B-1 and B-2 Visitors

• B-1 status is for a visitor coming temporarily to the United States for short term business
  • Visitors may use the B-1 visa for brief stays, usually less than six months, to participate in scientific, educational, professional or business conventions, conferences, or seminars.
• B-2 status is generally for pleasure or medical treatment

• Generally, you can hold B-1/B-2 status for a minimum 1 day up to a maximum of 6 months. Customs and Border Protection will determine how long you can remain in the US when you enter.

• Any foreign national coming temporarily to the U.S. for business or pleasure.
• Allowable business activities:
  • Anyone wishing to enter the US temporarily for business, pleasure or medical treatment purposes can apply for a U.S. tourist visa
  • consult with business associates
  • attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference
  • settle an estate
  • negotiate a contract
• Allowable tourist activities:
  • tourism
  • vacation (holiday)
  • visit with friends or relatives
  • medical treatment
  • participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
  • participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
  • enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)

• B-1 and B-2 status is not appropriate for students or long-term scholars coming to the University of Wisconsin. B visitors should never hold a University of Wisconsin appointment of any kind, even unpaid.
• B-1/B-2 visitors are not allowed to:
  • be employed
  • study
  • get paid for performances, or any professional performance before a paying audience
  • arrive as a crewmember on a ship or aircraft
  • work as foreign press, radio, film, journalists, and other information media
  • apply for permanent residence in the U.S.

• There is no dependent status for the B-1 or B-2. All visitors wishing to travel on the B-1 or B-2 visa, must be eligible and apply for a visa separately.

• B-1 and B-2 visitors do not have a grace period for entry into or departure from the U.S.  B-1 and B-2 visitors have a fixed entry date and a fixed departure date.

• B-1 and B-2 visa applications are personal applications and do not require University sponsorship. You may apply for a B-1 or B-2 visa on your own with no support at all from the University. 
• There are several steps to apply for a B-1 or B-2 visa. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad where you apply. Simply follow the instructions online at the U.S. consulate or embassy where you will be applying for your B-1 or B-2 visa. 

• U.S. Department of State - Visitor Visa