic employee of an employer who seeks admission into, or who is already in, the United States in B, E, F, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, Q, or R non-immigrant status, if and only if the employee has been employed outside the U.S. in a similar capacity prior to the date the employer enters the U.S., the employee has a residence outside the U.S. that the employee has no intention of abandoning, the employer compensates the employee based on the prevailing wage, and the employer provides the employee free room and board. * Work as a personal employee or a domestic employee of a U.S. citizen employer, if and only if the employer ordinarily resides outside the U.S.; the employer is traveling to the U.S. temporarily; the employer is subject to frequent international transfers of at least two years; the employer will reside in the U.S. for no more than four year as a condition of employment; the employer has regularly employed a domestic employee in the same capacity while outside the U.S.; the employee has a minimum of one year of experience in the same capacity; the employer provides the employee with the prevailing wage, room, board, and round-trip transportation; and the employee has a residence outside the U.S. that the employee has no intention of abandoning.

Acceptable uses of a B-2 visa

Under the category of temporary visitor for pleasure, a B-2 visa can be used to enter the U.S. to engage in any of the following activities. * Travel within the U.S.9 FAM 402.2: (U) Tourists and Business Visitors and Mexican Border Crossing Cards - B Visas and BCCS
. ''Foreign Affairs Manual''. United States Department of State. December 28, 2017. * Visit family or friends * Participate in a convention, a conference, or a convocation of a fraternal, social, or service nature * Obtain

medical treatment A therapy or medical treatment (often abbreviated tx, Tx, or Tx) is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually following a medical diagnosis. As a rule, each therapy has indications and contraindications. There are many differen ...

, as long as the visitor has the means to pay for itVisas: Temporary Visitors for Business or Pleasure
. ''Federal Register''. National Archives and Records Administration. January 24, 2020. * Enroll in a short, recreational course of study, as long as it is not credited toward a degree * Participate in an event, talent show, or a contest as an amateur, as long the visitor is not typically compensated for such participation and the visitor does not actually receive payment, other than reimbursement of travel expenses * Enter as a dependent of an alien member of any branch of the

U.S. Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the ...

temporarily assigned for duty in the U.S. * Accompany a person with either a

D-1 visa D1, D01, D.I, D.1 or D-1 can refer to: Science and technology Biochemistry and medicine * ATC code D01 ''Antifungals for dermatological use'', a subgroup of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System * Dopamine receptor D1, a prote ...

or a D-2 visa with the sole purpose of accompanying the person * Enter with the intent of becoming engaged, meeting the family of a fiancé, making arrangements for a wedding, or renewing a relationship with a fiancé * Enter with the intent of marrying a U.S. citizen and then return to a residence outside the U.S. after the marriage * Accompany a spouse or child who is a U.S. citizen on a temporary visit to the U.S. * Enter as a cohabiting (unmarried) partner of a non-immigrant visa holder if the partner is not otherwise eligible for derivative status under the partner's visa classification.

Prohibited uses

A person who enters the U.S. with a B-1 visa or a B-2 visa is prohibited from engaging in any of the following activities. * Employment, whether paid or unpaid ( some exceptions apply) * Receive education that credits to a degree * Arrive in the U.S. as a part of a crew of a ship or an aircraft * Work as a journalist or other information media * Perform before a paying audience * Live permanently or long-term in the U.S. * Manage a business located in the U.S. * Start a new branch, subsidiary, or affiliate of a foreign employer * Enter the U.S. with the purpose of performing emergency response services * Enter the U.S. for the primary purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the U.S.9 FAM 402.2-4(8)(U) Tourist Visas (B-2) - Applicants Coming to the United States as Visitors for Pleasure
. ''U.S. Department of State''. May 21, 2021.

Requirement to overcome presumption of intending immigrant

Under section 214(b) of the

Immigration and Nationality Act The U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act may refer to one of several acts including: * Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 * Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 * Immigration Act of 1990 See also * List of United States immigration legis ...

