B-1
If a foreign national will enter the United States to attend business conferences, to take orders, to negotiate sales with existing customers, or to perform installation or warranty work based on a service agreement with the foreign manufacturer, the B-1 (Business Visitor) visa is available as an option. However, the individual must be conducting temporary business for a foreign employer. Additionally, the business trip must not result in gainful employment in the United States and the individual must remain on the payroll of the foreign employer for the entire stay.
Entry with B-1 status is granted for the period of time required to complete the business activity and usually does not exceed six months. However, once admitted to the United States, extensions of stay may be granted by the Bureau of Citizenship and Naturalization Services (CIS) in six-month increments. Applicants for a B-1 visa can apply directly at the Consulate for a visa stamp, at which time they must prove that they have a permanent residence abroad and no intention of abandoning it.
For more information concerning B-1 visas, please click here.
Visa Waiver Pilot Program
In an effort to reduce the Consular workload, the United States has implemented the Visa Waiver Pilot Program (VWPP), eliminating the need for a visa stamp in certain foreign passports. Applicants from the following countries are eligible for waiver of the visitor visa requirement:
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom, Portugal, Singapore, Uruguay.
These applicants are eligible for a ninety day maximum stay with no extension. Also, applicants may not change to a different nonimmigrant status or to permanent resident status. In order to obtain a different status, the alien must leave the country and then apply for a new visa.
For more information concerning the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, please click here.
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