Business Visa Center


The Business Visa Center’s Role
What the Business Visa Center Cannot Do
About the Visa Application Process
How to Apply for a Visa
Business Visa Center- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Contact Us


On July 15, 2005, the Department of State announced the latest step in our ongoing effort to better facilitate the issuance of visas for legitimate business travelers worldwide. The U.S.-China Business Initiative pilot program that began in January 2005, was expanded into a new Business Visa Center which is available to assist businesses in the United States and their partners, customers and colleagues around the world. Learn More >> Press Release.

The Business Visa Center’s Role

The Department of State is striving to make the visa process as understandable as possible The Business Visa Center, a part of Visa Services, in Washington, D.C., is a part of this effort to make visa information readily available. 

The Business Visa Center assists businesses located in the United States by providing information about the application process for business (B-1) visitor visa travel to the U.S.  We can explain the visa process when U.S. companies invite employees or current and prospective business clients and partners to the U.S.  As part of the Business Visa Center effort, we continue to provide information to U.S. conference and meeting organizers that expect a large number of foreign visitors to the U.S.  Additionally, where Visa Services has received notification by the U.S. organizer of the event, we continue to maintain the list of "Upcoming Conferences" to be held in the United States on our internal Department of State Intranet.

See Frequently Asked Questions below to learn more about the kinds of travel considered business related (B-1) visitor visa travel, and to find out if the Business Visa Center can assist with your visa question.

What the Business Visa Center Cannot Do

The Business Visa Center cannot expedite interview appointments or the processing of visa applications.  Additionally, we cannot guarantee the issuance of a visa or decide the merits of an application for a visa.  The Consular Officer at the Embassy or Consulate overseas will make those decisions during the application process. 

About the Visa Application Process

It’s important to understand some basics about steps in the visa process.  U.S. Embassies and Consulates in more than 200 countries overseas continue to have the responsibility under immigration law for the acceptance and processing of visa applications, and decisions about issuance of visas for foreign citizens to travel to the U.S.  The Business Visa Center does not change the steps in the visa process. For example, a visa applicant must still apply at a U.S. Embassy overseas and follow the visa application procedures. If an applicant is denied a visa and he/she wants to reapply, then he’ll still need to reapply at the U.S. Embassy overseas, just as in the past. 

How to Apply for a Visa

Learn more about how to apply for a business related (B-1) visitor visa , check on visa wait times  for an interview appointment, locate an Embassy worldwide, find out how to make an interview appointment, pay the visa application fee, and much more.

Business Visa Center - Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have questions about how the Business Visa Center can help you? 
See our Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

How to Contact Us

For inquiries falling within the scope of the Business Visa Center’s services, contact us:       
Email: BusinessVisa@State.gov (preferred means of contact)
Phone: 202-663-3198    Hours: 8:30am to 5pm (EST) Monday – Friday.

For general visa information and to speak with a Visa Specialist, contact the Visa Office at:
Phone: 202-663-1225   Hours: 8:30am to 5pm (EST) Monday-Friday.