Guide on Applying United States Business Visa
If you are planning business-related travel to the United States on a temporary basis, then you need to read this US visa info.
Generally, if your purpose for your planned travel to the United States is to consult with business associates; attend a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, or a conference on specific dates; settle an estate; negotiate a contract or participate in short-term training, then a Business Visitor (B-1) United States visa would be the appropriate type of visa for your travel.
To qualify for Business B1 visa, you must demonstrate that the purpose of your trip is to enter the U.S. for business; you plan to remain for a specific, limited period; you have evidence of funds to cover expenses in the United States; and have evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad; and that you have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties which will insure your return abroad at the end of the visit.
If your purpose of planned travel and facts about your visit fits within the description above, the next step to do is to schedule a visa interview appointment and apply for a USA visa application at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence.
When applying for a Business Visitor (B-1) visa, you’ll need to submit these forms and documentations such as online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, Form DS-160; a passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant’s intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions); and one (1) 2×2 photograph or digital photograph.
Photo Requirement. You must get a digital photograph from any good photographer or studio. Just mention that this is needed for US business visa purpose. Make sure that your digital photograph must be square with a minimum dimension of 600 pixels by 600 pixels and a maximum dimension of 1200 pixels by 1200 pixels. Image must be in 24 bits per pixel color in JPEG format (.jpg or .jpeg file extension) and with a file size of less than or equal to 240 kilobytes.
Form DS-160. You must complete a Business visa application (form DS160) online meaning over the internet. Once, you have successfully completed the application, a confirmation with a 10-digit barcode will be sent to you. You must take a printout of this page as this is needed for setting up your visa interview appointment.
Required Visa Fees. All fees must be made in US currency ($). You must remember to provide a receipt showing the visa application processing fee has been paid, when you come for your visa interview. In some countries, you will need to submit a clear photocopy of the first page (bio-page) of your current passport to the bank when making your payment. The bank will issue you multiple copies of a visa fee receipt with a 10-digit barcode number.
Schedule a visa interview. Schedule a visa interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence. The consular officer at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will apply for your visa will determine eligibility for a visa, including type of visa required, based on your application, interview, individual facts presented and on U.S. immigration law.
During the visa interview. On the day and time of your appointment for interview, do not be late and go to the consulate where your interview is scheduled well ahead of time. You must bring with you all mandatory and supporting documents and originals. During your actual interview, carry the following: your valid passport (and your old passports if any); your photograph; the DS160 barcode page; the receipt showing the visa application processing fee has been paid; other supporting documents, if any.
Visa processing time information for each U.S. Embassy or Consulate worldwide is available on the US Department of State website at Visa Wait Times, and on most US embassy websites.
Meanwhile, if you are one of the nationals of 36 participating countries under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa, you can apply for travel authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization or ESTA application online.
Under ESTA forms, VWP travelers can travel to the U.S. without a visa if they meet the visa waiver program requirements.
Travel Tips for First Time Visitor in US
First time to travel to the United States?
With the spring and summer travel season having started in the United States, the guardian of United States’ borders, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminds the country’s thousands of visitors to first educate themselves on the rules and regulations regarding travel to the United States.
First time U.S. visitors are reminded that though the United States of America welcomes the millions of foreign visitors and immigrants who come to the U.S. each year; however, generally, before traveling to the U.S., a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States is required to first obtain a valid visa, either a non-immigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The type of visa required is based on the purpose of your travel.
A U.S. visa will enable you to travel to a US port of entry, airport or land border crossing, and request permission from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspector to enter the U.S.
Although having a visa does not guarantee entry to the U.S., it does indicate a consular officer at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad has determined that you are eligible to seek entry for that specific purpose. DHS/CBP inspectors are responsible for admission of travelers to the U.S., for a specified status and period of time.
You must also have a valid (unexpired) passport to enter the United States.
