B visa

B1/B2 visa for an Argentinian citizen

A B visa is one of a category of non-immigrant visas issued by the United States government to foreign citizens seeking entry for a temporary period. The two types of B visa are the B-1 visa, issued to those seeking entry for business purposes, and the B-2 visa, issued to those seeking entry for tourism or other non-business purposes. In practice, the two visa categories are usually combined together and issued as a "B-1/B-2 visa" valid for a temporary visit for either business or pleasure, or a combination of the two. Visitors from some countries do not need to obtain a visa for these purposes (see United States visas).

Cost

The cost of a B visa consists of the application fee, which all applicants must pay (currently 160 USD^[1]), and the issuance fee, which varies by nation, based on a fee reciprocity table.^[2]

As of November 2016, nationals of the following countries have to pay the reciprocity fee.^[3]

Country	Price (US$)
Angola	10
Burma	32
Cameroon	240
Central African Republic	40
Comoros	31
Congo (Brazzaville)	20
Congo (Kinshasa)	150
Kyrgyzstan	45
Libya	10
Mauritania	70
Oman	15
Papua New Guinea	15
Turkmenistan	355
Yemen	30

Entry ban

Citizens of six designated countries have been banned from entering the United States, even if holding a valid visa, for a period of 90 days, since January 27, 2017. However, citizens of these seven countries who are Green Card holders or travelling on national passports issued by another non-designated country will not be affected.^[4] As of February 3, 2017, the executive order is not enforced pursuant to the temporary restraining order issued by the federal judge James Robart.^[5][6][7]

Validity period and duration of stay

US visa validity period

  United States

  120 months

  60 months

  24-48 months

  12 months

  Under 12 months

As with other non-immigrant U.S. visas, a B-1/B-2 visa has a validity period (from 1 to 10 years), allows for either one or multiple entries into the U.S, and elicits a period of stay (maximum 6 months) recorded by the Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry on the individual's form I-94.

Validity periods per country are listed in the U.S. Department of State Visa Reciprocity Tables and vary from 1 month for DR Congo, 3 years for Russia, and 5 years for Pakistan, to 10 years for Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Singapore, South Africa, Tunisia and most European countries.

Periods of stay for B-1 visas may be granted initially for a duration long enough to allow the visitor to conduct their business, up to a maximum of 6 months, and can be extended for another 6 months;^[8] B-1 visas are usually granted for three months or less, while B-2 visas are generally granted for six months.^[9] Extensions are possible, provided the individual has not violated the conditions of their admission.^[10]

A Border Crossing Card (BCC), also called a laser visa, has a 10-year validity and functions as both a BCC and a B-1/B-2 visitor's visa. The BCC is only issued to nationals of Mexico who apply for a visa inside Mexico.^[11]

Validity of visas by nationality for B-1/B-2 visa:^[12]

Electronic Visa Update System

A 10-year United States B visa issued to a Chinese citizen. The annotation indicates that Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) enrolment is needed before travel.

On March 15, 2016, the U.S. Custom and Border Protection (CBP) announced that, starting from 29 November 2016, all holders of Chinese passports who also hold 10-year B visas are required to enroll in the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) before travelling to the United States via land, air or sea. The EVUS is designed for visa holders to update any changes to their basic biographic and employment information at the time of their visa applications. Similar to the ESTA, each EVUS registration is valid for a period of 2 years or until the holder's passport expiration date, whichever comes first, and each user of EVUS must pay a cost recovery fee of US$8 to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Holders of EVUS can travel to the U.S. for unlimited times providing that their EVUS registration and visa remain valid.^[13]

The requirement applies to any holder of Chinese passport and B visa with a 10-year validity. It also applies to holders of non-citizen travel documents issued by other countries, such as refugee travel document and certificate of identity, whose nationality is Chinese. It does not apply, however, to holders of HKSAR passports and MSAR passports, holders of B visas with a validity shorter than 10 years, and holders of other types of visas. The CBP and DHS are seeking to expand the EVUS to other nationalities in the future.^[14]

EVUS was officially launched on 31 October 2016 for early enrollments. Upon launch, CBP announced that the enrollment fee will be suspended until further notice.^[15]

