Tourist and Business Visas (B-1/B-2) Explained

B-1: business visitors

The B-1 covers short-term business activities like attending meetings, negotiating contracts, or consulting with business associates — it does not permit actually working for a US employer or receiving US-based pay.

B-2: tourism and visiting

The B-2 covers tourism, visiting family, and certain medical treatment. B-1 and B-2 are often combined into a single visa (B-1/B-2) since the application process is similar.

Do you even need a visa?

Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries can often visit the US for short business or tourism trips using ESTA authorization instead of a full visa — worth checking before assuming you need to apply.

What the application generally requires

Applicants typically need to show a clear purpose for the trip, sufficient funds, and strong ties to their home country (job, family, property) that make an intent to return credible.

Limits worth knowing

B-1/B-2 status doesn't allow enrolling in a full course of study or taking paid employment in the US — doing so can jeopardize both the current stay and future applications.

Extending or changing status

In limited cases, it's possible to request an extension of stay or change to another status from within the US, but this generally needs to be filed before the current authorized stay expires.