California B-1 Visa Lawyer
As part of America’s international economic goals, the country welcomes business persons worldwide each year to work on deals and attend conferences. However, while business persons from visa-exempt countries, like the U.K., can enter without going through an extensive process, residents from other countries may need to attain a B-1 visa before entering.
A B-1 visa is a temporary nonimmigrant business visa granted to applicants who are coming to negotiate, consult with another business, attend a conference, or settle an estate. A B-1 visa can also be approved for those traveling to seek medical care in the United States.
A B-1 is a temporary visa, meaning recipients must intend to remain in the U.S. for a short time and leave once they have accomplished their business goals.
Coming to the U.S. for business reasons should not be limited to those residing in a country qualifying under a visa waiver. Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law, a California B-1 visa lawyer, will help applicants obtain a B-1 nonimmigrant business visa to accomplish all of their future goals.
Call today for a confidential and no-obligation case review to discuss attaining a B-1 visa. Call (559) 878-4958 or Contact us online to schedule your appointment.
How a California B-1 Visa Attorney Can Help
Working with a California B-1 visa attorney can help applicants identify all documents and proof needed to submit to the United States Customs and Immigration Service. Moreover, B-1 visa attorneys have walked many others through the same process and understand the rules and requirements to receive approval.
Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law can help you not only with applying for a business visa but also with acing your interview, entering successfully into the United States, and taking the measures needed to enjoy every aspect of your stay.
Additionally, should you encounter any issues during your stay, we can represent you as your attorneys to resolve any potential legal matters.
Who Is Eligible for a B-1 Visa?
Determining eligibility before submitting a visa application or paying fees is critical.
The B-1 visa is designed for applicants coming to the U.S. for specific business reasons. Applicants must be able to demonstrate and prove legitimate business purposes and ensure that they declare a specific amount of time in which they expect to be in the U.S.
The United States Customs and Immigration Services request that applicants provide the following:
- Proof of sufficient funds to pay for their stay.
- Provide a permanent address outside the U.S.
- Declare any binding ties in their native country.
Most importantly, all applicants must prove they are admissible to the U.S. before receiving a visa approval. Foreigners who are inadmissible are likely facing criminal charges, are at risk of becoming a ward of the state, have a prior history of illegal status or deportation, or suffer from a disorder that causes erratic behavior and threatens the property or safety of others.
Trip Purposes That Qualify for a B-1 Visa
Business purposes considered permissible under the B-1 visa involve commercial transactions. Most commonly, B-1 applicants submit under these business activities:
- Assistant for a nonimmigrant visa holder on a temporary assignment — the assistant cannot be employed by a U.S. company
- Professional athletes participating in an athletic event will earn prize money for attending the event
- Active participant in voluntary service programs that benefit U.S. local communities
- Participant in an established religious or nonprofit charitable organization
- Repairman to install, service, or train U.S. workers on machinery purchased abroad
- Participating in business purposes such as consulting, conducting negotiations, settling an estate, soliciting sales or investment, and interviewing and hiring staff
- Performing duties that would typically qualify the person for H-1 status, except that the visa holder would only receive payment from a foreign employer outside the U.S.
- To research the possibility of setting up a subsidiary of a foreign corporation
- To make specific investments or trades
- Participating in training that is scientific, educational, or professional in nature
- Attending business conventions or conferences
- Attending board meetings as a member of the board of directors of a U.S. company.
- Seeking medical treatment
- To deadhead as an aircraft employee as they are awaiting repositioning as part of their duties
Purposes That Are Ineligible for a B-1 Visa
Though the B-1 visa is best known for those attending business functions and negotiations or receiving medical treatments, some purposes do not qualify the applicant for a B-1 nonimmigrant program.
Anyone applying for a B-1 under the following purposes would not qualify:
- Studying – General school, vocational programs, or university students.
- Employment for a U.S. company – B-1 visas do not grant domestic work authorization.
- Professional art or cultural performances before a paying audience — Applicants should look at P visa programs instead to see if they qualify.
- Arrive as a crewmember of a ship or aircraft, except for deadheading.
- Working as a foreign press or media member in radio, film, print journalism, or other information media.
- Seeking asylum or permanent residence in the United States — Unfortunately, B-1 visas are not a path to residency. Recipients must return to their home country before seeking entry into the U.S. again as possible immigrants.
Many visa holders travel to the U.S. for different reasons that require different lengths of stay. Consulting with Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law, a B-1 visa lawyer, have years of experience helping visitors attain entry to the U.S B-1 visas work well for those seeking to resolve business matters within a short window.
Applying for a B-1 Visa
A B-1 visa is considered a visitor visa program. Depending on the applicant’s native country, different requirements and documents may exist. The first step is finding your local U.S. embassy or consulate to learn more about the location’s requirements.
Those applying for a B-1 visa will need to complete Form DS-160. Applicants must complete an online application and print the confirmation page to present at their interview. Moreover, applicants must ensure that they bring in a photo meeting all requirements of the Department of State.
Depending on the applicant’s local embassy or consulate, they may require a physical copy of the photo at the time of their interview alongside the digital upload on the application. In some countries, the local embassy may require a purchased return flight and itinerary to complete the application process.
The interview portion of the application is as important as any other part of the process. All applicants must be willing and able to attend an interview at their local embassy. B-1 visa attorneys know that the interview process can take time, as appointment windows are limited.
It is strongly recommended that applicants interview at their local U.S. consulate, as doing so at a consulate in another country can lead to a rejection of their visa. Online, the Department of State provides a tool to estimate the time needed from submission of the B-1 visa application to the interview date. Applicants should use this tool to determine the amount of time needed to allow for their B-1 visa to process.
How Long Can an Applicant Stay in the U.S. With a B-1 Visa?
A B-1 visa is intended for short stays in the U.S. B-1 visa holders can remain legally in the U.S. for 1 to 6 months. Applicants can apply for an extension, but the maximum extension time that USCIS can approve is six months, totaling up to one full year for a single B-1 visa approval.
What About an Applicant’s Immediate Family?
Unlike other visa programs, a B-1 visa does not allow spouses or children to come to the U.S. with a B-1 visa holder under the same status. Since a B-1 visa is considered a business visa, any family that wants to accompany the B-1 visa holder must separately apply for a B-2 nonimmigrant tourist visa.
Applicants of a B-2 tourist visa are expected to complete a separate application, interview, and payment of any fees. When working with Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law, a California B-1 visa lawyer, applicants can expect guidance throughout the processes and discuss any limits in bringing their family during their visa term.
Work With a California B-1 Visa Attorney to Meet Your Business Goals
Applying for a B-1 visa allows foreigners to come to the U.S. for business, to settle an estate, or attend conferences. Given its short-term nature, B-1 visas work perfectly for those seeking to complete short-term business needs.
Learn more about how Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law can help you. With years of combined experience in helping applicants through the B-1 visa process, our highly experienced California B-1 visa attorneys are experts in the application process.
Contact us today at Call (559) 878-4958 or Contact us online for a no-obligation consultation over the phone or in person at our local office.
