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Business Executive Program (BEP)
 

Trade and commerce are the basis of bilateral relations between the U.S. and India. The United States facilitates the visa process for legitimate business travelers through the Business Executive Program (BEP). 

What services does the program provide?

  • Access to a priority visa interview appointment calendar
  • Access to a dedicated BEP Helpdesk

Who may join the BEP?

Companies with physical locations in India are eligible for membership.  The program is not for companies located in the United States, though many members have locations in both the U.S. and India. To qualify, members must demonstrate a need for a significant number of visas per year. Many BEP companies are members of the Fortune 1000, S&P 500, or Sensex 100.

The BEP is a nationwide program. If a company is already a BEP member in another consular district, that company may be eligible for secondary membership in other consular districts. Subsidiaries of member companies need to apply for their own membership and log in. For more information, interested companies should contact the BEP team at the Consulate in whose district the company's primary office is located.

Does BEP membership make it easier to get visas?

No. All applicants, even BEP members, must qualify for visas in every respect.  Every applicant is interviewed as an individual and must qualify on his or her own merit—no exceptions. 

How does an employee apply for a visa through BEP?

Upon enrollment, BEP members are given special access to the VFS  appointment scheduling website. Apart from access to the BEP appointment calendar, the process for visa application is the same as the standard nonimmigrant visa application process.
 
How much does BEP cost?

The program is free of charge, but to become a member companies must complete the application form and agree to the terms of membership. 

What is required of a BEP company?

A company that has successfully enrolled in the BEP must adhere to strict standards in order to stay in the program.

  • All BEP companies must provide their applicants with specific documents bearing agreed-upon security features. This helps ensure the legitimacy of all applications.
  • A BEP company must ensure that all visa applications are limited to genuine employees of the company who are being sent for a temporary stay in the U.S. on company business.
  • Records of all employees who receive a visa through the BEP must be kept and be provided to the consular district's BEP team upon request.
  • A BEP company must provide current examples of its letterhead and signatures of the designated company representatives for comparison purposes.
  • Companies must allow site visits by the BEP Team. Site visits are often critical to determine a company's eligibility and are useful to understand the nature of the company's business.

BEP Contact Information