Are B1 and B2 visas the same?

I wanted to make some last minute changes in DS 160 for B1/B2 visa and was not sure if i technically i can. For B1/b2 visa and i also think for other catergories of visa even if u make changes at last moment after taking a confirm date the finger printing guys will scan your reference number mentioned on the updated confirmation page. Overview of B-1 and B-2 visa. A B-1 visa is a temporary business visitor visa and is issued to individuals participating in business activities of a commercial or professional nature in the United States. A B-2 visa is a temporary visa issued to individuals who are coming to the United States temporarily for leisure, vacation, or pleasure.

Where individuals are not eligible to travel to the US visa-free under the Visa Waiver Program, the B visa category offers nonimmigrant visas to non-US nationals who wish to visit the US on a temporary basis for business-related activity, tourism or medical treatment.

There are two different types of B visa available, catering for different permissible activities while in the US:

• B-1 visa – allowing business-related activities such as consulting with business associates, attending scientific, educational, professional or business conventions/conferences, settling an estate or negotiating contracts.
• B-2 visa – allowing leisure, tourism or medical treatment.

If you have been issued a B1 B2 visa, you may be wondering what this means and how this impacts the type of permissible activities during your stay in the US.

Why does my visa say B1/B2 visa?

You may, for example, have applied for a B-1, but the visa you were issued says ‘B1/B2 visa’. This isn’t an error and shouldn’t be any cause for concern.

The different permissible activities under the respective B-1 and B-2 visas can in practice be rigid for travellers, allowing little flexibility under the visa conditions. If you were to hold a B-1 visa, you would not be permitted to remain in the US beyond your business activity to, say, vacation. Since the leisure activity had not been declared at the time the visa was issued, the B-1 visa would not permit that leisure activity.

Similarly, where you hold a B-2 visa and would like to combine business activity with a vacation, the B-2 visa won’t technically extend to allow the additional business purposes.

This lack of flexibility has resulted in a common practice whereby B visas are generally issued as combined B-1/B-2 visas. Figures show of all B visas issued by US Embassies and Consulates, 97% are combination B1/B2 visas.

Can I use the B1/B2 visa for tourism?

In short, yes. Leisure activities are permissible under the combined visa, including tourism.

How long can I stay in the US on a B1/B2 visa?

B visas are issued for a period of up to six months. It may be possible to apply to extend this for a further six months, up to a maximum of 12 month period.

How do I apply for a B visa?

To apply for your B visa, you will need to complete the form DS-160. As part of the online application, you will be required to upload a photo – note that the US photo requirements differ to European standards. Ensure your image complies with US specifications or application processing will be delayed.

Information required to complete the DS-160 form includes:

• Personal Information: your full name, previous names, sex, marital status, date and place of birth, nationality, any other nationality you have ever held, whether you have ever held permanent residence in a country other than your country of birth, and where applicable, your national identification number, US social security number and US taxpayer ID number
• Address, phone and email information
• Passport Information
• Travel Information: the purpose of your visit to the US – business related? tourism? both? Your travel plans, where you will stay while in the US, and details of the individual or organisation who is funding your visit.
• Travel Companions Information: details of anyone travelling with you, and whether you are travelling as part of a group or organisation
• Previous US Travel Information
• US Point of Contact Information: details of a person in the US who can confirm your identity.
• Family Information
• Work/Education/Training Information
• Additional information such as: Do you belong to a clan or tribe? Have you travelled to any other countries or regions during the last 5 years? Have you belonged to, contributed to, or worked for any professional, social or charitable organisation? Have you any specialised skills or training? Have you ever served in the military? Have you ever served in, been a member of, or been involved with a paramilitary unit, vigilante unit, rebel group, guerrilla group, or insurgent organisation?
• Security and Background Information: Medical and health information, criminal information, security information, e.g. whether you have been involved in terrorist activities, and immigration law violation information.
• Preparer of Application: if someone has helped you to make your application, details of this person.

Once you have completed the online application, print off a copy of the application form confirmation page which you will need to provide at your interview.

Visit the US Visa Information and Appointment Services website to create an account, pay the machine-readable visa (MRV) application fee and arrange your interview.

Visa processing times vary between consular posts, time of year and the complexity of your application.

What happens at the visa interview?

