Embassy of the United States

Most applicants applying for a non-immigrant visa are temporary visitors coming to the United States for business or pleasure. "B-1" visas are issued to temporary visitors for business and short-term training purposes; "B-2" to temporary visitors for pleasure; a combination of both "B-1/B-2" can also be issued. If you are a temporary visitor for business or pleasure, you must establish that you:

• Have a residence outside the United States which will not be abandoned;
• Are coming to the United States for a definite temporary period;
• Will depart upon the conclusion of the visit; and
• Have sufficient funds to cover expenses of the visit.

Under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, as amended, a visa may not be issued to any applicant who is unable to overcome the legal presumption that he or she is an intending immigrant by demonstrating the above factors to the satisfaction of the interviewing consular officer.

"B-1" Visa: The B-1 visa is intended for temporary business travel. This includes travel for negotiating contracts, attending exhibitions and conferences, short-term training, and consultations with suppliers and customers. You may also use a B-1 visa for short-term business training for no longer than 90 days. (For information on longer-term training visas, click here.)
The B-1 visa is not valid for employment in the United States.

"B-2" Visa: The B-2 visa is intended for tourist activities, such as sight-seeing, visiting friends and relatives, and for obtaining medical treatment. Visitors are not permitted to accept employment during their stay in the U.S.

Supporting documents: Occasionally, the interviewing Officer will ask you to provide documents to support your case. These can include, but are not limited to: an invitation letter from a person or company in the U.S., bank books, household registration books (hu kou ben,) photos of your previous travel, property deeds, and certification of your employment and salary. You should bring any and all previous passports to the interview, especially if they contain a U.S. visa. Providing such documents will not guarantee you will be issued a visa, but they can help you present your case.

Administrative processing (the “check”): Some B1/B2 visa applicants are subject to additional administrative processing based. In order to make this additional processing proceed as quickly and smoothly as possible, we suggest that you bring the following documents in English to your interview: 

• Your resume or curriculum vitae including a list of all published research articles.
• A detailed itinerary including contact information where you may be reached in the U.S.
• A letter from the company you plan to visit stating exactly what the nature of your business discussions will be.
• If you are going for training, a detailed daily training schedule including descriptions of all the topics to be discussed and the names of the instructors.

Special information for parents: We welcome parents wishing to visit their children in the U.S. to apply for a B1/B2 visa. You should be prepared to demonstrate your relationship with your child during the visa interview. You may bring whatever supporting documentation you wish to show your relationship including, but not limited to, photos of you and your child together--both recent and from when your child was younger, birth certificates, letters, and copies of your child’s visa, green card, or U.S. passport.

Although the normal duration of stay granted by the Department of Homeland Security to parents on a B1/B2 visa is six months, please be aware that any extension may inhibit your ability to obtain a visa in the future. Long stays of a year or more in the U.S. call into question your assertion that you have a residence abroad that you don’t intend to abandon.

Click here for more detailed information on how to make an interview appointment through the Visa Information Call Center.