FAQs: What Is a Visitor Visa?

The easiest type of United States visa to get is a visitor visa such as a Business (B1) or Tourist (B2) visa. A visitor visa is a type of temporary visa that does not allow the holder to live permanently in the U.S. The visa will be granted to enter the U.S. temporarily for a specific amount of time and will expire at the end of that period.

Business Visa

A B-1 Business visa enables the holder to enter the U.S. temporarily to undertake activities such as meeting with business associates, attending conferences, negotiating contracts, and settling estates. To be eligible for a B-1 visa you can participate in commercial or professional business activities including:

• Consulting with business associates
• Traveling for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, or a conference on specific dates
• Settling an estate
• Negotiating a contract
• Participating in short-term training
• Transiting through the United States: certain persons may transit the United States with a B-1 visa
• Deadheading: certain air crewmen may enter the United States as deadhead crew with a B-1 visa

Tourist Visa

A B-2 Tourist visa permits the holder to enter the U.S. temporarily as a visitor and to do a wide variety of things, from visiting vacation destinations or spending time with family to undergoing medical procedures, participating in sports competitions and joining in social events.

• Tourism
• Vacation (holiday)
• Visit with friends or relatives
• Medical treatment
• Participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
• Participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
• Enrollment in a short recreational course

Visitor visas do not enable the holder to:

• Enroll in a course of study 
• Work in any paid capacity 
• Enter as a crewmember of a ship or aircraft 
• Work in the press or information media 

If you need an experienced immigration attorney to help you get a tourist visitor visa or business visitor visa, please contact the immigration attorneys at Godoy Law Office at 855-554-6369 to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.