Overview

Who needs a B visa?

The B-1/B-2 visa is the standard nonimmigrant admission category for business visitors (B-1) and tourists or personal visitors (B-2). Nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries can enter without a visa for stays up to 90 days through ESTA — but a B visa is required for everyone else, and it is mandatory for VWP nationals who have lost ESTA eligibility through prior denials, overstays, or criminal history.

Most consulates issue a combined B-1/B-2 visa covering both purposes. A B-1/B-2 visa can carry a validity of up to 10 years with multiple entry privileges — but each entry is subject to inspection at the port of entry, and CBP sets the authorized period of stay (typically up to 6 months) by annotation on Form I-94. The visa stamp allows repeated entries; the I-94 governs how long each stay can last.

Representation is most valuable in cases with prior refusals, gaps in nonimmigrant history, previous US immigration violations, travel to countries subject to heightened scrutiny, or where the distinction between permissible B-1 business activity and unauthorized employment requires careful framing.

Category distinctions

B-1 business vs. B-2 visitor.

The B-1 and B-2 categories cover distinct purposes. Most applicants receive a combined B-1/B-2 visa. Consulates differentiate based on the primary stated purpose, and the distinction matters for what activities are permissible after entry.

B-1

Business visitor

Attending meetings, conferences, trade shows, or negotiations. Consulting with US colleagues. Executing contracts on behalf of a foreign employer. Participating in board meetings or professional training. The common element: temporary business activity where the source of remuneration is a foreign employer, not a US entity.

B-2

Tourist / personal visitor

Tourism and recreational travel. Visiting family or friends. Medical treatment or consultation. Participation in social or service activities. Attending short recreational or amateur competitions. The key requirement: the purpose is personal, not commercial, and employment or business activity on behalf of any US employer is absent.

Requires

Nonimmigrant intent

Both B-1 and B-2 require that the applicant intend to depart the US at the end of the authorized stay. Applicants must demonstrate ties to their home country — employment, family, property, or other obligations — that make temporary entry and timely departure credible. The strength of these ties is typically the deciding factor in marginal consular decisions.

Does not permit

Employment or study

B-1/B-2 does not authorize working for a US employer, operating a US business for compensation, performing skilled or unskilled labor, or attending a full course of academic study. Any compensation from a US source — other than expense reimbursement — turns permissible business activity into unauthorized employment.

Pricing

Fixed fees, two tiers.

Every matter is quoted as a flat attorney fee before work begins. Government filing fees — the consular MRV fee — are separate.

Standard
$3,000
Attorney fees only
DS-160 preparation and review
Purpose-of-visit documentation
Ties-to-home-country analysis
Consular interview preparation
Premium
$4,500
Includes refusal response + re-application
Everything in Standard
Priority case management
One refusal response included
One re-application if denied

Government fees are separate: the consular MRV fee is $185 for B visas. RFE or refusal responses for Standard clients are quoted in writing before work begins, capped at $3,500. The controlling fee is the amount in your retainer agreement.

What to expect

From preparation to entry.

Most B visa applications are resolved at the consular interview. The process is straightforward when the applicant's record is clean and their purpose is well-documented; it becomes more involved when prior refusals, immigration history, or ambiguous business activities require careful presentation.

1

Case assessment

We review the applicant's immigration history, purpose of visit, and any prior refusals or US entry issues. Cases with complexity — refusal history, prior overstays, or ambiguous business activities — are evaluated against the specific post's adjudication patterns.

1–2 business days
2

DS-160 and documentation

We prepare the DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application and assemble supporting documentation: purpose-of-visit materials, employer letters, business itinerary, financial evidence, and ties-to-home-country documentation. In cases with prior refusals, we draft a written explanation addressing the prior denial grounds.

3–7 business days
3

Consular appointment

The applicant schedules and attends the consular interview. Wait times vary significantly by post — from days at some locations to several months at high-demand posts. We provide a detailed interview preparation memo covering expected questions, document presentation, and concise answers to the issues most likely to be raised.

Days to months depending on post
4

Visa issuance and entry

Approved visas are typically valid for up to 10 years with multiple entries for nationals of countries with reciprocal visa validity agreements. Upon entry, CBP sets the I-94 admission period — typically up to 6 months. Extensions of stay (I-539) are available if the visitor needs to remain longer than originally authorized.

Days to weeks after interview
FAQ

Common questions.

Nationals of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries can travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days using ESTA — no B visa required. However, a B visa is necessary if you have been denied ESTA, if you have previously overstayed in the US, if you have a criminal record, if you intend to work (even if eligible under another category), or if you want to stay longer than 90 days. Nationals of non-VWP countries always need a B visa for temporary business or tourism visits.
B-1 permits business activities that do not constitute employment in the US. Permitted activities include attending meetings, conferences, and trade shows; negotiating contracts; conducting market research; consulting with US colleagues; attending board meetings; and engaging in professional activities on behalf of a foreign employer where the source of remuneration remains outside the US. B-1 does not authorize working for a US employer, performing labor, or operating a US business for compensation.
CBP typically admits B-1/B-2 visitors for up to 6 months, with the exact period noted on Form I-94. This is separate from the visa validity period printed on the visa stamp — a 10-year B visa allows multiple entries within 10 years, but each stay is limited to the period authorized at the port of entry. Extensions of stay (Form I-539) can be requested from USCIS if additional time is needed before departure.
B-1 is for temporary business activities — meetings, negotiations, contract execution, conferences, and professional activities on behalf of a foreign employer. B-2 is for tourism, vacation, visits to family or friends, and medical treatment. Consulates frequently issue combined B-1/B-2 visas that cover both purposes. When applying, applicants should indicate both purposes if both are relevant.
Not directly. B-1/B-2 carries no work authorization. To work in the US, a separate work visa (O-1A, L-1, E-3, TN, or other nonimmigrant category) is required. A B visa can allow a foreign national to visit for business activities while a longer-term work visa petition is prepared — but working before a change of status is approved is not permitted.