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A B-1 Visa may be used to travel to the states for business
purposes. The beneficiary may attend to business matters
such as meetings, court hearings, setting up a business
etc, but may not work and incidentally, may not be remunerated
from a U.S source. Thus, in attending to business matters
within the states, they may be paid by a foreign employer,
but may not be compensated by a U.S entity.
A B-2 visa is required for holiday
and tourism purposes.
Nationals from countries such as the
UK, entitled to visa waivers only require the above
USA, business visas if they intend to remain in the USA for more
than 90 days.
Although the life span of the B-1/B-2
Visa may last for ten years, the beneficiary may only
visit the US for a maximum duration of six months at
a time. The visa may be extended for another six months,
but the applicant would vigorously need to persuade
the Citizenship and Immigration Services that he/she is deserving of this extension
due to extenuating circumstances.
Corroborating documents showing concrete
ties to one's home country such as those relating to
work, residence and family would be important in proving
a temporary intent to remain in the US and should be
taken to the appointed interview
Length of residence in the applicant's
home country will be taken into consideration when determining
permanent ties to the country. Thus, if the duration
of residence is under five years, the burden of proof
may weigh more heavily on the applicant in regards to
residential ties as opposed to a person who has lived
in the country for a longer period of time.
In essence, the applicant would be
stating that he has a permanent domicile outside of
the United States that he has no intention of abandoning.
A letter from the applicant's employer
stipulating the duration and purpose of the visit to
the U S would be beneficial in establishing the temporary
intent and purpose of the visit.
It would be important to also take
supporting evidence such as a bank statement, showing
financial capacity to fund the trip for the intended
duration.
The applicant should allow a waiting
period of seven to ten working days for the processing
of the Visa.
The approval of a visa serves as initial
but not final permission to enter the United States.
The USA immigration official at the U S port of entry has
ultimate discretion as to whether to allow or refuse
entry.
Alternatively, the applicant may travel
to the states on a visa waiver, but is limited to a
maximum duration of stay within the states of ninety
days. This period may not be extended.
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