Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1 visa), for tourism (B-2 visa), or for a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2 visa).
Learn more about the eligibility requirements and procedures for obtaining your visa at the Visa Service Desk.
OVERVIEW OF STEPS
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Determine your visa type
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Submit your visa application Form DS-160
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Create user account
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Pay the visa fee
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Schedule the visa interview appointment
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Attend the visa interview appointment or submit your application by mail, if qualified (waiver program) and submit all required documents along with original passport
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Receive passport back (visa processing time is 5 – 10 business days)
Determine your visa type
This depends on the purpose of your travel and can be found on The Visa Wizard on the U.S Government website. (B1, B2 or B1 and B2 combined).
There are a few steps to follow to apply for a visa. The arrange of these steps and how you complete them may vary by U.S. International Embassy or Consulate. To apply for a visitor B1 visa, you should schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country. If an interview is required depends on your age. If you are younger than 13 years or older than 80 years, an interview is not required.
The B1 visa serves as an essential tool for business professionals who need to temporarily enter the U.S. for meetings, conferences, or other work-related activities. It requires careful planning, documentation, and proof of eligibility to ensure a successful application. Applicants should be prepared to provide compelling evidence of their business intent and strong ties to their home country.
In a brief summary, you need a USA B1 visa when you:
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Consult with business associates
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Apply for a job and attend an interview
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Attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference
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Settle an estate
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Negotiate a contract
Eligibility Requirements:
To qualify for a B1 visa, applicants must demonstrate the following:
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Purpose of Visit: The applicant must show that they are traveling for legitimate business reasons and not for tourism or employment.
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Temporary Stay: The applicant must prove they intend to stay temporarily and will return to their home country after the visit.
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Financial Stability: Applicants must demonstrate that they can financially support themselves during their stay in the U.S. without relying on illegal employment.
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Ties to Home Country: The applicant must have strong ties to their home country, such as a job, family, or property, which suggest that they will return once their business activities are complete.
Important Notes
- Change of Status: It is generally not possible to switch from a B1 visa to a work visa (such as an H1-B) without leaving the U.S. and applying through a consulate.
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Dual Intent: Unlike some visa categories, the B1 visa does not allow for dual intent (intent to stay permanently while on a temporary visa). Applicants must demonstrate clear intent to return to their home country after their business activities are complete.
- Family Members: Spouses and children under the age of 21 may be eligible for a B2 (tourist) visa to accompany the primary visa holder.
Applying for a visa for the USA: How does it work?
Applying for your visa with Visa Service Desk is easy.
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Step 1 Start your application online on our website.
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Step 2 A Premium Service specialist will call you by phone.
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Step 3 Send your documents to us so that we can prepare your application.
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Step 4 We will plan an appointment for your biometrics that fits with your schedule.
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Step 5 We then ensure that you receive your business visa as quickly as possible.
Submitting your visa application form
The visa application form is found online and on your Visa Service Desk Portal as the DS160 form. The applicant complete this form entirely and as accurate as possible. The confirmation page of this form should then be submitted to the Consulate on the day of your appointment, along with the following documents:
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Passport valid for travel to the United States (your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States - unless exempt by country-specific agreements).
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Receipt of application fee payment, if you are required to pay before your interview.
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Passport Photo – upload your personal photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload failed, you must bring one printed photo. (required size of photo is 5X5). Also note no glasses are allowed and applicant should have a mutual facial expression.
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Visa Appointment Confirmation Letter - after scheduling your visa interview through the U.S. Visa Information and Appointment Services website, print out the appointment confirmation page.
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Proof of Ties to Your Home Country - demonstrates your intent to return after your U.S. visit. This can include an employer letter, property ownership or lease agreements, family ties (e.g., marriage or birth certificates), and evidence of ongoing business or educational commitments.
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Financial Documents - Provide evidence that you have the financial means to support yourself during your stay in the U.S. This may include:
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Bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months.
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Pay stubs or proof of income.
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Tax returns (e.g., income tax returns or Form 1040).
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Property ownership or other assets that show your financial stability.
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Additional document may be requested (if applicable):
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Letter of Invitation – this may be required if your business trip involves meetings, conferences, or collaborations with a U.S.-based organization. The letter should include the purpose, duration, and dates of your visit, along with details of your relationship with the inviter.
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Employer Letter – this may be is required if you're employed. It should confirm your job position, the purpose of your trip (e.g., business meetings or conferences), assurance that you will return to your job after the trip, and may include salary details. The letter must be on company letterhead and signed by your employer.
