Planning on travelling to the US and not sure whether it’s the B1 or B2 visa you need to apply for?
Navigating the world of US visas can be tricky, especially when it comes to distinguishing between the B1 and B2 visas.
These visas have different purposes, catering to individuals who have different intentions for their visit to the US.
In this article, we’ll explain the B1 and B2 visas, including who can apply, what activities are allowed, and how long they’re valid.
By the end, you’ll know which visa best fits your needs, whether you’re travelling for business or tourist purposes to the US.
The B1 visitor visa is a non-immigrant visa issued to foreign nationals who wish to enter the US temporarily for business purposes.
Note that a non-immigrant is a temporary visitor for either tourism, education, or work, intending to return home afterwards.
This visa allows individuals to engage in a variety of business-related activities such as attending:
However, it does not permit you to work or receive payment from a US source during your stay.
The B1 visa is typically granted for a specific period, and you must demonstrate your intent to return to your home country after completing your business activities in the US.
Unless you are a citizen of a country eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (in which case you could apply for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization), you may be eligible to apply for the B1 visa.
Eligibility criteria includes:
As mentioned above, the B1 visa is used for short business trips to the US.
You should apply for it if you’d like to travel to the US for the following reasons:
When applying with Visa First, the B1 Visa cost starts at €450.
You can apply for your B1 visa with Visa First through the following steps:
The USA B2 visa is for temporary visitors who wish to enter the USA for tourism, pleasure, or visiting friends and relatives.
It’s commonly referred to as a tourist visa.
The same as the B1 visa, the B2 visa is typically granted for a short duration, usually up to six months.
With a B2 visa, you will also be prohibited from engaging in any form of employment or business activities while you’re in the US.
The B2 visa is primarily used for tourism, pleasure, or visiting friends and relatives, which is the main difference between a B1 and B2 visa.
Here are some common purposes for which you might apply for a B2 visa:
Similar to the B1 visa, if you are a citizen from a country eligible for the Visa Waiver Program you will most likely be applying for an ESTA and not the B2 visa.
If you are not from a country eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, you may be eligible for the B2 visa.
To be eligible for the B2 visa, you will need to meet the following criteria:
Since both the B1 and the B2 visas are visitor nonimmigrant visas, they have some things in common, such as the processing time.
After the application has been submitted, either visa can take several weeks to be processed.
Note that the processing time for these visas can vary depending on various factors such as the workload of the embassy and the individual circumstances of the applicant.
Once either the B1 or B2 visa is granted, it’s valid for 10 years.
Note that during those 10 years, you can enter the US multiple times.
However, the duration of stay allowed on each visit will be determined by the immigration officer at the port of entry and is typically limited to a maximum of six months.
The B1 and B2 visas are multiple entry visas, meaning you can enter the US multiple times during the validity period of your visa.
However, it’s up to the immigration officers at the port of entry to decide whether or not you can enter based on whether they think your reasons for wanting to come to the US match the visa type.
The main difference between a B1 and B2 visa is the purpose of the visa.
The B1 visa is used for business purposes, whereas the B2 visa is used for tourism purposes.
Apart from the purpose of the visas, the other aspects of the visas are the same, such as:
In some cases, the B1 and B2 visas are issued together which means that you can engage in both business and tourism-related activities during your visit.
At Visa First, we can make the process of obtaining a visa easier by taking the stress out of your hands and taking care of the paperwork for you.
With our new software, the process of applying for your visa is easier than ever.
You can start by checking your eligibility and creating an online account with us.
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