B1 Visa

The B1 visa is a temporary/non-immigrant US visa that permits visitors to enter the U.S. for business purposes.

Types of activity covered include:

• consulting with clients or business associates,
• conferences, seminars, or conventions,
• carrying out research,
• to take part in legal negotiations or proceedings.

B1 visas are valid for up to six months, and may be renewed once for up to a further six months.

Proof of Intent to Return

B1 visas are highly discretionary and can often be denied if not enough evidence is provided. The key factor for a B1 visa application is presenting sufficient evidence to the U.S. Consulate that the applicant fully intends to return to their home country.

Most applications depend on the applicant’s being able to prove that they have strong ties to their home country. This evidence may indicate…

• owning real estate
• current employment
• or significant dependents

We strongly recommend you work with a qualified immigration attorney to help prepare the evidence to present with any B1 application.

Attorney Tips for B Visa Applications

Alternative Options

People who are considering applying for a B1 visa may also look into:

• E1 — Treaty Trader
• E2 — Treaty Investor
• H1B — Specialty Occupation

B1 Visa Questions Answered

“What is the probability of getting a business visa with 5 weeks duration? Does anyone have an idea about the duration of stay allowed for business meetings under a B1/B2 visa?”

The B1 visa is a temporary/non-immigrant US visa that permits visitors to enter the U.S. for business purposes for up to six months and may be renewed once for up to a further six months.

In general, B1 visa processing time takes around 3 months (90 days) for USCIS to process work permit applications but has been taking longer recently—often to 4.5–5 months (135–150 days) to process.

B1 visas are highly discretionary and can often be denied if not enough evidence is provided to show the applicants full intent to return to their home country.