Visas for Business or Pleasure

Depending on the purpose of your trip to the US, you may need a B1, B2 or B1/B2 visa.

• B1 - Temporary visitor for business
• B2 - Temporary visitor for pleasure
• B1/B2 - Temporary visitor for business or pleasure

For complete regulations regarding visitor visas, please check out the "Visitor Visas" homepage on travel.state.gov

What Type of Visa Do I Need to Conduct Business in the United States?

You need a B1 visa if you are visiting the US specifically for business purposes. The B1 does not allow you to accept employment in the US, but you can negotiate contracts, consult with business associates, meet clients, assist/participate in seminars, visit expositions, and take customer orders.

What Kind of Visa Do I Need to Visit Disneyland or Attend a Friend's Wedding?

You need a B2 visa if you are entering the US solely for tourism or to visit family or friends.

I Plan to Attend a Trade Show and Then Go Sightseeing - What Type of Visa Do I Need?

You need a B1/B2 if you are going to the US for either business or pleasure or for specific purposes, such as scientific, educational, religious, or professional conferences/conventions, short-term training, consulting with colleagues or experts, obtaining medical treatment, participating in voluntary programs conducted by charitable or religious organizations, attending or participating in certain athletic events.

What Else Do I Need to Know About Temporary Visas?

US immigration law presumes that all visa applicants actually intend to immigrate permanently to the United States. To qualify for B1, B2, or B1/B2 visas, you need to overcome the presumption that you intend to stay in the United States permanently. You can overcome this presumption by providing evidence that you have strong, binding ties to your home country, and that you have no intention of abandoning your residence here.

Procedure for Diplomatic Passport-holders Traveling to the U.S. for Personal Business/Tourism Travel

Please note that this procedure is only for travelers who hold diplomatic passports. Fill out the DS-160, but do not pay the visa fee. The fee is waived for diplomatic passport-holders. Email drsniv@state.gov to schedule your appointment. In that email, please state that you are a diplomatic passport-holder and include your DS-160 confirmation code, name, passport number, date-of-birth (Day-Month-Year format), and telephone number. Please wait for the email reply from drsniv@state.gov with your interview date and time.  We encourage all travelers to schedule their visa interview well in advance of any planned travel.