A visitor visa allows for extended travel to the United States for the purpose of entering the U.S. for temporary business or recreational purposes. Visiting U.S.-based family and friends, receiving medical treatment, or attending a wedding or conference are all typical reasons for seeking a visitor visa.
Listed below are the different types of visas available for visitors to the U.S.
The B-1 visa category allows foreign nationals to travel temporarily to the U.S. to consult with business associates, travel for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention or conference on specific dates, settle an estate, or negotiate a contract. The B-1 Visa may also apply, in certain circumstances, to foreign medical students, personal/domestic attendants and certain religious workers. You may not engage in any employment while in the U.S. on a B-1 visa.
The B-2 visa category allows foreign nationals to travel temporarily to the U.S. for recreation, including tourism, vacation (holiday), amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature. It may also allow participation by amateurs (who will receive no remuneration) in musical, sports and similar events or contests. The B-2 Visa may also apply to domestic partners not in a marital relationship as well as recreational courses of study (not leading to a degree). You may not engage in any employment while in the U.S. on a B-1 visa, and visitors are typically admitted for up to six months at a time.
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for 90 days or less without first obtaining a visa. Currently, 36 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program.
Visa Waiver Countries include: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom

