Complete Guide To Obtaining A US B1 Visa – Requirements & Eligibility

Aside from being a popular tourist destination and a place where people desire to find work, the United States is also a fantastic area to do business.

The B1 visa is a non-immigrant US visa that allows people to enter the country for business.

B1 visa holders are permitted to engage in the following activities:

• Negotiate contracts.
• Consult with business associates in the US.
• Settle estates.
• Attend conferences, educational, professional, or business events.

The B1 visa lets you build commercial contacts and visit the US as often as needed. You can renew your visa. The US business visas do not have a cap so there are no rules as to how many visas can be issued per year.

US visitor permits are for tourism and business. The B2 visa lets you enter the US for tourist, leisure, or family visits, unlike the B1.

Do I Need to Apply for a US Business Visa?

If you are a citizen of one of the countries in the Visa Waiver Program, you will not need to apply for the US Business visa. You can apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) instead. With the ESTA program, you will not be required to go to the US Embassy in person and can get the business visa much faster.

Important: Starting May 30, 2023, the cost of a B2 visa application has increased to $185 from the previous price of $160.

What are the Eligibility Criteria to Qualify for the B1 Visa?

The US business visa eligibility criteria are not as strict as other visas, but you must fulfill them in order to qualify. Here are the criteria that you must meet to be able to get the B1 visa:

• That your intent for visiting the United States is business-related.
• You have enough finances to cover your stay in the United States.
• You intend to return to your home country as soon as your visa expires and you do not intend to stay in the United States.

If you meet these criteria and can prove your eligibility through valid documents in the application phase, then you will be able to apply and get the B1 visa.

Steps to Apply for a US Business Visa

To apply for a B1 visa, you must go through these simple steps:

• Complete Form DS-160.
• Pay the B1 visa fees.
• Schedule your visa interview.
• Prepare your B1 visa documents file.
• Attend the interview.

Complete Form DS-160

Most US nonimmigrant visa applications for business visas use Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application. It asks for your history and visit purpose. Fill in the B1 visa section. The confirmation page and number you receive after submitting the form online are needed later in the application process.

You can fill the DS-160 form online through:

• the Consular Electronic Application Center, or
• with the help of a visa processing assistant.

Get your B1 Visa using this link

Pay the B1 visa fees

The B1 visa application price is $185. To proceed with your application, you must pay this charge. Other payments, such as visa issuing fees, may be required in addition to the application fee. The amount of visa issuance fees is determined by your home country’s relationship with the United States. After you have paid all fees, keep the receipts to attach to your documents.

Schedule your visa interview

Visitor visa applicants aged 14–79 must undergo an interview. An official conducts the interviews at your local US Embassy. Since US embassies are busy, arrange your interview early. Avoid long wait periods and finish the application faster. You can call your Embassy to schedule the interview and receive your interview confirmation letter. Bring that letter to your interview.

Prepare your B1 visa documents file

You must provide the commonly required documents for the business visa application with you to support your application. Your B1 visa application must contain the following additional documents:

• The Form DS-160 confirmation page and code.
• Your valid passport. You must possess a passport which is six months valid beyond your planned stay in the US.
• Details of your social media accounts. A list of the social media that you use, and the name of your account in each.
• The interview confirmation page.
• A photo that complies with the US Visa photo requirements.
• A letter which describes the purpose of your trip.
• Financial or bank statements to prove you have the finances to stay in the US.
• Ties to your home country such as family, job contract, lease, or property deed, which prove you will return.
• Criminal records or letters from authorities stating that you do not have prior convictions.
• If you have visited the US before, bring documents relevant to your prior visits.
• If you work, bring a letter from your employer and payslips for the last three months.
• A letter from the company detailing the purpose of the trip and your job position.

Attend the interview

On the day of the interview, bring your documents file and be prepared to answer questions from the interviewer. You will be asked about your background, your purpose of visit, what business you will be doing in the United States, and whether you intend to return. Answer in specifics and give details about what you plan to do in the United States.

How Long is the B1 Visa Processing Time?

The processing times for the B1 visa are not precise. Your visa may be processed in a matter of weeks or months. This is determined by the US Embassy’s workload and other considerations. After the processing time is up, you will be told whether or not you have received the visa.

How Long is the B1 Visa Valid?

The initial validity for which the B1 visa is given is 6 months. The US Embassy will assume that for 6 months you will be able to complete all the business that you have in the country. This period is also enough time for you to be able to visit and tour any places in the United States that you want to.

B1 Visa Extension

After six months, your visa expires and you must leave the US. Your employer must approve a B1 visa extension. You must prove you have not completed all B1 visa business. You must also receive letters from your employer or company proving your US stay is necessary for business.

However, remember that you are not allowed to work for a US company and earn income, so you must also prove financial stability and that you have enough money to stay in the United States.

Can I Get a Green Card as a B1 Visa Holder?

To be eligible for the B1 visa, you must demonstrate that you will return to your native country. This means you cannot intend to stay in the United States indefinitely. Because you must prove this and state it during your interview, getting a Green Card while on a B1 visa becomes extremely tough. To be eligible for permanent residence with a B1 visa, you must either:

• Have family in the US and apply to join them.
• Marry a US citizen with a valid marriage and then apply for permanent residence.
• Find a job in the US where the employer is willing to sponsor your visa such as the H-1B visa, and then apply for the Green Card.

However, since the B1 visa is a business visitor visa, if you find a job in the US you will be unable to work for the company in your home country. This means that you will have to go through complicated procedures to change your status and prove that you did not intend to find a job in the US, but that an unexpected opportunity came your way.

Do I Get Access to American Healthcare With a Business Visa Visa?

As a foreign visitor to the United States for tourism, you will not be entitled to free healthcare. The American healthcare system is the most expensive in the world, with treatment for a broken leg or arm costing $2,500, and staying in a US hospital for one night costing more than $10,000 on average.

As a result, purchasing a health insurance plan to cover these expenditures is advised. More information on various health insurance policies for tourists visiting the United States can be found here.

Can Business Visa Holders Bring Dependents to USA?

Unfortunately, B1 visas are individual temporary visas without dependent visas. If you have the only B1 visa, your spouse, children, and other family members cannot join you in the US. They need a B2 or US tourist visa to join you. With this visa, they can stay with you for 6 months and request extensions up to 1 year.

Your B1 visa doesn’t affect your dependents’ visas. Proof of financial stability and a return home are required for each application.