You will need to prepare for your interview by compiling the documents that will support and evidence your application. Documentation will vary according to your circumstances, duration and purpose of your visit (business, tourism or medical treatment), immigration history among many other factors, but should generally include:

• Passport or travel document
• Confirmation page from your DS-160 application form
• Appointment confirmation
• Printed photograph
• Evidence of your status and permanent residence in your home country, your ties to that country and your intention to return there at the end of your visit. This could include a mortgage statement or proof of employment.
• If you have previously been granted a US visa, evidence of this
• Documents relating to your medical condition and intended treatment in the US, where applicable
• Details of any criminal record, including immigration law violations
• Evidence of the purpose of your visit to the US. For a business trip, this could be a letter from your employer. For a tourism trip, this could be travel documents.
• Evidence that you have sufficient finances to cover your expenses during your visit to the US and your return travel to your home country

The visa interview will be held at the US Embassy or Consulate in the country you filed your application. Your biometric information will being taken during the appointment.

The purpose of the interview is to confirm your eligibility for whichever visa you have applied for. The officer will ask you questions on your completed form, your documents and your personal situation.

It is important to prepare well before your interview and ensure that you have all the relevant information to hand. The documents you provide should demonstrate:

• the purpose of the business portion of your trip, including communications from your employer or company, and any business or organisation you plan to visit during your time in the US
• your tourism travel plans, including an itinerary and details of where you will stay in the US
• the timeline of your visit, which must be defined and for a limited period of time

In the majority of cases, you will be given a decision on the day of your interview. If successful, your visa will be added to your passport before it is returned to you.

Tips for making your B visa application

Visa processing may be delayed or your application denied if there are issues with your application. Common application errors to avoid include:

• Insufficient supporting documents and evidence are provided
• The purposes of your visit are not eligible for the category of visa you have applied for. If you intend to carry out gainful employment for example, the B visa would not be suitable.
• You have a criminal record.
• You can’t satisfy the Consular officer that you intend to visit the US for a temporary time only.
• You can’t prove that you have sufficient funds to pay for the visit or maintain yourself during your stay.
• The information supplied is found to be fraudulent.
• You have previously stayed in the US beyond the time period granted to you.

If you have any concerns about your eligibility for a B visa or compiling sufficient documentation, take legal advice.

This article does not constitute direct legal advice and is for informational purposes only.

The B1 and B2 visas are for visitors traveling to America who plan to go back to their home country, and are good for short-term visits of up to one year.6 min read

1. What Are the B1 and B2 Visas?
2. What Can You Do With a B1/B2 Visa?
3. What Do I Need to Get a B1/B2 Visa?
4. How Long Does a B1/B2 Visa Last?
5. How Does the B1/B2 Visa Overlap With Other Visas?

Updated June 28, 2020:

What Are the B1 and B2 Visas?

The B1 and B2 visas are for visitors who travel to America and plan to go back to their home country afterward. They are good for short-term visits of up to one year. Specifically, the B1 visa is for business visits while the B2 visa is for pleasure, tourism, and medical visits. However, since many people wind up doing both, the two visas are often issued together as a joint B1/B2 visa. This means you can visit the country several times on both business trips and vacations if you want, and you won't have to worry about the details. There are no quotas or limits to the number of B1/B2 visas issued every year.

What Can You Do With a B1/B2 Visa?

While you can conduct business with a B1/B2 visa, it's important to remember there are certain things you can't do, since you need other visas to have permission to do them. Here is what you can do with a B1/B2 visa:

• Hire and fire a staff
• Perform research
• Plan out and spend money on investments and purchases
• Attend business meetings, negotiations, and investment and sales meetings
• Attend up to 18 hours per week of recreational lessons
• Bring along dependents like children (only for a B2 status)
• Attend seminars and conferences without earning college credits
• Work as a domestic servant for someone else on a B1/B2 visa
• Visit family, friends, and have fun
• Get medical care
• Perform as an amateur entertainer or athlete

On the other hand, you can't:

• Perform as an entertainer or in professional sports
• Attend a school or university as a regular student
• Earn college credits from seminars or conferences
• Work for gainful employment

That last restriction can be pretty tricky. What it basically means is that you can't work at a job and get paid by a local person or organization. So while you can keep taking checks from the company that sent you to work in America, you can't quit and work at the local Wal-Mart without changing your visa.

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On the other hand, you can get travel reimbursements and honoraria. An honorarium is what you call it when you get a payment for doing something you would have done for free. This can apply to guest speakers who don't have an upfront fee and to church services for funerals.

