B1/B2 Visa in 2024

welcome to direct us immigration's Channel where you get direct access to our most up-to-date immigration and Global Mobility space I'm an immigration attorney with almost a decade's worth of experience and today we're going to talk about everything you need to know about the B1 B2 Visa stay tuned thanks for tuning in my name is matria brown and I'm a US immigration attorney based in Washington DC I'm also the principal attorney at direct US immigration where we work with clients in all 50 states and around the world before we start click on the like And subscribe button to follow our immigration Hub to get the latest immigration information that could be vital to your case and also be sure to stick around until the end to get a bonus tip on a successful B1 B2 visa application and which Visa is most appropriate for you as you know the B1 B2 Visa is a type of non-immigrant visa for temporary visitors to the United States it also allows individuals to enter the US for business under the B1 or tourism and other non-b business purposes under the B2 the B1 B2 Visa is often referred to as a tourist visa or a visitor Visa visitor visas allow stays in the United States for up to 6 months so here's a brief overview of each category so the B1 Visa which again is that business visitor is available to individuals traveling to the US for business purposes this may include attending business meetings conferences negotiating contracts or engaging in other professional activities it can also include activities such as completing business transactions Consulting with Associates conducting research attending conferences and or or negotiating contracts it is important to note that employment is not permitted under the B1 Visa Additionally the state is typically temporary and the individual is expected to return to their home country after the business activities are completed now for the B2 Visa which is that tourist visa um that Visa is designed for individuals traveling to the US for tourism pleasure or visiting friends and relatives so activities covered under the B2 Visa may include tourism vacation medical treatment and social visits it can also include participating in unpaid amateur competitions and or enrolling in a course of study uh that is not for credit so like the B1 Visa the B2 Visa is also temporary and individuals are expected to return to their home country after the authorized period of stay and our office can help you determine which Visa is most appropriate for you so let's talk about the benefits of a visitor Visa so the benefits include that you do not need to have pre-approved Visa petition from USCIS you can apply at your nearest consulate or Embassy you do not need a sponsor and one application can permit multiple visits to the US for an extensive period of time and up to 10 years but again keep in mind that each visit may only be for 6 months at a time unless an extension is requested and you can receive multiple visitor visas over your lifetime so who needs a visitor Visa so if you are not a permanent resident uh or do not have a valid Visa you may need to apply for the B Visa now keep in mind that some individuals are eligible for the Visa waiver program and this program is managed through the electronic system for travel authorization so through that esta system now you are not eligible for a b Visa if you are coming to the US to study work be part of a paid performance enter as a crew member on a ship or an aircraft uh for work in Foreign Press or other information media or if you are intending to be a permanent resident of the United States let's talk about who is eligible for the visitor Visa so first and foremost you must have a valid reason to visit the US so to obtain a visitor Visa you must support your reasons for coming to the US again some of the acceptable reasons for the B1 include completing business transactions Consulting with Associates conducting research attending conferences negotiating contracts and observing American business practices for the to Visa some acceptable reasons include visiting tourist attractions in the US visiting friends or family receiving medical treatment participating in social events participating in unpaid amateur uh competitions or enrolling in a course of study not for credit two is that you must have sufficient funds to cover the duration of your stay so in order to be approved for a b Visa you must demonstrate that you have the financial ability to cover your entire stay you cannot pay independently and you can provide evidence that your employer relative or friend will support you three is that you will return to your home country following the Visa's expiration so in order to be approved for a b Visa you must prove that you have a residence abroad that you intend to return to so you must show that you will return following the completion of the activity for which you are seeking a visitor Visa so be prepared to explain your itinerary and discuss your plans to return home uh in your cont interview now getting a visitor Visa is a multi-step process the process may vary depending on the individual US Embassy or consulate and an immigration lawyer can help you through this process so here is a general outline of the B1 B2 process submit form ds160 on the Department of State website upload a passport style photo pay the visa fee schedule your us tourist visa interview appointment prepare evidence of your int