Visiting the U.S. for Business, Pleasure, or Medical Treatment (2024)

Eligibility to Visit the U.S.

Eligibility to Visit the U.S.

• Getting a U.S. Visa (B-1) to Do Volunteer Work

  A little-known use of the business visitor visa allows people to come to the U.S. to do unpaid work for a charity or religious organization.

• A B-1 Visa for Business Visits to the U.S.: Do You Qualify?

  Planning to come to the U.S. short-term for business purposes? A B-1 visa might be the one you need.

• A B-2 Visa for Visiting the U.S. as a Tourist: Do You Qualify?

  Visitor visas can be used not only be tourists, but by people seeking medical treatment, accompanying other visa holders to the U.S., and more--if you meet the basic criteria.

• B-2 Visa for U.S. Medical Treatment: Who Qualifies

  If you want to travel to the U.S. for medical reasons you must apply for a B-2 tourist visa at your local U.S. embassy or consulate. You will need to show that this treatment is medically necessary and unavailable in your home country, as well as prove that that you can afford to pay the often extremely high costs of U.S. healthcare.

• Who Can Visit the U.S. Under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

  Citizens of certain countries enjoy easy travel access to the U.S.—but limited rights once here.

• How Same-Sex Partners Can Accompany Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Visa Holders to the U.S.

  A derivative visa should work for legally married same-sex couples who wish to travel or stay in the U.S. together; a B-2 visitor visa might help other couples.

• I Overstayed by a Week: Can I Return to the U.S. on the Visa Waiver Program?

  After a VWP overstay, you'll have to apply for a regular tourist visa.

  See Also

  B1/B2 Visa Rejection Reasons | Immigration Advice Service

• How to Obtain and Use a Border Crossing Card to Enter the U.S. From Mexico

  A border crossing card can be handy, if you realize that it is not like a green card, and allows only short visits to the U.S. with no employment privileges.

• Inadmissibility: When the U.S. Can Keep You Out

  Learn why U.S. immigration law might mandate that you be denied entry to the United States and how to avoid being turned away.

• With I-130 Pending, Will I Have Trouble Getting a Tourist Visa to the U.S.?

  Once your family member has started the process of getting you a green card, it's difficult—but not impossible—to gain entry to the U.S. for a short visit.

• How Visitors to the U.S. Can Bring Domestic or Personal Servants

  An unusual use of the B-1 visa allows nonimmigrant visa holders to be accompanied by maids, cooks, nannies, and so on.

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Applying for a B Visa

Applying for a B Visa

• Application Process for a B-1 or B-2 Visitor Visa

  Instructions for visitors who wish to come to U.S. for business or pleasure.

• How to Extend Your Stay or Change Your Status While on a B Visa

  Forms and documents needed to extend or change your visitor status into some other nonimmigrant status to stay in the U.S. lawfully.

• Why Was My U.S. Visitor Visa Renewal Denied?

  There's no guarantee that your U.S. visitor visa will be renewed. Many applicants are shocked to discover that what they thought would be a routine visa renewal turns to a denial.

• Steps to Take Following Denial of a B-1 or B-2 Visa

  While current practices at U.S. consulates and embassies do not allow an application to be reconsidered, there are steps you can take to better understand why the consular officer denied your visa and decide when the time is right for you to apply again.

• How Long Will Your U.S. Visa Allow You to Stay?

  Between initial periods of admission, possible extensions, and grace periods before you actually have to pick up and leave the U.S., how long might your temporary U.S. visa be good for?

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Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting the U.S.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting the U.S.

• How Long Will Your U.S. Visa Allow You to Stay?

  Between initial periods of admission, possible extensions, and grace periods before you actually have to pick up and leave the U.S., how long might your temporary U.S. visa be good for?

• Can I Travel to the U.S. While Pregnant?

  If you are entering the U.S. for any sort of medical treatment, as is allowed under a B-2 visa, you must be able to pay for it with your own funds or with private health insurance.

• My U.S. Tourist Visa Was Refused: Should I Reapply?

  It's possible to reapply, but make sure you strengthen your application first.

• Will My One-Day Tourist Visa Overstay Create Future Immigration Problems?

  Immigration authorities are highly unlikely to track you down over a one-day overstay. But the law can make your next visit more difficult.

• Denied Entry Under Visa Waiver Program: Can I Come Back to the U.S.?

  The fact that you have been refused entry under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will indeed go on your permanent immigration record, and could impact whether you are allowed into the U.S. in the future.

• In U.S. on Visa Waiver: Can I lengthen my stay by taking a quick trip to Canada then reentering?

  Short departures to contiguous territory pause, rather than restart a VWP stay in the U.S.

• Why an Airline Might Deny Boarding to U.S. Visa Holder

  Airlines sometimes deny boarding to U.S.-bound passengers for immigration-related reasons, even despite the passenger having a valid U.S. visa.

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