You can also visit Canada while you're in America, although you'll need a Canadian visa. You can get one from your nation's embassy in the United States, but it's still easier to get one in your home country if you know you plan to visit. You can then return to America from Canada, but only if you have a multiple-entry U.S. visa. These visas have an M on the stamp, and long-term visas usually have them while short-term visas sometimes don't. Make sure you check before leaving the country.

What Do I Need to Get a B1/B2 Visa?

Qualifying for a B1/B2 visa is easy, at least compared to most other U.S. visas. To get one, you should contact the U.S. embassy in your home country and ask for an application, either in person, through mail, or online. The paperwork isn't too bad, but they will want to know whether you have family members, a home, and a job. This is because they want to know whether you will have a reason to go back home eventually. If you pass, you get a B1/B2 visa for either six months or 10 years, although the second kind doesn't mean you can stay in the U.S. for a decade.

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Getting a visa usually involves a face-to-face interview no matter what type you apply for. To prepare for this interview, you should bring along all the documents you can think of, but don't expect to need them all. After all, the immigration officials can reject your application for not having enough documentation, but not for having too much. During the interview, it's important not to lie no matter how it might make you look, because they will check your story later and a lie can get you permanently banned from getting a visa.

Something you don't need for a B1/B2 visa is a sponsor. Other visas need an American business or other U.S. sponsor to petition the government, but you can apply for a B1/B2 yourself. You can even use the same visa to make two business trips for two employers, as long as it isn't tied to your first job and it hasn't expired.

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How Long Does a B1/B2 Visa Last?

When you enter the U.S. on a B1/B2 visa, you'll get a passport stamp and an I-94 form, although these days the form is electronic. This form will let you stay up to six months in America from the start of your visit. You can get a six-month extension after that, but the government will want to know why you need to stick around.

On the other hand, you can always go home, come back, and go through Immigration again. For people using the B1/B2 visa for business reasons, immigration officials will usually let you go back as often as you need. However, for non-medical B2 visits, U.S. officials will want you to stay in your home country for around six months if you spent six months in America. It's not a hard rule, but using too many B1/B2 visas is a reason to turn down an application. After all, if you want to immigrate or stay long-term, there are other visas for that.

Something else you can apply for is a B1/B2 visit visa waiver. You must first meet the following conditions:

• You're a citizen of one of 37 participating countries:
  • Andorra
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Brunei
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • The Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • United Kingdom
• You're driving down from Canada or you travel with a participating airline
• You have a plane ticket that will take you out of the country (aside from Canada again)

If all the above are true, you can apply for a visa waiver through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization operated by Custom and Border Protection. You have to apply from your home country, and the waiver only lasts 90 days. This cuts down on the red tape needed for tourists and visitors who won't be around for long.

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However, you can't extend the waiver or convert it into a normal B1/B2 visa, so get a real visa if you plan on a longer stay. Also, this waiver program doesn't apply if you are also a citizen of or have recently visited Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen.

How Does the B1/B2 Visa Overlap With Other Visas?

B1 B2 Visa Lost But Found

The H1B and other work visas allow for full employment within the United States, but there are always more applicants than there are visas. The B1 visa can help companies get around that problem, but only in very specific circumstances.

• The work must be university-graduate level, so something that qualifies for an H1B visa and demands a bachelor's degree or above. The worker must also have this degree or enough work experience to make up the difference.
• The worker must be permanently employed and paid by a non-U.S. country, with only an expense account at most from any U.S. company.

A visitor who qualifies can get the B1 in lieu of H1B visa, which comes with extra permissions but needs more paperwork to get. On the plus side, it's much easier to get than a normal H1B.

You can also apply for other visas while you're in the U.S. on a B1/B2 visa. There are as many reasons as there are visas: you found a new job, you married a U.S. citizen, or maybe you want to apply to a university. However, asking for a visa while in the U.S. can earn you some extra attention, so be careful what you do and say.

B1/B2 visas also overlap with the C1 transit visa. The C1 visa is only good if you spend your entire time in the U.S. traveling to a third country, but you'll want a B1/B2 visa if you plan to do anything else along the way. B1/B2 visa waivers also count as an alternative to a C1 visa.

If you still aren't sure how a visitor visa works or how to get one, you should post your legal needs on UpCounsel's marketplace. On our site, you can receive advice from some of the top lawyers in the country, including graduates of Yale and Harvard. After all, if you need legal advice, it should be the best advice available.