Visitor visa statistics

Issued B-1/B-2 visas in fiscal 2015

  United States

  Visa exempt nationalities

  Over 400 thousand issued visas

  Over 100 thousand issued visas

  Over 50 thousand issued visas

  Over 25 thousand issued visas

  Over 10 thousand issued visas

  Over 5 thousand issued visas

  Under 5 thousand issued visas

In fiscal 2015 most B-1,2 visas were issued to the nationals of the following countries (listed over 40,000 visas):^[16]

Nationality	Issued B-1,2 visas in 2015
China	2,227,670
Mexico[17]	1,234,885
Brazil	870,008
India	553,385
Colombia	345,233
Argentina	240,115
Venezuela	223,854
Ecuador	150,458
Israel	137,439
Nigeria	136,409
Russia	122,147
Peru	97,936
Saudi Arabia	85,303
Dominican Republic	85,140
Jamaica	83,483
Philippines	83,139
Poland	81,861
Vietnam	80,936
Turkey	78,118
Pakistan	62,714
Costa Rica	58,139
El Salvador	56,287
Hong Kong	54,027
Ukraine	52,943
Guatemala	48,735
South Africa	48,432
Indonesia	48,239
Egypt	46,433
Thailand	44,795

In fiscal 2014 most reasons to refuse a visa were cited as "failure to establish entitlement to nonimmigrant status", "incompatible application" (most overcome), "unlawful presence", "misrepresentation", "criminal convictions", "smugglers" and "controlled substance violators". Smaller number of applications were rejected for "physical or mental disorder", "prostitution", "espionage", "terrorist activities", "falsely claiming citizenship" and other grounds for refusal including "presidential proclamation", "money laundering", "communicable disease" and "commission of acts of torture or extrajudicial killings".^[18]

Number of non-immigrant admissions for tourist and business purposes into the United States in fiscal year 2015

  United States

  Over 2 million admissions

  Over 1 million admissions

  Over 500 thousand admissions

  Over 250 thousand admissions

  Over 100 thousand admissions

  Over 15 thousand admissions

  Under 15 thousand admissions

Highest number of non-immigrant admissions for tourists and for business purposes into the United States in fiscal year 2014 and 2015 was from the following countries (listed over 700,000 admissions):^[19][20]

Country	FY2015	FY 2014
Mexico	01 19,175,345	01 18,889,281
Canada	02 11,671,122	02 11,289,743
United Kingdom	03 4,691,874	03 4,549,934
Japan	04 3,750,667	04 3,933,941
Brazil	05 2,383,822	06 2,275,588
China	06 2,309,654	07 2,001,302
Germany	07 2,208,145	05 2,283,086
France	08 1,915,725	08 1,966,335
South Korea	09 1,742,422	09 1,576,328
Australia	10 1,399,615	10 1,389,358
Italy	11 1,229,115	11 1,282,485
India	12 1,175,153	12 1,111,738
Spain	13 953,969	13 955,737
Colombia	14 928,424	14 924,916
Argentina	15 765,576	16 730,089
Netherlands	16 749,826	15 766,936
Total (worldwide)	17 69,025,896	17 67,519,113

Overstay rate

A number of visitors with B-1/B-2 visa overstayed the maximum duration allowed for their visits. The Department of Homeland Security published a report for Fiscal Year 2015 that lists the number of suspected violations made by passengers who arrived via air or sea. The statistics below exclude persons who left the United States later than their allowed stay or legalized their status and shows only suspected overstays who remained in the country.

Among Mexicans who were admitted via air or sea, 42,114 persons are suspected to overstay their non-immigrant visits for business or pleasure. More than 95% of visitors from Mexico arrive to the U.S. by land rather than by air and sea. Statistics for suspected overstays of the land visitors are yet to be released.^[21]

Excluding Mexico, the top 20 countries of nationality by the number of suspected in-country B-1/B-2 visa overstays (out of total 210,825) are:^[21]

The top 10 countries of nationality by in-country B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate are:^[21]

There were also 153,166 persons admitted from the Visa Waiver Program countries who are suspected to overstay their permitted stay in the United States. See Visa Waiver Program#Overstay rate for detailed statistics across such countries.

