The B-1 visa facilitates short-term visits to the U.S. for international businesspeople for a wide range of activities, including meetings, negotiations, and study tours.

[Overview of content]

1. Visa definitions
2. Scope of lawful activities
3. Application Requirements
4. processing process
5. special specification

I. The nature of visas

The B-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa for short-term travel to the United States to conduct lawful business. Its characteristics include:

• Short-term stays: generally valid for 6 months, with a maximum of 1 year depending on circumstances.
• Inadmissible employment: not allowed to receive wages for a U.S. employer within the U.S.
• Cannot be converted to a work visa: B-1 visas cannot be directly converted to work visas such as H-1B during the period of the visa.

II. Scope of lawful activities

The B-1 visa covers a wide range of short-term business activities, including but not limited to:

1. business negotiation: Contract signing, project negotiation, etc. with U.S. partners (no employment contracts)
2. participate in a meeting: Participation in company annual meetings, industry forums, technical exchanges, etc. (not remunerated)
3. business visit: Visiting factories, researching products or purchasing materials, etc. (no actual operation of equipment)
4. Training and learning: Receive in-house training (excluding on-the-job practice, which cannot exceed 90 days)
5. market research: Assessment of investment climate, customer needs, etc. (no sales activities)

III. Five core requirements

Visa applicants are required to fulfill the following basic conditions:

• Proof of business purpose: invitation letter, itinerary, letter from the company (must be in line with the applicant's duties).
• Proof of financial capability: bank statement or letter of financial support from company
• Binding nature of return: proof that the applicant has a stable occupation, family or property in the home country
• Good record: no history of illegal stay or visa refusal, good immigration record is particularly important
• Temporary intention: it must be clearly demonstrated that it is only a short-term business visit and not an immigrant propensity.

IV. Application process

1. Confirmation of the business itinerary: clarification of the purpose, time and place of the visit

2. Preparation of supporting documents: including invitation letters, company incumbency certificates, financial documents, etc.

3. Completion of Form DS-160: Online Non-Immigrant Visa Petition Submission

4. Payment of visa fees

5. Make an appointment and attend the interview: you need to bring the following documents:

• Valid passport (valid for not less than 6 months)
• DS-160 Confirmation Page
• Company invitation letter or proof of conference registration
• Financial Strength and Repatriation Binding Document
• Visa Entry: U.S. Customs will verify the purpose of entry and issue an I-94 entry record.

V. Key considerations

1. Visa validity and duration of stay:

• Visa validity: usually 1, 3 or 10 years (multiple entries)
• Duration of each stay: up to 6 months at the discretion of the immigration officer.

2. Extensions and changes:

• Can apply for one extension from USCIS before the I-94 expires (usually 3-6 months)
• If there are special reasons (e.g. unexpected meeting postponement), you need to apply in advance, and it is illegal to stay behind.

3. No act:

• No participation in paid work
• May not study, intern or participate in paid training in the U.S.
• No services or employment contracts for U.S. companies