As the United States visa policy also permits citizens of certain countries to travel to the U.S. without a visa, when they meet certain requirements, under U.S. laws, all those citizens of participating U.S. Department of State’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP) who are planning to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of up tp 90 days or less without obtaining a visa, they are required to obtain first a travel authorization via Electronic System Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to traveling by air or sea to the United States. These ESTA applications are valid for multiple entries for a combined maximum stay in the USA and its surrounding countries of ninety days for a period of up to two years, regardless of how long a traveler actually intends to stay in the USA.
VWP travelers with valid ESTA application authorization prior to travel are screened at the port of entry into the United States, and are enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security’s US-VISIT program.
Take note, VWP travelers are also required to present the appropriate type of passport valid for six months past their expected stay in the United States.
If arriving by air or sea, they are required to travel on an approved carrier and have a return trip ticket to any foreign destination.
Once you’ve applied for US visa, be ready then for an interview. Make sure to wear formal clothes or business attire. Make sure that you are ready with your documentations and arrive early. Be confident in answering the interview questions and be polite. Demonstrate respect in your language and don’t argue or unnecessarily elaborate on your answers as these might not work in your favor.
Now, that you have your approved US visa or ESTA forms, you must prepare all the necessary things that you are allowed to bring. Be sure to know all the restrictions as not to delay or even cause you to be inadmissible to enter the US.
Facts About ESTA Visa
Starting last January 12, 2009, all travelers to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are now subjected to enhanced security requirements and mandated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to apply for travel authorization under an Electronic System Travel Authorization or ESTA screening.
An ESTA application is a new fully automated, electronic system intended to prescreen passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
All VWP travelers are required to obtain an approved travel authorization via online submission of ESTA applications prior to boarding an air or sea carrier for their travel to the United States. However, those who are entering by land either from Canada or Mexico are not required to register before traveling.
So how does the travel authorization process works?
Before going on line to register, please do make sure that you are qualified to travel under the VWP otherwise your registration will be rejected.
Thru a third party or an automated ESTA forms provided by the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Customs and Border Protection, the VWP travelers (those citizens coming from Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Malta, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom) are required to enter and complete their biographic, travel, and credit card information on the secure Web site in order to apply for a travel authorization. Once completed, your application is processed by the system to determine if you are eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program without a visa.
Once approved, an automated response will be provided by the system.
A successful ESTA approval will only authorize a traveler to board a
carrier for travel to the U.S. under the VWP. And prior to boarding, a carrier will electronically verify with the United States Customs and Border Protection that you have an approved travel authorization on file.
This approved travel authorization will enable you for a combined maximum stay in the USA and its surrounding countries for 90 days or less, regardless of how long a traveler actually intends to stay in the USA, for business or pleasure.
A successful ESTA approval will be valid for multiple entries into the U.S. for two years from the date of authorization, or until the date on which your passport expires, whichever comes first or unless revoked. You will find your travel authorization expiration date in the Authorization Approved screen displays.
However, please do take note that this authorization to travel under ESTA does not guarantee that you are admitted to enter into the United States. Upon arrival in the United States, a Customs and Border Protection officer at a port of entry will be the one to inspect you and may determine that you are inadmissible under the Visa Waiver Program or for any reason under US law.
The U.S. Government recommends that all VWP travelers go online to submit an authorization request at least two weeks in advance of your planned departure date. This will provide the very small number of registrants whose ESTA registration is not approved time enough to make an appointment for a visa application at the Embassy.
Basic Requirement for Temporary Visitors To The US
The United States of America boasts of a proud tradition of welcoming international visitors who can add greatly to their nation’s cultural, education and economic life, with secure borders and open doors.
Of their 185 different types of visas, international travelers (citizens of other countries), coming to the U.S. for temporary visits are required to apply for nonimmigrant US visa. Although, many citizens of one of the thirty-six Visa Waiver Program countries can come to the U.S. without a visa provided that they have submitted an online ESTA to USA application in advance of travel to the United States. An approved ESTA for USA will enable them to stay in the US for a maximum of 90 days for tourism or business.