Use for other countries

US tourist visas that are valid for further travel are accepted as substitute visas for national visas in following countries:

•  Albania — 90 days;
•  Antigua and Barbuda — 30 days; USD 100 visa waiver fee applies.
•  Belize — 30 days; USD 50 visa waiver fee applies.
•  Canada — up to 6 months; only for citizens of  Brazil, Bulgaria and  Romania arriving by air with Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
•  Chile — 90 days; for nationals of China only.
•  Colombia — 90 days;
•  South Korea — 30 days;
•  Costa Rica — 30 days or less if the visa is about to expire; must hold a multiple entry visa.
•  Dominican Republic — 90 days;
•  El Salvador — 90 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  Georgia — 90 days within any 180-day period;
•  Guatemala — 90 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  Honduras — 90 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  Jamaica — 30 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  Mexico — 180 days;^[22][23]
•  Montenegro — 30 days;
•  Nicaragua — 90 days; not applicable to all nationalities.
•  Panama — 30/180 days; must hold a visa valid for at least 2 more entries.
•  Philippines — 7 days; for nationals of China and India only.
•  Serbia — 90 days;
•  Taiwan — certain nationalities can obtain an online travel authority if holding a valid US visa.
•  Turkey — certain nationalities can obtain an electronic Turkish visa if holding a valid US visa.
•  UAE — Visa on arrival for 14 days; for nationals of India only. (Also applicable for Indian Citizens holding US Green Card.)^[24]

Requirement to overcome presumption of intending immigrant

Under section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a foreigner must prove to the satisfaction of the Consular officer his or her intent to return to his home country after visiting the United States. The act specifically states:^[25]

In practice, this means that consular officers have wide discretion to deny a visa application. Once refused, there is no judicial or other means to challenge a visa decision. The foreigner, however, is free to apply for a visa again, particularly if circumstances have changed that might show to the consular officer that the applicant overcomes the presumption of being an intending immigrant.^[26]

Uses of a B-1/B-2 visa

Business or pleasure cover a wide variety of possible reasons to visit the United States. Under the category of temporary visitor for business, it can be used to:^[27]

• Purchase supplies or materials
• Hold business meetings
• Settle an estate
• Interview and hire staff
• Negotiate contracts, sign contracts, or take orders for products manufactured outside the United States^[28]
• Attend a convention, meeting, trade show, or business event for scientific, educational, professional, or business purposes^[28]
• Perform independent research^[28]
• Perform certain professional services^[29]
• Compete in an athletic competition or try out for a professional team^[28]
• Survey potential sites for a business^[28]
• Perform as a lecturer or speaker^[28]
• Install, service, or repair commercial or industrial equipment or machinery that was sold by a non-U.S. company to a U.S. buyer when specifically required by the purchase contract; construction work is not allowed^[28]
• Participate in a training program that is not designed primarily to provide employment^[28]

Under the category of temporary visitor for pleasure, a B-2 visa can be used to:

• Travel within the U.S.
• Visit family or friends
• Participate in activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature
• Obtain medical treatment
• Enroll in a short, recreational course of study, but it must not be credited toward a degree
• Participate in an event or a contest as an amateur and do not receive payment

The B-2 visa can also be used by cohabiting (unmarried) partners of non-immigrant visa holders.

Holders of B-1/B-2 visas are prohibited to engage in the following activities:

• Employment, whether paid or unpaid (some exceptions apply)
• Receive education which credits to a degree
• Arrive in the U.S. as a part of a crew of a ship or an aircraft
• Work as a journalist or other information media
• Perform before a paying audience
• Live permanently or long-term in the U.S.
• Manage a business located in the U.S.^[28]

Adjusted Visa refusal Rate

US B visa refusal rate in fiscal year 2016

  United States

  Visa exempt countries

  Over 50%

  Over 40%

  Over 30%

  Over 20%

  Over 10%

  Over 5%

  Over 3%

  Under 3%

The Adjusted Visa Refusal Rate for B visas were:^[30]

See also

• Visa policy of the United States
• Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
• B visa in lieu of other visas

External links

• US Department of State page on Visitor Visas
• USCIS page on B-1 business visas
• B Visa Infographic

References