ions attend the visa interview and arrive in the United States now once upon a time I had a client who had a Flawless record when it came to entering and exiting the United States on a visitor Visa he had traveled back and forth to the United States from Ethiopia without any issues until one fateful day so on this particular trip he found himself scheduled on a flight with his friends parents who are also traveling to the US but with different plans in mind so they were actually relocating permanently while my client was on his usual temporary visit uh as his home and Business were based in Ethiopia and as fate would have it amidst the chaos of the airport their luggage got mixed up and unbeknownst to my client his bag was mistagged with his friend's parents' belongings they all disembarked the plane and proceeded to collect their bags only to discover the mixup realizing the error my client made the decision to hold on to the bag that bore his name as he believed he was supposed to carry the bag that had his name on it and unfortunately the customs and borders protection so the CBP singled him out for inspection now prior to the inspection my client had confirmed that the bag was not his and was in fact mistagged and his friend's parents luggage and during the inspection CBP officers found documents such as birth certificates and a green card that did not belong to my client this led them to cancel his visitor visa and deny his entry into the US shocked and devastated my client's attempts to obtain another Visa were met with continuous rejections in this situation there was a clear case of misunderstanding that originated from the mishap at the airport and persisted through the scrutiny of CBP despite my client being honest and upfront with the CBP officer my client's intentions were always to visit the US temporarily just as he had done multiple times before but CBP remained uncon convinced in an attempt to rectify the situation we provided a detailed letter to the Embassy explaining the entire incident and emphasizing my client's genuine intention to abide by Visa regulations and avoid any complications we highlighted his strong ties to Ethiopia his desire to remain a permanent resident and citizen of his home country and his temporary need for travel we also included evidence of his strong ties to Ethiopia to include a large business that he could not leave for more than 2 weeks a time his home his religious ties and his community ties this incident serves as a reminder of the discretionary nature of obtaining and retaining a visitor Visa it is crucial to apply for the correct category and ensure strict compliance with Visa regulations even when telling the truth misunderstandings can occur and the consequences can be severe thankfully after presenting substantial evidence and demonstrating my client's innocence the government acknowledged the mistake they realized that he had been truth rulle throughout the entire ordeal now this experience underscored the importance of having sufficient evidence to support one's case and in the end my client was able to obtain a new visitor visa and resume his travels however this incident serves as a valuable lesson reminding us all to handle Visa matters with utmost care and diligence as promised here's some bonus information that you may not know about so here are some tips to increase the likelihood of success of your B1 B2 visa application so clearly Define the purpose of your visit so clearly articulate the specific reasons for your visit whether it's for business meetings tourism or family visits be concise and focus in your application and verbal response during the interview have uh strong ties to your home country so again demonstrate strong ties to your home country to assure the consulate that you have strong reasons to return now this may include employment family connections property ownership or other significant commitments Financial stability so show evidence of your financial stability to cover your travel expenses this can include bank accounts pay stubs or financial sponsorship letters now last but not least be sure to check out the caption below this video we've got questionaires for different types of Visas so that we can help you determine which Visa is most appropriate for you and if you're traveling soon we also have a list of some of my travel favorites so I hope you found this video helpful subscribe if this content or information helps you in any way comment below if you want me to talk about something specific and share this resource widely because you never know who needs answers to these questions additionally if you have any specific questions about this video as they pertain to your unique circumstances please schedule a consultation with us also at the link below and I'll see you in the next video [Music]

Channel: Direct U.S. Immigration

Views: 8,562

Keywords: Immigration law, Immigration lawyer, US Immigration, tourist visa, travel to the US, b1 visa, b2 visa, b1/b2 visa, us visa, tourists, travel 2024, B1/B2 Visa 2024, B1/B2 Visa application 2024, US tourist visa requirements 2024, B1 business visa process, B2 visitor visa guidelines, Applying for B1/B2 Visa 2024, US travel authorization 2024, B1/B2 visa interview tips, Tourist visa documentation 2024, B1/B2 visa eligibility updates, US visa changes in 2024, directusimmigration

Id: tBM7f7cc1R4

Length: 11min 4sec (664 seconds)

Published: Thu Jan 11 2024