The US Business Visa is for nonimmigrants. If you’re someone who wants to visit there temporarily for business or work, you’ll need one. However, unlike the green cards based on employment, it won’t let you stay permanently. When the duration set for you expires, you must leave the US. The most popular visas for this purpose are L-1 intracompany transfer, B-1, H-1B and H-2B.
Surprisingly, you don’t need this visa to start you own US company – provided you’re not working within its borders. It’s possible to do that without ever visiting the US!
That said, certain things make the US visa system one highly complex systems in the world. Just the fact that there are that many – and each suits a certain candidate – is enough to leave you confused. Hence, don’t let that confusion cost you. Instead, talk to Eric Price’s team – they’ve been successfully guiding visa applicants for years.
What Are Business Visas?
Before we explain the US Business Visa Requirements, let us look at what these temporary work-okaying documents really are. They let you arrive in the country and remain for a fixed time. During it, you can work on a non-permanent basis. Most of them require an employer to file on your behalf. If the U.S. authorities are of the mind that your case has merit, you get your business visa.
Business Visa Types
Generally, you can say there are two US Business Visa Type. The first one is for short-term work and is a visitor visa. They can remain functional for six months. The sub-divisions in this visa class are:
- B1 – lets you visit for business purposes
- B2 – perfect for business visitors, attending conferences and such
The other main type is that of long-term work visas. They’re still permanent. You can apply for the following sub-divisions for this type:
- H1B – employment in a highly specialized field
- H-2B – seasonal but non-agricultural work
- L1 visa – for intracompany high-level employees
- O – extraordinarily talented businessmen
- I – for those participating in short-spanned media activities. Find more about it here: l1 visa
Short-Term Work Visas
A short-term Visa for Business is ideal for workers who want to be in the US for six months or so. Their sub-types and the activities they allow are as follows:
B1-Visas
On a B-1, you cannot find employment. However, you can leverage it for:
- Conducting negotiations and meetings – or just participating in them
- Soliciting investment and sales
- Discussing planned purchases and investments – or making them
- Make investments or purchases
- Recruit staff
- Conduct research
Thus, the B-1 is only open to people who have those objectives in mind. Know more here: B1 visa.
B-2 Visas
As a visitor visa holder of the B-2 type, you can leverage it for participation in social or media events. This type also works for other purposes, such as getting medical treatment, etc. But those aren’t germane to our discussion. Additional information here: B2 visa.
O-1 Visas
If you present extraordinary business abilities, you could apply and get an O-1 visa. Since your employer’s your sponsor for this document, you can only work for them. Any job switching would require a new application. Find more here: O-1 visa.
Long-Term Work Visas
Want to know What is a Business Visa Type? You’d need to know there are two main ones. The first, as we’ve explained above, is for short-term work visas. The second one grants long-term visas – most commonly H and L visas. With an H visa, professionals with bachelor’s in their own field can work in the US. They’d need an employer sponsor. For those who do seasonal work, an H-2 visa is the best choice. An L visa allows transferring of employees within a company having a presence in the US.
H-1B Visa: Specialty Occupation
As mentioned, you need two things to qualify for this sub-type, i.e., an employer sponsor and at least a specialized bachelor’s degree. Either these visa holders get into specialty occupation. Or they can use their H-1B for specialist US government/DOD-sanctioned research. More here: H-1B visa.
H-2B Visa: Temporary 0r Seasonal Work
When non-agriculture workers arrive to just fill a seasonal/temporary shortage, this is the visa type they choose. Their employer sponsor will fill out the application to begin. Additional info is here: H-2b visa.
L-1 Visa: Intra-Company Transfer
Ideal for multinational companies since they can bring in talent from overseas branches. Additionally, they may also establish a branch in the US by sending a representative on an L-1.
U.S. Business Visa Application
Fulfill these Business Visa Requirements before you apply:
- Have an offer to work in a US-based firm
- Get the petition approved from the USCIS – your employer does this part by filing I-129.
- An approved certification from the Department of Labor — If you’re going for an H-1 or H-2 type, you’ll need this before step #2
After these, you send in a filled DS-160. On receiving the notification, the US Embassy sets you for an interview. Attend and bring the necessary documents. During/after the said interview, officials will take your digital fingerprints. Conditional on your country of origin, a visa issuance fee may be in order.
U.S Business Visa Application Processing Time
The US Business Visa Processing Time is dependent on the type of visa you apply for. It also matters which visa center you walk into. For instance, an H-1B, 8-10.5 months takes from a California visa center, but it’s 6.5-8.5 months from one in Vermont.
U.S. Business Visa Costs
Knowing How to Get a Business Visa includes what it will cost you. All petition-based visas, i.e., temporary work visas cost $190. Besides that, you may have to pay:
- An amount of 500.00 USD for L visas – it is to prevent/detect fraud
- An additional 4,500.00 USD per worker petitioning for an H visa
What Happens If My Business Visa Is Denied?
Generally, the authorities notify you of one with a letter. In it, you’ll find the cause behind the denial. If what they need are additional documents, send those in. But if the letter mentions a re-application, that’s what you must do. While there’s no time restriction or limit on how many times you re-apply, each re-trial will cost you the same amount!
Contact Attorney Eric Price Today!
You risk your future and career by choosing a wrong type of work visa. Aside from that, a visa denial can set you back financially and waste valuable time. Incomplete documentation plays a role in such denials. Hence, we ask that you not risk it and email us for a consultation!
