B-Visas for Business or Pleasure
The B-visa is a nonimmigrant visa for visitors seeking entry into the U.S. temporarily for business (B-1) or pleasure (B-2).
Citizens of certain countries are also eligible to enter temporarily for business or pleasure under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Visitors arriving under the VWP do not need to apply for a B-visa however all nonimmigrants traveling to the U.S. via air or sea under the VWP must apply for travel authorization through Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP’s) Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
B-1 Visa Visitors
The B-1 visa permits persons to come to the U.S. for short-term, temporary professional activities related to their employment abroad, for example:
Activities Allowed with a B-1 Nonimmigrant Visa (Business Visa)
You can attend scientific, educational, professional, or business conferences, conventions, or seminars.
The B-1 visa may allow independent research in some cases, but it:
- must be purely observational or consultative
- provides no benefit to RPI
- cannot involve active collaboration or contribution to ongoing research projects
Visitors may attend business meetings and consult with business associates or partners in the U.S.
The B-1 visa may be used for observing a specific technique or process in a U.S. lab but not directly contribute to activities or research.
Individuals may enter the United States to give a lecture with a B-1 visa or under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). They may be paid an honorarium and be reimbursed by RPI for travel and living expenses related to the lecture.
The lecturer may only be paid an honorarium and/or reimbursement if they have not received payment from more than five other institutions in the past six months and the academic activity lasts less than nine days.
Activities Not Allowed with a B-1 Nonimmigrant Visa (Business Visa)
A B-1 visa does not allow active participation in collaborative or guided research. This includes hands-on research or any research that requires you to work in coordination with a U.S. institution or researcher. If RCS access is needed, a J-1 visa is most appropriate.
A B-1 visa does not allow foreign nationals to gain practical experience or engage in training typically associated with employment or active work.
Volunteering to do work that an organization would typically pay someone to do (such as research or administrative tasks) is not permitted.
Collaborative research or guidance in research projects require a different visa, such as a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa for academic or research purposes.
Payments to B-1 Visa Visitors
Reimbursement for expenses like travel, housing, and meals is allowed but should not exceed reasonable amounts. Certain honorarium payments and reimbursements for reasonable and incidental expenses are permissible, provided all the following conditions are met:
- The visitor is performing an academic activity for the benefit of RPI.
- The activity being compensated is performed within 9 days.
- The individual has not accepted honorarium payment or reimbursement for qualifying activities from more than five institutions in the previous 6-month period.
B-2 Nonimmigrant Visa Visitors
The B-2 visa permits persons to come to the U.S. for recreational activities or to receive medical treatment.
Cohabitating partners and extended family members who are ineligible for dependent status on other visas (e.g., H-4, J-2) may qualify for a B-2 visa.
- Tourism
- Vacation (holiday)
- Visit with friends or relatives
- Medical treatment
- Participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
- Participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
- Enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)
Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
The VWP enables citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for business or tourism for 90 days without obtaining a B-1 or B-2 visa. To determine eligibility to travel through the VWP, all travelers must submit information through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel. If admitted into the U.S., those entering for business purposes will receive an I-94 record listing WB (Waiver Business) status and those entering for tourism will receive an I-94 record listing (Waiver Tourism) WT status.
Activities allowed for WB status are similar to B-1 status. Activities allowed for WT status are similar to B-2 status.
