Foreigners who need to come to New Jersey for business reasons might be eligible for B-1 visas. These are non-immigrant visas that are provided to business professionals who need to travel and remain for a relatively short duration.
What is a B-1 visa?
A B-1 visa is a type of non-immigrant visa for foreign nationals who need to travel to the U.S. and remain long enough to conduct the following types of business activities:
• Business, professional, educational, or scientific conference attendance
• Business consultations
• Estate settlement
• Air crew deadheading
• Contract negotiations
• Short-term training
This visa is a temporary visa that lasts from one to six months. It can be extended one time for up to six months for a maximum stay of 12 months.
Eligibility Requirements
To obtain a B-1 visa, a foreign business professional must meet the following criteria:
• Have a legitimate business reason for entering the U.S.
• Have a home in another country with no intention of abandoning it
• Have extensive social ties in the home country
• Have sufficient finances to pay for the travel and stay in the U.S.
• Plan to stay for a limited period
• Otherwise admissible to the U.S.
Dependents of B-1 visa holders can’t get dependent visas based on the holder’s visa. Instead, they must separately apply for B-2 visas and meet all of the requirements before they will be allowed to follow the B-1 visa holder to the U.S.
The B-1 visa is a good option for foreign nationals who need to come to the U.S. for a short period to conduct business. While it is a temporary visa, it can be extended one time if the reason for the visa recipient’s travel to the U.S. requires additional time. However, this visa does not provide a path to immigration and is temporary.
