B1 and B2 visas what are they?
The visa B1 / B2 is one of the most requested visas to enter the United States with no intention of immigrating.
Better known as a business and tourism visa, category B1, is intended for business, can be used for those who are going to participate in any event, such as fairs and congresses, as well as participate in business meetings.
The B2 visa, on the other hand, is intended for tourism or visits to the country in order to carry out some medical treatment.
What can be done with the B1 / B2 visa
Tourism;
Shopping;
Participation in Fairs;
Participate in conferences as a listener or as a speaker (without receiving fees);
Business meetings;
Medical consultations with an American doctor;
Surgical interventions;
Signing of contracts;
Purchase of real estate.
Visa requirements
To be eligible for a B1 / B2 visa, you must demonstrate that:
- It has a clear objective when entering the country;
- That the objective of entering the country to do business is legitimate;
- You plan to stay for a specific period of time;
- It has financial funds to cover the expenses of the trip and your stay; in the United States;
- You have a residence outside the United States, which you do not want to leave, as well as other binding ties that will guarantee your return abroad at the end of the visit, such as family, college, etc;
- You are otherwise acceptable to the United States.
STEP BY STEP
STEP 1 – COMPLETE FORM DS-160.
- Allow an hour for this step.
- Stay tuned – These are simple and easy questions, but they need a lot of attention, because in about 60% of the cases in which the American Visa is denied, the reason is for the wrong filling in of this form.
- Be 100% honest when filling out the form.
- All questions are in English, but the site offers translation into your language.
- All responses must be in English.
STEP 2 – PAY THE REQUEST FEE
- Enter the CASV (Visa Applicant Assistance Center) website and pay the MRV fee of U $ 160 via Credit Card or Boleto Bancário.
- This fee is non-refundable, even if your visa is denied.
- Save the payment receipt, you will need it in another step.
STEP 3 – SCHEDULE LOCATION
You will perform two in-person steps to obtain your B1 / B2 visa:
Visit the Visa Applicant Service Center (CASV);
Interview at the consulate or embassy.
Appointments can be made over the internet or through the call center. Remember to print the booking confirmation page. In this step you can choose where you want to receive the visa, via mail or choose to pick it up personally at CASV.
STEP 4 – VISIT TO CASV
You must visit CASV before going to the consulate interview. There they will collect biometric information and take a photo. You must bring:
- Valid and signed passport.
- Confirmation page of the printed DS-160 form (with barcode);
- Schedule confirmation page printed.
5th STEP – CONSULATE INTERVIEW
Applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 must attend the embassy or consulate for their interview on the scheduled date in possession of all their documents and proof of appointment. Pay attention to the schedule and be punctual.
People under the age of 13 or over 80 years old can deliver the documentation through a representative.
6th STEP – PASSPORT DELIVERY
At the end of the interview, you will know if your B1 / B2 visa has been accepted or not.
- If denied, you return home with your passport.
- If accepted, the visa passport will be delivered within ten working days.
If your delivery option was to withdraw from CASV, you will receive an email with instructions on how to withdraw your passport. After going to CASV, your delivery option cannot be changed.
WHAT TO TAKE FOR THE CONSULATE INTERVIEW
- Valid passport signed with a barcode label on the back;
- Old passport with previous visas, if applicable;
- Schedule confirmation page; and
- Documents you consider relevant to prove the information you have entered on the form.
- Working card;
- Income Tax Declaration (IR);
- Proof of recent income;
- Marriage / birth certificates;
- Bank statements from the past few months;
- Vehicle documents;
- Scriptures;
- School statements;
- Employees need letters from employers. Entrepreneurs, need declarations of IR and recent CNPJ certification;
- Previous passports of people traveling with you, especially if they are your family members
- If someone else is going to pay for your trip, it is also important to bring the same types of documents recommended above for applicants.
IMPORTANT INFORMATIONS
In the interview it is not allowed
Electronic devices, even if turned off.
Visa duration
Once the B1 / B2 visa has been approved, it is valid for 10 years.
Length of stay in the country
The maximum time you can stay in the country is 180 days, however, it is the immigration agent who determines the length of stay, which will be indicated on form I-94.
When you arrive in the United States, you will have to go through immigration control and have to complete an I-94 form to deliver it to the agent.
We advise you not to lose sheet I-94, as you will need it to return to your country of origin or residence.
Exceeding the time allowed may result in problems later, and you may even be penalized for not returning to your country on the date indicated by the immigration agent.
RENEWAL OF THE DOCUMENT
The renewal of the B1 / B2 visa can be requested up to 12 months after expiration. In that case, it is only necessary to complete the DS-160 form again and go to CASV. If renewal is requested after the 12-month period, it is necessary to conduct the interview at the Consulate again.
Whoever had the last approved visa under the age of 14 will need to perform all the steps again, as if they were going to apply for the document for the first time.
DOES THE VISA PROVIDE THE WORK OPTION IN THE USA?
No. Although the visa refers to business, it is only intended for occasional appointments, such as meetings, congresses, lectures and other events.
Therefore, the visa holder cannot be employed and / or receive a fixed salary from companies in the United States.
This article was written by Red Consulting USA.