, a foreigner must prove to the satisfaction of the Consular officer his or her intent to return to his home country after visiting the United States. The act specifically states: In practice, this means that consular officers have wide discretion to deny a visa application. Once refused, there is no judicial or other means to challenge a visa decision. The foreigner, however, is free to apply for a visa again, particularly if circumstances have changed that might show to the consular officer that the applicant overcomes the presumption of being an intending immigrant.

Cost

All applicants for a B-1 and/or B-2 visa must pay an application fee, US$160 as of 2022. If the application is approved, nationals of certain countries must pay an issuance fee, which varies by nationality and is typically based on reciprocity. For some countries the issuance fee also varies depending on the desired visa validity, number of entries and visa subtype (B-1, B-2 or combined B-1/B-2).U.S. visa: reciprocity and civil documents by country
. ''United States Department of State''. Retrieved 1 August 2022. , only nationals of the following countries must pay the issuance fee.

History

Before 1994, there was no application fee, and only the issuance fee was charged, varying by nationality based on reciprocity. In 1994, the application fee was introduced for all applicants, in addition to the reciprocal issuance fee, to pay for the more costly machine-readable visas, which replaced the older stamped visas around that time.

United States Government Publishing Office The United States Government Publishing Office (USGPO or GPO; formerly the United States Government Printing Office) is an agency of the legislative branch of the United States Federal government. The office produces and distributes informatio ...

, 16 May 1994. The application fee was initially US$20, and has increased several times since then. As of January 2022, the U.S. government proposes increasing the application fee to US$245, to compensate for the reduced revenue from the lower number of applicants during the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

Validity period and duration of stay

As with other non-immigrant U.S. visas, a B-1/B-2 visa has a validity period (from 1 month to 10 years), allows for one, two, three or multiple entries into the U.S., and elicits a period of stay (maximum 6 months) recorded by the Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry on the individual's

form I-94 Form I-94, the Arrival-Departure Record Card, is a form used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) intended to keep track of the arrival and departure to/from the United States of people who are not United States citizens or lawful permane ...

. The validity period determines how long the visa may be used to enter the U.S., while the period of stay determines how long the person may stay in the U.S. after each entry. Validity periods per country are listed in the

U.S. Department of State The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other n ...

Visa Reciprocity Tables and vary from 1 month for Papua New Guinea (with no issuance fee), 1 year for Vietnam, 2 years for Nigeria, 3 years for Russia, and 5 years for Pakistan, to 10 years for China, India, Israel, Philippines, and most countries in the Americas and Europe. For some countries, longer validity periods are available for higher issuance fees or for B-1 or B-2 only. Periods of stay for B-1 visas may be granted initially for a duration long enough to allow the visitor to conduct their business, up to a maximum of 6 months, and can be extended for another 6 months; stays with B-1 visas are usually granted for three months or less, while stays with B-2 visas are generally granted for six months. Extensions are possible, provided the individual has not violated the conditions of admission. A

Border Crossing Card A Border Crossing Card (BCC) is an identity document used by nationals of Mexico to enter the United States. As a standalone document, the BCC allows its holder to visit the border areas of the United States when entering by land or sea directly fr ...

(BCC), also called a laser visa, has a 10-year validity and functions as both a BCC and a B-1/B-2 visitor's visa. The BCC is only issued to nationals of Mexico who apply for a visa inside Mexico. Validity of B visas by nationality, :

Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS)

On March 15, 2016, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that starting from 29 November 2016, all holders of

Chinese passport The People's Republic of China Passport (), commonly referred to as the Chinese passport, is a passport issued to citizens of the People's Republic of China (PRC) for the purpose of international travel, and entitles its bearer to the protec ...

s who also hold 10-year B visas are required to enroll in the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) before travelling to the United States via air, land or sea. The EVUS is designed for visa holders to update any changes to their basic biographic and employment information at the time of their visa applications. Similar to the ESTA, each EVUS registration is valid for a period of 2 years or until the holder's passport expiration date, whichever comes first. As of 2022, this system can be used free of charge and no time frame exists for when the US$8 cost recovery fee will be imposed by the

Department of Homeland Security The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries. Its stated missions involve anti-ter ...

