US visas for Business,  Leisure or Residential purposes

US Visas Ltd.

B-1 Visitors who do not fall under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for their visas at the closets US Consular /Embassy in their country of origin.

 

Selling

An individual travelling to the United States to take part in an exhibition, set up an exhibition booth, display samples, sign contracts, and take orders for merchandise produced in and delivered from the United Kingdom, may be eligible for a B-1 visa or visa free travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP. The holder of a B-1 visa or a VWP traveller may not actually sell or take orders for merchandise produced in the United States. If the proposed activities are not as described, a temporary work (H-2) visa will be required.

 

Voluntary Work

Individuals participating in a voluntary service program which benefits a U.S. local community, who establish that they are a member of, and have a commitment to, a particular recognized religious or non-profit charitable organization, may be eligible for a B-1 visa or visa free travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if the work to be formed is traditionally done by volunteer charity workers; they will receive no salary or remuneration from a U.S. source, other than an allowance or other reimbursement for expenses incidental to their stay in the United State; and they will not engage in the selling of articles and/or the solicitation and acceptance of donations.

A voluntary service program is an organized project conducted by a recognized religious or non-profit charitable organization to provide assistance to the poor or the needy, or to further a religious or charitable cause.

If your proposed activities as a voluntary worker are not exactly as described, you will require either an exchange visitor (J-1) or temporary worker (H-2B) visa.

Please Note: When applying for entry into the United States as a voluntary worker with a visa or under the VWP, you should furnish a letter from your U.S. sponsor which contains the following information:

· Your name and date and place of birth;

· Your foreign permanent residence address;

· The name and address of initial destination in the U.S.; and

· The anticipated duration of your assignment.

 

Service Engineer

If the engineer(s) will install, service or repair commercial or industrial equipment or machinery sold by a company in the United Kingdom to a buyer in the United States, and the purchase contract requires that the UK company provide such services, then the B-1 visa or visa free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, (VWP) is appropriate. However, in such cases, the engineer(s) must possess the specialized knowledge essential to perform the services, receive no remuneration from a U.S. source, and the company must not receive any payment for these services in addition to that specified in the original contract of sale. If the proposed activities are not exactly as described, temporary work (H-2) visas will be required. Please note that the B-1 visa or travel under the VWP does not cover building or construction work, even if the purchase contract requires that the company provide such services. In such cases, the employees must always qualify for H-2 visas.

The B-1 visa or travel under the VWP is also appropriate for engineers travelling to the United States to train U.S. personnel in the installation, service or repair of commercial or industrial equipment or machinery as specified above. The individuals concerned must continue to be paid by the U.K. Company and the contract of sale must specifically require the seller to provide such services.

 

Speaker/Lecturer

If you are traveling to the United States in connection with a speaking engagement you may travel on a B-1 visa or visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) provided there is no remuneration from a U.S. source, other than expenses incidental to the visit. Speakers/lectures who will receive an honorarium in addition to incidental expenses may still be eligible for the B-1 visa or travel under the VWP provided all of the following are met:

 

· the activities will last no longer than nine days at a single institution;

· the institution is a non-profit research organization or a governmental research organization, or an institution of higher education, or a related or affiliated non-profit entity.

· such activities are conducted for the benefit of the institution or entity; and

· the speaker/lecturer has not accepted such payment or expenses from five such institutions during the previous six month period.

If the proposed activities are not exactly as described, an exchange visitor (J-1) or temporary work (H-1) visa will be required.

 

Conference

Participants in scientific, educational, professional, or business conventions, conferences or seminars may travel to the United States on B-1 visas or visa free travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The B-1 visa or travel under the VWP is also appropriate if presenting a paper at the conference, provided there is no remuneration from a U.S. source other than expenses incidental to the stay. Those who will receive an honorarium in addition to incidental expenses will only be eligible for the B-1 visa or travel under the VWP if all of the following are met:

· the activities will last no longer than nine days at a single institution;

· the institution is a non-profit research organization or a governmental research organization, or an institution of higher education, or a related or affiliated non-profit entity.

· such activities are conducted for the benefit of the institution or entity; and

· the delegate has not accepted such payment or expenses from five such institutions during the previous six month period.

If the proposed activities are not exactly as described, an exchange visitor (J-1) or temporary work (H-1) visa will be required.

Note: The applications of those seeking visas to attend a technical conference may be subject to additional administrative processing. I regret that we are unable to provide you with any guidance on how long it may take. Therefore, do not make any final travel plans until you have received your passport with a visa in it.

 

Researcher

An individual who will engage in independent research may be eligible for a B-1 visa or visa free travel under the Visa Waiver Program provided there is no remuneration from a U.S. source and the results of the research will not benefit the American institution. Those who will receive payment from a U.S. source and/or the U.S. institution will benefit from the results of the research, will require an exchange visitor (J-1) or temporary work (H-1) visa will be required.

 

Business venture

The B-1 visa or visa free travel under the Visa Waiver Program is the appropriate visa classification to travel to the United States to survey potential sites for a business and/or to lease premises. However, the holder of a B-1 visa may not remain in the United States to manage the business. An L-1 (intra-company transferee) visa is required. This would enable the holder to travel to the United States for a temporary period to open up and operate a branch, subsidiary or affiliate office of the business there. To qualify, the new U.S. operation is required to file a petition on the employee's behalf with the nearest office of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States.

 

Medical Elective

A medical student studying at a foreign medical school and who seeks to enter the United States temporarily in order to take an “elective clerkship” at a U.S. medical school’s hospital without remuneration from the hospital may be eligible for a B-1 visa, or visa free travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Note: The medical clerkship is only for medical students pursuing their normal third or fourth year internship in a U.S. medical school as part of a foreign medical school degree. (An “elective clerkship” affords practical experience and instructions in the various disciplines of medicine under the supervision and direction of faculty physicians at a U.S. medical school’s hospital as an approved part of the alien’s foreign medical school education. It does not apply to graduate medical training, which normally requires a J-visa).

If applying for a visa, a letter from the U.S. medical school outlining the nature and duration of the elective clerkship should accompany the application. If travelling under the VWP, the letter from the school should be presented to the U.S. immigration official at the port of entry.

Students seeking training as physiotherapists, dentists, nurses or vets require either an exchange visitor (J-1) or trainee (H-3) visa.

 

Telecommuters

Individuals temporarily resident in the United States who will be working from home as computer programmers for foreign based companies may be eligible for B-1 visas if all of the following are met:

 

· the individual is employed by a company outside of the United States;

· will receive no remuneration from a U.S. source, other than expenses incidental to the stay;

· is working in an occupation which requires the attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree in the specific specialty and the individual has that level of education.

If you believe that you may qualify for the B-1 visa, you should apply for a visa in order for your qualifications to be evaluated.

If accompanying a spouse who is the beneficiary of a work or student visa, the individual may apply for both the derivative and B-1 visas. When applying for admission into the United States, you should advise the immigration official at the port of entry of your dual intent, that is to say, you are accompanying your spouse, but also intend to continue working for your U.K. employer as a telecommuter.

B-1 Visas

(Business Visitors)