Visitor Visas
Visitor visas are for people who come to the United States
temporarily for the purposes of business visits, sightseeing, or visits
to friends or family. U.S. immigration law contains two
categories of visitor visas:
business visitors (B-1) and
tourists (B-2).
Alternatively, the visa waiver program allows business visitors and
tourists from certain countries to come to the United States
without a visa. The procedures, timing, and consequences of each of
these visa categories are
different. Below is a chart comparing each of these different
types of visitor visas.
The following chart compares the three different visitor visas: the B-1
Business Visitor Visa, the B-2 Tourist Visa, and the Visa Waiver Program.
The chart briefly describes the qualifications, the application process, the
allowed activities, the length of stay, and whether a change of status is
allowed. You can click on any visitor visa category to learn more
information about that visa type.
| Visa |
Do I
qualify? |
Where
to apply? |
What
can I do? |
How
long can I stay? |
Can I
change my status? |
|
B-1
Business Visitor |
Need to show will
return home, etc. |
Usually at consulate |
Business meetings,
conferences, etc., but usually no work. |
Usually 30-180 days |
Yes, but may have
trouble changing to F-1 student. |
|
B-2
Tourist |
Need to show will
return home, etc. |
Usually at consulate |
Tourism, but no work. |
Usually 30-180 days |
Yes, but may have
trouble changing to F-1 student |
|
Visa Waiver |
Must be citizen of
Visa
Waiver Country. |
No application required |
Tourism or business,
but no work |
90 days |
No, you may not change
or extend your status |
National Interest Waivers