Business visits and personal visits
A B-1 visa can cover qualifying temporary business activities such as meetings, negotiations, consultations, and conferences. It generally does not authorize ordinary local employment or productive work for a U.S. business. Payment arrangements alone do not determine whether an activity is permitted.
A B-2 visa generally covers tourism, visiting family or friends, and certain other personal activities, including qualifying medical treatment. Applicants must establish the temporary purpose of the visit, adequate financial arrangements, and eligibility under the applicable visa rules.
A visa and “authorized stay” are different
A visa permits a traveler to seek admission; it does not guarantee entry or determine the entire period of lawful stay. A visitor visa may be valid for up to 10 years, but the actual period of time allowed to remain within the United States on an individual visit (“authorized stay”) will normally only last up to 6 months. The I-94 admission record ordinarily controls the authorized period and classification after entry. All visitors must check the I-94 form online promptly after entry.
Repeated lengthy visits can raise questions about whether someone is actually living or working in the United States. Owning property or having family here does not create a right to remain indefinitely. A credible temporary plan should be consistent with the actual travel history.
Extensions and changes of plan
An eligible visitor may request an extension using Form I-539 before the authorized stay expires. A visitor visa extension is not automatic. The request should explain the reason, proposed departure, financial support, and maintenance of status.
Filing does not grant employment authorization, and the effect of a pending request must be evaluated separately from approval. Visa Waiver Program travelers generally cannot use the ordinary B visitor extension or change of status process.
Prepare for the actual trip
It is important to assess whether a visitor’s planned activities fit visitor status, consider questions of required extensions or changes of status, and identify issues arising from prior travel or refusals. Relevant records for attorney review before a consultation include the travel itinerary, business agenda or medical documentation, prior visas and I-94s, and a clear account of who is financing the trip.
For a business visit, visitors must be able to articulate and corroborate: who are they meeting with, where exactly they are going, and how long they are staying.
