Non-Immigrant Visas
B- Visitor for Business or Pleasure
Many foreigners seek to enter the U.S. for either business or pleasure. The visa available to these categories of people is the B visa. The B-1 visa permits an alien to enter the U.S. for a business reason while the B-2 visa permits an alien to enter the U.S. for pleasure, usually tourist-related.
Foreigners entering the U.S. on the B-1 visa are doing so for the purpose of engaging in business. This is different from entering the U.S. for the purpose of seeking employment and working in the U.S. The B-1 visa is utilized for foreigners to attend events such as conferences, conventions, or meetings in the U.S.
Foreigners entering the U.S. on the B-2 visa are doing so for the purpose of pleasure, including tourism and medical visits. A B-2 non-immigrant may not engage in lawful employment.
To qualify for either a B-1 or B-2 visa, the alien must show that he:
- has the financial means to support himself during the authorized stay in the United States;
- has strong ties, both economic and familial, to the home country; and
- intends to depart the U.S. upon the expiration of the allotted time, as indicated on the I-94 card.
Upon entry into the U.S., the non-immigrant will be given an I-94 card, indicating a specific date by which the alien must depart the U.S. In certain instances, the alien may seek an extension of stay without departing the U.S. However, there are severe consequences for aliens who overstay their authorized allotted time.
The list of non-immigrant visas available to aliens can be found in INA §101(a)(15) and include:
- Ambassador, public minister, or career diplomatic or consular officer;
- Visitor for business or pleasure;
- Individual in immediate and continuous transit;
- Alien crewman;
- Treaty investor or trader;
- Academic student;
- Designated principal representative of a foreign government;
- Temporary worker;
- Representative of the foreign press, radio, film;
- Participant in an approved exchange program;
- Fiance of a U.S. citizen;
- Intracompany transferee;
- Vocational student;
- Parent or child of an alien with special immigrant status;
- Alien with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics;
- Artist or entertainer;
- Participant in an approved international cultural exchange program;
- Religious worker;
- Criminal informant;
- Victim or informant of trafficking;
- Victim and informant of certain criminal activity; and
- Certain beneficiary of permanent residency application filed by lawful permanent resident.