Nonimmigrant US visa applicationis for those international travelers coming to the U.S. for a wide variety of reasons, including tourism, business, studying, medical treatment and certain types of temporary work.
There are various types of nonimmigrant USA visa application for temporary visitors to travel to the U.S., of which the type of visa you are eligible to apply for will be determined by the purpose of your intended travel and other facts defined by the U.S. immigration law, and relates to the principal purpose of your travel.
This nonimmigrant American visa ?which will be placed in your passport when issued ? will allow you to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (airport, for example) and request permission from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection immigration officer to enter the U.S.
Generally, applicants for nonimmigrant visasare required to show that they qualify under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Every intending immigrant applicant as presumed by law must demonstrate that A) the purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S. for business, pleasure, or medical treatment; B) they plan to remain for a specific, limited period; and C) they have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties which will ensure their return at the end of the visit.
Before applying for a visa at a U.S. Embassy abroad, the nonimmigrant visa applicant is required to either submit any one or two of the following depending of the visa type you are applying for: a) foreign labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) which must be obtain by the U.S. employer, prior to filing a petition with USCIS; b) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approval of a petition or application (which will depend on the visa category you plan to apply for); and c) Program approval entered in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
The kind of visa you need will be decided by the Consular Officer at the U.S. embassy or Consulate where you apply with jurisdiction over your place of permanent residence.
Effective April 13, 2012, all Nonimmigrant Visa applicants will have to pay as Processing fees for Tourist, Business, Transit, Crew Member, Student, Exchange Visitor, and Journalist visas $160 from $140; Petition-Based visas (H, L, O, P, Q, and R) $190 from $150; Treaty Investor and Trader visas (E) $270 from $390; Fiancé(e) visas (K) $240 from $350; Border Crossing Cards (age 15 and older) $160 from $140; and Border Crossing Cards (under age 15) $15 from $14.
As part of the visa application process, the applicant (from age 14 through 79, with few exceptions) must undergo an interview at the embassy consular section. However, persons aged 13 and younger, and age 80 and older, generally are not required to undergo an interview, unless requested by embassy or consulate.
Revised US Visa Processing Fees
Just recently, the US had made adjustments on its US visa application processing fees.
Last March 29, 2012, an interim final rule in the Federal Register to adjust visa processing fees was published by the Department of State.
In a press release from the Office of the Spokesperson, Washington, DC, the Department of State will make an adjustment on American visa processing fees.
Scheduled to go into effect on April 13, 2012, there will be an increase in the fees for most nonimmigrant USA visa application and Border Crossing Cards, while all immigrant visa processing fees would have a decrease.
The visa fee increase is attributed to the State Department’s need to recover, as far as possible, the cost of processing visas through the collection of application fees, where for some reason, the actual cost of processing non-immigrant visas are no longer covered by the current fees.
The press release further explained that the non-immigrant visa fee was increased in order to provide support to the department’s addition and expansion of overseas facilities, as well as to support the additional staffing required to meet increased visa demand.
Although there is an increase on most categories of nonimmigrant visa processing fees, the fee for E visas (treaty-traders and treaty-investors) and K visas (for fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens) will decrease.
Under the new US visa processing fee, out of four categories of visas, visa fees for two visas have gone up, while for the other two it has been revised downwards.
According to the Press Release, the non-immigrant visa processing fees for Tourist, Business, Transit, Crew Member, Student, Exchange Visitor, and Journalist visas as well as Border Crossing Cards (age 15 and older) have increased from $140 to $160.
Petition-Based visas (H, L, O, P, Q, and R) have also increased from $150 to $190.
The Treaty Investor and Trader visas (E) had decreased from $390 to $270; Finance (e) visas (K) from $350 to $240; and Border Crossing Cards (under age 15) from $14 to $15.
There was a decrease in all categories of immigrant visa processing fees because of the reallocation of costs associated with immigrant visas.
Now, immigrant USA visa processing fees for Immediate Relative and Family Preference Applications will be $230 from $330; Employment-Based Applications will be $405 from $720; Other Immigrant Visa Applications will be $220 from $305; Diversity Visa Programme Fee will be $330 from $440; and Determining Returning Resident Status will be $275 from $380.
