NonimmigrantVisitorNo employmentDS-160Often issued as B-1/B-2Visa bond may apply

B-1 Business Visitor

For short business trips — meetings, conferences, contract negotiations and similar activities — without being employed or paid by a U.S. source.

Last reviewed Oct 1, 2026Sources: USCIS · Department of State · eCFRReport an error

At a glance

Purpose: Temporary business activities — not employment
Typical admission: 1 to 6 months; regulation allows up to 1 year
Extensions: Up to 6 months at a time on Form I-539
Visa application (MRV) fee: $185
Interview: Required for most applicants
Visa bond: Up to $20,000 for nationals of designated countries

Visa bonds for nationals of designated countries. Since Aug. 20, 2025, consular officers may require B-1/B-2 applicants from designated countries to post a bond. A final rule effective Aug. 3, 2026 made the program permanent with bonds of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 (up to $20,000). Bonded visitors must enter and leave only through commercial airports, including CBP Preclearance. The State Department’s country list (last updated May 13, 2026) names 50 countries; check it before applying.

Overview

The B-1 visa lets foreign nationals enter the United States temporarily for business activities of a commercial or professional nature. The State Department’s examples include consulting with business associates, attending a scientific, educational, professional or business convention or conference, settling an estate and negotiating a contract. B-1 visitors may not take employment, receive a salary from a U.S. source, or do work that a U.S. worker would be hired to perform.

B-1 is usually issued together with B-2 as a combined B-1/B-2 visa. Nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries can often make the same trips with ESTA instead of a visa, for up to 90 days.

CBP decides the length of each stay at entry. USCIS describes B-1 admissions as 1 to 6 months, with 6 months the maximum initial period; the regulation allows admission for up to one year, and extensions of up to six months at a time may be requested on Form I-539.

Who qualifies

The applicant must show

A legitimate, temporary business purpose, such as meetings, conferences, negotiations or settling an estate
A residence abroad they do not intend to abandon, and plans to leave the United States at the end of the trip
Sufficient funds for the trip, with no U.S.-source salary for the activity
Admissibility under U.S. law (no disqualifying criminal, immigration or security grounds)

Not permitted on B-1

Employment or paid work for a U.S. employer
Study for credit
Paid performances or professional performance before a paying audience
Work as foreign press, radio, film or other media
Arrival as a crewmember

Duration & extensions

Admission at entry	Set by CBP; generally 1–6 months
Regulatory maximum per admission	Not more than one year
Extensions	Increments of up to six months via Form I-539, filed before the I-94 expires
Visa validity	Set by reciprocity with each country; a visa bond visa is valid 3 or up to 12 months
Interview waiver	Possible for renewals within 12 months of a prior full-validity B visa’s expiration, if issued at 18 or older
Visa bond holders	Must enter and depart through commercial airports only

Fees

Fees for a B-1 (or B-1/B-2) visa applicant.

Fee	Amount	Who pays	Notes
Visa application (MRV) fee	$185	Applicant	Non-petition-based nonimmigrant visa; some nationalities also pay a reciprocity issuance fee
Visa Integrity Fee	$250 (statutory minimum)	Applicant	Created by Pub. L. 119-21, sec. 100007 (8 U.S.C. 1806): at least $250, required by statute at visa issuance, not waivable, possibly reimbursable after the visa expires if all conditions are met. The State Department’s fee page did not list it as of Oct. 1, 2026; follow the embassy’s payment instructions.
Visa bond (designated countries only)	$10,000, $15,000 or $20,000	Applicant or obligor	Only if the consular officer requires it; paid via Pay.gov after interview; returned when bond conditions are met
Expedited interview appointment (pilot)	$750	Applicant	Optional, non-refundable; offered at pilot posts listed by the State Department (Mission Mexico since July 21, 2026 and Mission Canada since Aug. 18, 2026) through Dec. 31, 2026
EVUS enrollment (nationals of China with 10-year B visas)	$30.75	Traveler	Required by Pub. L. 119-21 for PRC nationals holding 10-year B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visas; rises to $31.75 on Oct. 16, 2026
Form I-539 extension or change of status	$420 online / $470 paper	Applicant	Only if extending stay or changing status inside the U.S.

Amounts from the State Department fee page, the Federal Register (visa bond rule; DHS FY 2027 fee notice) and USCIS Form G-1055 (edition 10/01/26) as of Oct. 1, 2026.

Processing time

Expedited appointment pilot: Within 10 business days; $750 optional fee at selected posts, through Dec. 31, 2026

Interview wait times vary widely by embassy and consulate and are published on each post’s scheduling site. Applicants should generally apply in their country of nationality or residence; appointments elsewhere may face longer waits and fees are not refunded.

