The B-1 visa is available to visitors seeking short-term entry into the U.S. to engage in legitimate business activities of a commercial or professional nature that do not involve receiving salary or payment of any kind from a U.S. source.

B-1 Visa is appropriate for:

A. Employees of a foreign company coming to the U.S. to:

• Solicit sales, negotiate contracts, or take orders from established customers
• Engage in consultations with U.S. business associates

B. Foreign business persons coming to the U.S. to:

• Attend professional conferences or conventions or executive seminars
• Undertake independent research, such as product or market research
• Make investments

C. Foreign physicians coming to the U.S. to:

• Observe new procedures and
• Offer consulting services without performing any patient care

D. Personal/domestic servants accompanying:

• Returning U.S. citizens who are temporarily assigned to the U.S. and who permanently reside in a foreign country
• B, E, F, H, I, J or L visa holders

E. Professional entertainers coming to the U.S. to:

• Participate in a cultural program sponsored by their home country to perform before a nonpaying audience
• Participate in a competition for which there is no remuneration, other than a prize (monetary or otherwise) and expenses

F. Professional athletes coming to the U.S. to:

• Participate in a tournament or sporting event, and receive no salary or payment other than prize money

G. Foreign missionary workers coming to the U.S. to:

• Perform missionary work on behalf of a religious denomination, provided that they will not receive any remuneration from the U.S. other than an allowance or other reimbursement for expenses incidental to their stay
• Engage in an evangelical tour provided they do not receive remuneration from a U.S. source, other than offerings contributed at each evangelical meeting
• Preach or exchange pulpits with their U.S. counterparts, provided the church in their native countries reimburses them
• Participate in voluntary service program which benefits a U.S. local community provided they do not receive any salary or remuneration other than an allowance or reimbursement for expenses incidental to their stay from the U.S. sponsor

Requirements for the B-1 Business Visa

To be eligible to receive a B-1 visa, you must fulfill the following requirements:

A. You must be entering the U.S. temporarily

B. You must have a permanent residence in your home country that you have no

intention of abandoning

C. You must be able to show ties to your home country in the form of such evidence

as property, family, and a permanent job

D. You must not be coming to the U.S. to provide services or engage in business

activities that are primarily for the benefit of a U.S. employer

E. The purpose of your trip must be to perform a legitimate business activity

F. You may not be paid a salary or other remuneration from a U.S. source. However,

reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses is permitted

G. You have sufficient financial resources to fund the trip including all travel, accommodation and living expenses during your stay in the U.S. If you do not have sufficient financial resources to fund the trip, you must provide evidence that your employer will provide support

Applying for the B-1 Business Visa

You may apply for the B-1 business visa at an American Consulate near your residence. Your B-1 visa application includes:

A. DOS Form DS-156, Nonimmigrant Visa Application

B. DOS Form DS-157, Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application, for all male

applicants between the ages of 16 and 45

C. A copy of your passport, which is valid for at least six months beyond the period

of stay in the U.S. and with at least one blank page

D. Two identical color photographs showing full face without head covering against

a light background. You may wear a headdress if required by a religious order

of which you are a member

E. Information describing the company such as brochures, catalogs, annual reports

F. A copy of your tour itinerary

G. Documentation demonstrating your ability and intention, or that of your employer, to

support your travel and other expenses while in the U.S.

Duration of Stay

 B-1 visitor for business may be admitted for not more than one year and may be granted extensions of temporary stay in increments of not more than six months each.

A. Extension of Stay

You may extend your stay in B-1 status by a maximum of six months provided the B-1 visa extension request is due to "an unexpected or compelling humanitarian reasons" such as medical treatment or unforeseen delay in conclusion of a business matter.

You must file the B-1 visa extension request and prove that you have adequate financial resources to continue staying in the U.S. and that you are maintaining residency abroad.

B. Change of Status

You may change from a B-1 visitor visa to another nonimmigrant category provided you can prove that you had no preconceived intent to change status. If you intend to change status to F-1, M-1 or J-1, you must state your intent while applying for the B-1 visa.