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.
USA ESTA Application Issued Instantly
As an effort to strengthen the security of travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows its member passport holders to visit for up to 90 days without a visa, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has enhanced its requirements to travel visa-free.
All nationals of Visa Waiver Program participating countries, though still eligible to travel without a visa, are now required to obtain an approved travel authorization via the Electronic System Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to their travel to the United States by air or sea. An approved ESTA application is even required from non-ticketed infants, if they do not have a visa for travel to the United States. ESTA applications may be submitted by a third party on behalf of a Visa Waiver Program traveler.
Updates on ESTA Visa
Travelling to the United States for a short visit for the purpose of business or tourism? If you are, please do find out first if you are eligible to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) by applying for an Electronic System Travel Authorization or ESTA for USA.
An ESTA to USA is an online automated prescreening system designed by the United States Government to prescreen those who want to go to the US in order to determine if they are eligible to travel under the VWP.
Improper Use of Twitter will Get You Deported from US
Applying for an Electronic System Travel Authorization or ESTA for USA? If you are, be reminded that an ESTA application is a serious and important matter and you should not do anything that could jeopardize your ESTA applications.
Recently, two British tourists got deported from the U.S. due to their Twitter joke to ‘destroy America’.
Importance of United States ESTA
Planning to go to the US for a short visit? If you do, then maybe you need to get an ESTA for USA.
All travelers from countries even their non-ticketed infants that are subject to the Visa Waiver Program, who are planning for a short visit to the US, are required to apply for a supplementary travel authorization online to enter the United States. This online application is called Electronic System Travel Authorization or simply ESTA.