For visa categories where fee has been increased, if you have paid your visa fee before April 13, 2012, you do not have to pay the difference between the new and old fee amounts as long as your visa interview is on or before July 12, 2012 as the receipts for fees paid under the previous schedule will only have a validity of 90 days from the effective date of the new fees.
So, any payments after April 13, 2012, regardless of the interview date, will now be according to the new structure and you will be required to pay the difference between the old and new fee amounts – no exceptions. MRV receipts are valid for one year from the date of payment.
All visa applicants must pay the fee amounts in effect on the day they pay, including immigrant visa applicants who pay fees to the National Visa Center (NVC).
If you paid a visa fee before April 13, 2012 and that fee decreased, excess fees paid are not refundable.
Determine Which Type of US Visa is Right For You
Are you planning to travel to the United States in the next few months? If you are, then you need to apply for a US visa.
The US government requires any citizen of a foreign country who is not eligible to enter the United States visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), or is not exempt from the US visa application requirement to first obtain an American visa in order to travel to the U.S.
While there are about 185 different types of visas, there are two main categories of U.S. visas namely Non-immigrant visa which is for temporary visits such as for tourism, business, work or studying and Immigrant visa which is for people wanting to be permanent residents in the united states without any time limitation.
With these currently numerous different types of USA visa application available, these are still broken down into classifications depending on the length, nature and purpose of your stay in the United States.
Classes of Visas
A-1, A-2, and A-3
A-visas are issued to foreign government ambassadors, ministers, diplomats, as well as other foreign government officials or employees and their immediate family members traveling on official business to the United States.
B-1 and B-2
The multiple-purpose B-1/B-2 visa, also known as the “visa for temporary visitors for business or pleasure” is the most common non-immigrant visa.
The visa applicants sometimes receive either a B-1 (temporary visitor for business) or a B-2 (temporary visitor for pleasure) visa, if their reason for travel is specific enough that the consular officer does not feel they qualify for combined B-1/B-2 status.
F-1 Visa
F1 visa enables students to study full-time at an academic institution such as a university, private school, or language institute.
H Visa
HI visas are for temporary workers and come in several types, with each type allowing the individual to perform a specific job.
H1B visa is for professionals in a specialty occupation (professional visa and fashion models) who are coming to work in the U.S.; H1C visas are for nurses who intends working in particular positions; H2A visas are for agricultural workers; H2B visa is for non-agricultural workers (Unskilled Foreign Workers); H3 visas are for trainees; and H4 visa is a type of accompanying visa granted to the spouse and children under 21 years of age of the worker.
TN Status enables certain qualifying Canadian and Mexican citizens to temporarily work for an employer in the U.S. under NAFTA.
J visa
J visas are for temporary workers on J1 work and travel or J1 trainees who intend to work or train with an organization that has been approved for an exchange program under the J visa regulations.
L Visa
L visas are for international transferees who have worked for a related organization abroad for at least one year in the past three years that will be coming to the United States to work in an executive or managerial (L-1A) or specialized knowledge capacity (L-1B) at a subsidiary of a foreign company.
L2 visa, an accompanying visa, is for spouses and children under 21 years of age received with the worker.
M Visa
M visas are for individuals who want to attend an approved course of study leading to a specific educational or vocational objective and engage in full-course of study.
Immigration Program to Fund Rays Stadium
Going by Oakland’s lead, Tampa officials are now looking into an obscure federal US visa program as a means of funding their new Tampa Bay Rays stadium.
Tampa and St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce officials who had been studying on the means to pay for the new Rays stadium half-billion-dollar tab are now considering the federal American visa program called EB-5.
Also known as Immigrant Investor Program, EB-5 US visa application was created by Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors.
Basically, EB-5 visa provides a method of obtaining a U.S. citizenship for foreign nationals by investing a million dollars into a U.S. corporation.