Application steps

1
Complete Form DS-160
Fill out the online nonimmigrant visa application and print the confirmation page.
2
Pay the fee and schedule an interview
Pay the $185 MRV fee and book an interview at the embassy or consulate in the country of nationality or residence.
3
Gather evidence of the trip
Prepare an invitation or conference registration, employer letter, itinerary and proof of funds and home ties.
4
Attend the interview
Most applicants must interview in person. If the officer requires a visa bond, the applicant pays through Pay.gov before the visa is issued.
5
Travel and enter
CBP decides admission and the I-94 end date. Leave by that date or file Form I-539 before it expires.

Required documents

For the interview

Valid passport
Form DS-160 confirmation page
MRV fee receipt
Photo meeting State Department requirements
Letter from the employer abroad describing the trip and who pays
Invitation, conference registration or meeting agenda from the U.S. party
Evidence of ties abroad (employment, property, family)

Dependents & family

There is no dependent B-1 classification. Family members traveling along apply for their own B-2 visas.

Path to a green card

B-1 is a temporary visitor classification without a path to permanent residence, and entering with an undisclosed intent to stay can be treated as misrepresentation.

Anyone planning long-term work should pursue an appropriate work classification (such as H-1B, L-1 or E-2) or an immigrant petition from abroad.

B-2

Visitor for Pleasure

Tourism, family visits and medical treatment.

VWP

Visa Waiver Program

ESTA travel for up to 90 days for eligible nationals.

E-2

Treaty Investor

For running a substantial investment in a U.S. business.

L-1A / L-1B

Intracompany Transferee

For actually working in a U.S. office of the employer.

H-1B

Specialty Occupation Worker

For U.S. employment in a professional role.

Common questions

Can I work on a B-1 visa?

No. B-1 covers business activities such as meetings, conferences and negotiations; employment is not permitted on a visitor visa.

How long can I stay?

CBP sets the period at entry. USCIS says initial B-1 admissions run 1 to 6 months, and extensions of up to six months at a time may be requested on Form I-539.

Do I need an interview?

Usually yes. Since Oct. 1, 2025, interview waivers are limited mainly to B-1/B-2 renewals within 12 months of the prior full-validity visa’s expiration, for applicants who were at least 18, and who meet other conditions.

Which countries are subject to visa bonds?

As listed on the State Department’s Countries Subject to Visa Bonds page (last updated May 13, 2026): Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyz Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Countries can be added with 15 days’ notice and removed immediately.

Is the B visa affected by travel restrictions?

Yes. Under Proclamation 10998, effective Jan. 1, 2026, B-1/B-2 visas are suspended for nationals of 38 listed countries and for Palestinian Authority document holders, with limited exceptions and waivers.

Official sources

Recent changes

Aug 3, 2026
Visa bond program made permanent. Final rule (effective Aug. 3, 2026) makes the B-1/B-2 visa bond program permanent. Consular officers may require a bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 from nationals of designated countries; bonded travelers must enter and leave through commercial airports. Source ↗
Jul 15, 2026
Apply in country of nationality or residence. Nonimmigrant visa applicants should schedule interviews at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence; fees paid for applications made elsewhere are not refunded or transferred. Source ↗
Jul 1, 2026
$750 expedited B-visa appointment pilot. Temporary final rule (effective July 1, 2026) created an optional, non-refundable $750 fee to book a B-1/B-2 interview within 10 business days at selected posts; the pilot runs through Dec. 31, 2026. The State Department lists Mission Mexico (from July 21, 2026) and Mission Canada (from Aug. 18, 2026) as pilot locations. Source ↗
Jan 1, 2026
Expanded travel restrictions take effect. Proclamation 10998 fully suspends entry for nationals of 19 countries and holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents, and suspends B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas (plus immigrant visas) for nationals of 19 more countries. Visas issued before Jan. 1, 2026 were not revoked. Source ↗
Oct 1, 2025
Interview waivers narrowed. Nearly all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including those under 14 and over 79, now require an in-person interview. Waivers remain mainly for diplomatic/official classes and certain B-1/B-2, BCC and H-2A renewals within 12 months of a prior full-validity visa’s expiration. Source ↗
Aug 20, 2025
Visa bond pilot begins. A 12-month pilot (temporary final rule, 90 FR 37378) allowed consular officers to require $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 bonds from certain B-1/B-2 applicants; Malawi and Zambia were the first covered countries. Source ↗
Jun 9, 2025
Travel restrictions on 19 countries take effect. Proclamation 10949 suspended entry for nationals of 12 countries and suspended B, F, M and J visas (plus immigrant visas) for nationals of 7 more, effective 12:01 a.m. EDT June 9, 2025. Source ↗

This page is general reference material compiled from the official sources above and is not legal advice. Eligibility depends on individual facts; rules and fees change, so confirm with the agency before you file. VisaTypes.com is not affiliated with USCIS, the Department of State or any government agency. Spotted an error? Tell us.