(DHS). Holders of EVUS can travel to the United States for unlimited times providing that their EVUS registration and visa remain valid. The requirement applies to any holder of a

and B visa with a 10-year validity. It also applies to holders of non-citizen

travel document A travel document is an identity document issued by a government or international entity pursuant to international agreements to enable individuals to clear border control measures. Travel documents usually assure other governments that the be ...

s issued by other countries, such as a

refugee travel document A refugee travel document (also called a 1951 Convention travel document or Geneva passport) is a travel document issued to a refugee by the state in which they normally reside in allowing them to travel outside that state and to return there. Re ...

and

certificate of identity A certificate of identity, sometimes called an alien's passport, is a travel document issued by a country to non-citizens (also called aliens) residing within their borders who are stateless persons or otherwise unable to obtain a passport f ...

, whose nationality is Chinese. It does not apply, however, to holders of

Hong Kong SAR passport The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport is a passport issued only to permanent residents of Hong Kong who also hold Chinese citizenship. Note that: The passport is referred to both as the HKSAR Passport and the Hong Kong Speci ...

s, Macau SAR passports, B visas with a validity shorter than 10 years, or of other types of visas. The CBP and DHS are seeking to expand the EVUS to other nationalities in the future. EVUS was officially launched on October 31, 2016, for early enrollments. Upon launch, CBP announced that the enrollment fee will be suspended until further notice.

Use for other countries

Certain countries generally accept a U.S. tourist visa that is valid for further travel as a substitute visa for national visas.

Statistics

Visitor visas issued

The highest number of B-1/B-2 visas were issued to nationals of the following countries in fiscal years 2015, 2016, and 2017. In fiscal year 2014, most reasons to refuse a visa were cited as "failure to establish entitlement to nonimmigrant status", "incompatible application" (most overcome), "unlawful presence", "misrepresentation", "criminal convictions", "smugglers" and "controlled substance violators". Smaller number of applications were rejected for "physical or mental disorder", "prostitution", "espionage", "terrorist activities", "falsely claiming citizenship" and other grounds for refusal including "presidential proclamation", "money laundering", "communicable disease" and "commission of acts of torture or extrajudicial killings".

Adjusted visa refusal rate

The adjusted visa refusal rates for B visas, by fiscal year, were as follows.

Visitor admissions

The individuals admitted for tourism and/or business purposes during fiscal year 2017 were nationals from the following countries.

Overstays

A number of visitors overstay the maximum period of allowed stay on their B-1/B-2 status after entering the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security publishes annual reports that list the number of violations by passengers who arrive by air and sea. The table below excludes statistics on persons who left the United States later than their allowed stay or legalized their status and shows only suspected overstays who remained in the country. More than 95% of visitors from Mexico arrive in the U.S. by land rather than by air and sea. Statistics for suspected overstays of the land visitors are yet to be released.Entry/Exit Overstay Report Fiscal Year 2015
. ''United States Department of Homeland Security''. The number of suspected in-country B-1/B-2 overstays in fiscal year 2018 by nationality were the following.Entry/Exit Overstay Report Fiscal Year 2016
. ''United States Department of Homeland Security''.Entry/Exit Overstay Report, Fiscal Year 2017
. ''United States Department of Homeland Security''. Retrieved June 13, 2018.Entry/Exit Overstay Report Fiscal Year 2018
. ''United States Department of Homeland Security''. Retrieved July 23, 2019.

Notes

References

External links

US Department of State page on Visitor VisasUSCIS page on B-1 business visas
{{United States visas United States visas by type United States immigration law