Jethmalani & Nallaseth PLLC
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Visitors

Visitors

B-1 Temporary Business Visitor

The B-1 is available for those seeking temporary entry for participating in business-related activities in the United States such as meetings, conferences, consultations, conduct research, and negotiations. This visa category does not authorize individuals to work in the United States. B-1 visa is normally granted for up to 6 months admission on entry, and maximum total amount of time permitted on B-1 status for any one trip is generally 1 year.

How can we help?

  • We provide assistance and counsel on eligibility requirements for B-1 preferences, including assessment of permissible and prohibited activities
  • Assistance in visa application abroad, extension of B-1 status or change of status to other visa categories

B-2 Visa - Visitor

The B-2 Visa is available if the purpose of the planned travel is recreational in nature, including tourism, visiting friends or relatives, rest, or is related to medical treatment, activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature, or participation by amateurs who will receive no remuneration in musical, sports and similar events or contests.

Here are a few examples of activities that require a DIFFERENT categories of visas and CANNOT be done while on a visitor visa:

  • Study
  • Employment
  • Paid performances, or any professional performance before a paying audience
  • Arrival as a crewmember on a ship or aircraft
  • Work as foreign press, radio, film, journalists, and other information media
  • Permanent residence in the United States

How can we help?

  • We provide assistance and counsel on eligibility requirements for B-2 preferences, including assessment of permissible and prohibited activities.
  • Assistance in visa application abroad.

Visa Waiver Program

Travelers coming to the United States for tourism or business (B-1 or B2 category visa) purposes for 90 days or less from qualified countries may be eligible to travel without a visa if they meet the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) requirements. Among 38 countries participate in the VWP. 

In order to travel without a visa on the VWP, you must have authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding a U.S. bound air or sea carrier. ESTA is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) automated web-based system to determine eligibility to travel without a visa to the United States for tourism or business.

Under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, travelers in the following categories are no longer eligible to travel or be admitted to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):

  • Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country). 
  • Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria. These individuals will still be able to apply for a visa using the regular appointment process at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

How can we help?

  • We provide assistance and counsel on eligibility requirements for the Visa Waiver Program.Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015
  • We can review and asses the benefits and drawbacks of VWP travel for eligible foreign nationals.