Tourist/Business Visas

For more detailed information please go to:  Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA) page.

B-1 Visa - Business

The definition of "business" in this instance is limited, and does not generally allow for gainful employment or productive activity such as operating a business or consultancy work. Specifically, in the applicable U.S. law the term "business" is limited to the negotiation of contracts, consultation with business associates, litigation, and participation in scientific, educational, professional or business conventions, conferences or seminars and other legitimate activities of a commercial or professional nature. It does not include local employment or labor for hire.

Some Acceptable B-1 Activities

Selling: An individual traveling to the United States to take part in an exhibition, set up an exhibition booth, display samples, sign contracts, and take orders for merchandise produced in and delivered from the United Kingdom, may be eligible for a B-1 visa. The holder of a B-1 visa may not actually sell or take orders for merchandise produced in the United States. If the proposed activities are not as described, a temporary work (H-2) visa will be required.

Voluntary Work: Individuals participating in a voluntary service program which benefits a U.S. local community, who establish that they are a member of, and have a commitment to, a particular recognized religious or nonprofit charitable organization, may be eligible for a B-1 visa if the work to be formed is traditionally done by volunteer charity workers; they will receive no salary or remuneration from a U.S. source, other than an allowance or other reimbursement for expenses incidental to their stay in the United States; and they will not engage in the selling of articles and/or the solicitation and acceptance of donations.

A voluntary service program is an organized project conducted by a recognized religious or nonprofit charitable organization to provide assistance to the poor or the needy, or to further a religious or charitable cause.

If your proposed activities as a voluntary worker are not exactly as described, you will require either an exchange (J-1) or temporary worker (H-2B) visa.

Service Engineer: If the engineer(s) will install, service or repair commercial or industrial equipment or machinery manufactured and sold by a company in Macedonia to a buyer in the United States, and the purchase contract requires that the Macedonian Company provide such services, and then the B-1 visa for business is appropriate. However, in such cases, the engineer(s) must possess the specialized knowledge essential to perform the services, receive no remuneration from a U.S. source, and the company must not receive any payment for these services in addition to that specified in the original contract of sale. If the proposed activities are not exactly as described, temporary work (H-2) visas will be required. Please note that the B-1 visa does not cover building or construction work, even if the purchase contract requires that the company provide such services. In such cases, the employees must always qualify for H-2 visas.

The B-1 visa for business is also appropriate for engineers traveling to the United States to train U.S. personnel in the installation, service or repair of commercial or industrial equipment or machinery as specified above. The individuals concerned must continue to be paid by the Macedonian Company and the contract of sale must specifically require the seller to provide such services.

Speaker/Lecturer: If you are traveling to the United States in connection with a speaking engagement you may travel on a B-1 visa provided there is no remuneration from a U.S. source, other than expenses incidental to the visit. Speakers/lecturers who will receive an honorarium in addition to incidental expenses may still be eligible for the B-1 visa provided all of the following are met:

• the activities will last no longer than nine days at a single institution;
• such activities are conducted for the benefit of the institution or entity; and
• the speaker/lecturer has not accepted such payment or expenses from five such institutions during the previous six-month period.

If the proposed activities are not exactly as described, an exchange visitor (J-1) or temporary work (H-1) visa will be required.

Conference: Participants in scientific, educational, professional, or business conventions, conferences or seminars may travel to the United States on B-1 visas. The B-1 visa is also the appropriate visa classification to present a paper at the conference, provided there is no remuneration from a U.S. source other than expenses incidental to the stay. Those who will receive an honorarium in addition to incidental expenses will only be eligible for the B-1 visa if all of the following are met:

• the activities will last no longer than nine days at a single institution;
• such activities are conducted for the benefit of the institution or entity; and
• the delegate has not accepted such payment or expenses from five such institutions during the previous six-month period.

If the proposed activities are not exactly as described, an exchange visitor (J-1) or temporary work (H-1) visa will be required

Note: The applications of those seeking visas to attend a technical conference may be subject to additional administrative processing. We are unable to provide any guidance on how long it may take. Therefore, do not make any final travel plans until you have received your passport with a visa in it.

Researcher: An individual who will engage in independent research may be eligible for a B-1 visa provided there is no remuneration from a U.S. source and the results of the research will not benefit the American institution. Those who will receive payment from a U.S. source and/or the U.S. institution will benefit from the results of the research, may still be eligible for the B-1 visa if all the following are met:

• the activities will last no longer than nine days at a single institution;
• such activities are conducted for the benefit of the institution or entity; and
• the researcher has not accepted such payment or expenses from five such institutions during the previous six-month period.

If the proposed research is not exactly as described, an exchange visitor (J-1) or temporary work (H-1) visa will be required.

Business venture: The B-1 visa is the appropriate visa classification to travel to the United States to survey potential sites for a business and/or to lease premises. However, the holder of a B-1 visa may not remain in the United States to manage the business.
An H or L (intra-company transferee) visa is required. This would enable the holder to travel to the United States for a temporary period to open up and operate a branch, subsidiary or affiliate office of the business there. To qualify, the new U.S. operation is required to file a petition on the employee's behalf with the nearest office of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service in the United States.

Medical Elective: An elective clerkship which affords practical experience and instruction in the various disciplines of medicine under the supervision and direction of faculty physicians at a U.S. medical school's hospital may be undertaken on a B-1 visa, if the clerkship is an approved part of the individual's foreign school education and no remuneration will be received from the hospital. If applying for a visa, a letter from the U.S. medical school outlining the nature and duration of the visa and source of remuneration, if any, should accompany the application.

Students seeking training as physiotherapists, dentists, nurses or vets require J-1 visas.

Telecommuters: Individuals temporarily resident in the United States who will be working from home as computer programmers for foreign based companies may be eligible for B-1 visas if all of the following are met:

• the individual is employed by a company outside of the United States;
• will receive no remuneration from a U.S. source, other than expenses incidental to the stay; 
• is working in an occupation which requires the attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree in the specific specialty, and the individual has that level of education.

If you believe that you may qualify for the B-1 visa, you should apply for a visa in order for your qualifications to be evaluated.

If accompanying a spouse who is the beneficiary of a work or student visa, the individual may apply for both the derivative and B-1 visas. When applying for admission into the United States, you should advise the Immigration and Naturalization Service at the port of entry of your dual intent, that is to say, you are accompanying your spouse, but also intend to continue working for your Macedonian employer as a telecommuter.

B-2 Visa - Tourism/Pleasure

Applying for a Visa

In general, holidaymakers traveling to the United States require valid B-2 visas. For visits to family as well as Health and Medical Treatment a B-2 visa is required. Attendance at conventions and seminars of a fraternal or social nature, or incidental school attendance also falls within the parameter of B-2 visas.

An applicant for a B-2 tourist visa must show that he/she has a foreign residence that he/she does not intend to abandon. The applicant may not work while in the U.S. on a B-2 visa.

Note: It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that he or she is correctly documented for travel. Failure to obtain a visa before traveling may result in you being denied boarding by the airline.

Please read How to Apply for B-2 visa