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Travel Itinerary – this includes your flight details, hotel reservations, and other travel plans. It should specify the dates, flight bookings, and accommodation arrangements for your stay in the U.S.
You must demonstrate the following in order to be eligible for a B1 visa:
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The purpose of your trip is to enter the United States for business of a legitimate nature
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You are planning to remain for a specific period of time
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You have sufficient funds to cover your expenses of the trip and your stay
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You have an official residence outside the United States that you don't plan of leaving
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You are admissible to the United States
Create User Account
This process will be completed on the U.S. website. You will need to select the preferred U.S. Embassy location, create an account, and register using your email address and passport details.
Pay the visa fee
The fee for a B1 visa is €185 per person. This general fee at the Embassies must be paid by all applicants and is, in any case, not transferable to other persons. The payment can be made at the desk of the embassy by card, cash or through online payment.
Schedule the visa interview appointment
Depending on the applicant's age and location, an interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate may be required. The appointment can be scheduled online.
Attend the visa interview appointment or submit your application by mail, if qualified for the waiver program
At the U.S. Embassy of your home country, a consular will interview you to determine whether you are eligible to receive a B1 visitor visa. In this interview, you must establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive a visa. Be informed that digital fingerprints scans will be taken as part of the application process.
Your interview will be reviewed and determent after your visa interview because this requires administrative processing. This process may vary, but the consular will inform you in that case. After approval, you might need to pay an issuance fee - if applicable to your nationality.
Receive passport back
Visa Approval or Denial: If the visa is approved, the applicant will be informed when and how to collect their passport and visa. If denied, the officer will provide a reason for the refusal, which may be appealed in some cases.
Period of stay
While B-1 or B-2 visas may be valid up to 10 years , visitors on B-1 or B-2 will only be permitted to stay in the United States for a maximum of six months. For visits less than 90 days and from a participating country, you might qualify for the Visa Waiver Program.
Be advised about additional guidance on inviting family and friends to visit. B1 or B2 visa holders are allowed to stay in the U.S. for up to 6 months at a time.
Tips:
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Be Prepared to Explain: During the visa interview, be ready to explain the purpose of your trip in detail and show that you will return to your home country after your visit.
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Documentation in English: It is generally recommended that all documents be in English or accompanied by a certified translation if they are in another language.
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Follow Embassy Guidelines: Always check the U.S. embassy or consulate website in your country for any additional or updated documentation requirements, as these may vary.
Your visa through Visa Service Des
Visa Service Desk provides tailor-made visa advice and travel information free of charge. It is always very important that your application is completed the right way. If you don't meet all the requirements, your application could be rejected. Would you prefer to have a worry-free application for a business visa or ESTA? Then let Visa Service Desk take care of it for you. Thanks to our extensive experience, you can be sure that your application will run as smoothly as possible.
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Knowledge of the requirements
At Visa Service Desk we are familiar with the conditions that you must meet in order to get permission to enter a country. In addition, we also know which documents you must have with you on arrival in the country concerned. The chance that you will receive permission to travel into the country is a lot greater this way. Our specialists are not only aware of the conditions, but can also help you with the required documents. Read more + Read less -
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Quick and easy
It is very easy to place an order on our website. Following this, our specialists will help you to apply for your ESTA or business visa for the USA. Thanks to our specialist’s knowledge of the application process, they can guide you clearly from beginning to end. Filling in the correct forms is therefore a lot smoother and less difficult than when you have to fill them in without assistance. Read more + Read less -
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Specialists with extensive experience
Our specialists all have years of experience with visas. This allows you to be sure that our specialists know what needs to be done. During the application for a physical business visa or ESTA you will be assisted by a specialist with extensive experience. While applying for an ESTA or a physical business visa can normally be a complicated process, this is very different if you get the right help. Our specialists help you with the entire application, so you don't have to worry about a mistake being made. Read more + Read less -
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Secure and transparent working methods
Visa Service Desk has a strong focus on transparency. We are the only company that will show you all of our prices before you have confirmed your order on our website. This is done in a similar way to the shopping cart that you will know from online shopping sites. If you use a specialised company to handle your business visa application then you naturally want to be sure that you are dealing with a reliable company. The specialists at Visa Service Desk are trained in compliance and will handle your data with care. Our secure systems protect your data and we fully comply with the rules of GDPR. Read more + Read less -