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Business Visa Center
The Business Visa Center (BVC) is part of the Department of State’s ongoing effort to facilitate the issuance of visas for legitimate business travelers worldwide. The Business Visa Center serves businesses and organizations in the United States and their partners, customers and colleagues around the world by providing information on business (B1) visa travel to the United States. This includes explaining the visa application process for business clients, partners, foreign employees and others whom American companies and organizations invite to the United States.
The Business Visa Center cannot guarantee the issuance of a visa, change decisions made in individual visa cases, or provide advice on visa classification for specific types of travel as these are the responsibilities of consular staff at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
The Business Visa Center can:
- Direct U.S. organizations to embassy and consulate-specific visa application procedures and clarify information about the visa application process.
- Familiarize U.S. organizations with criteria for requesting expedited interview appointments and facilitate cases involving significant U.S. government interest.
- Support U.S. businesses and organizations by providing specific information about events with a large number of foreign visitors to embassies and consulates.
- Answer inquiries from U.S. businesses and organizations and their international partners related to travel corresponding with the B1 visa.
See Frequently Asked Questions 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.
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) 485-7675
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET) Monday – Friday, excluding holidays.
For general nonimmigrant visa information and to speak with a Visa Specialist, contact the National Visa Center at:
Phone: (603) 334-0888
Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight (ET) Monday - Friday, excluding holidays.
Website Resources
Improved information for businesses and the public, in the form of up-to-date details about wait times for interviews and visa processing times, is available on most U.S. Embassy and Consulate websites and usvisas.state.gov. This information allows business travelers to better prepare for their interviews and plan their trips.
How to Apply for a Visa
- Learn how to apply for a business related (B-1) visitor visa,
- Check on visa wait times for an interview appointment,
- Locate a U.S. Embassy or Consulate 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.
Additional References
Visitor Visas - Business and Pleasure (PDF - 1 MB)
Business Visa Center (PDF - 255 KB)