Under the program, foreign nationals must invest one million dollars (or a minimum investment of $500,000 in a “Targeted Employment Area” – which are economically disadvantaged areas with high unemployment) each to create or to preserve at least 10 jobs for U.S. workers excluding the investor and their immediate family. This would qualify them for a green card for themselves and their families.
Once the foreign national investor’s USA visa application petition is approved, a conditional permanent residence valid for two years will be granted to the investor and their dependents. Within the period of 90 days before the conditional permanent residence expires, an evidence documenting that the full required investment has been made and that 10 jobs have been maintained, or 10 jobs have been created or will be created within a reasonable time period must be submitted by the investor.
EB-5 had been used in raising money for smaller projects, like office buildings and business parks.
For example, according to a recent Bloomberg News report, the EB-5 program has been providing funds of up to $228 million for a massive new retail, housing and basketball arena complex for the New Jersey Nets in Brooklyn, New York.
Chuck Sykes, co-chairman of the Tampa chamber group, stated that they have been exploring EB-5 visa financing, considering giving it a role in their Rays stadium financing.
Sykes and 13 other business leaders from the cities’ chambers of commerce have been meeting for nearly a year, studying on the means to fund for a new Rays stadium.
At present, Sykes’ group has been considering the EB-5 program as they try hard to find a source of funding that doesn’t rely heavily on local governments.
Created 22 years ago, foreign investors’ use of the EB-5 program has been far less than originally anticipated by Congress.
In 2007, there were only 776 foreigners who had taken the first step in the EB-5 immigration process. However, in the past few years, it has exploded in popularity as real estate developers and cities attempt to raise money as they build hotels, buy shopping centers and, occasionally, finance sports facilities.
In 2011, according to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, there were more than 3,805 EB-5 applications that have been filed, as compared to the fewer than 800 applications in 2007.
Meanwhile, in recent months, critics have been found attacking the EB-5 program’s results.
According to the Bloomberg article, though many foreign investors sometimes invest their money into American development projects, hoping to get a green card a couple of years later; however, in reality, some of these projects collapse, never creating the promised jobs, and eliminating the chance for the foreigners in getting their green cards.
Some critics also say that the program is not exactly the most successful as there are only few applications that were approved out of 3,805 applicants in 2011, only 1,403 were approved and with many other municipalities seeking the same sort of business investments, it is said to be an uneven method to raise money.
However, advocates of the program insist that such horror stories are not the norm and that most projects do create jobs.
Visa build Shield for Possible Hackers
With the advent of more advanced internet technologies, there is an increasing number of transactions that are now done via the internet.
As millions of people are now turning to the internet for their purchases and other business transactions, and in an era when mobile purchases on smartphones and tablets are predicted to achieve a growth of 73% to $11.6 billion in the U.S. this year, it’s no surprise that security has become a necessary obsession with businesses or organizations with dealing in the internet.
According to the market researcher Gartner, there are more than half of the world’s 13,000 large data centers and are located in the United States.
US Visa Waiver Program for UAE
Just recently, a call for the relaxation of US visa application requirements for UAE nationals was made by a leading Dubai official.
During a recent gala dinner hosted at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in honor of the UAE and American delegates attending the Emirates airline direct flight launch to Seattle, Washington, Hamad Buamim, director-general of Dubai Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of Dubai’s business community, took the opportunity in urging the United States Government to ease the USA visa application requirements for United Arab Emirates nationals, making it easier for them to revisit the US.
Changes in US Visa Application for Japanese Immigrants
Important changes to nonimmigrant US visa application procedures have just been started and are to be implemented these last days in March.
As part of the US Embassy and Consulates in Japan’s move in transitioning to a new system for making visa appointments and paying the visa application fee, important visa changes with regards to U.S. visa applications from Japan were recently implemented. These changes include an update for L1 visas, a new interview waiver program and processing procedures for non-immigrant visas.
As announced by the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, Canada, the latest US visa updates now enables L visas for Japanese to be granted through the validity of the reciprocity schedule starting from March 15, 2012.
