Builders and Contractors Exchange
Weekly Bulletin: 15 Aug 2005
Worldwide Business Visa Center
Opens July 15, 2005
By: Mara Mijal
The Department of State has recently announced its latest step in an ongoing effort to better facilitate the issuance of B-1 visas for legitimate business travelers worldwide. As of July 15, the U.S.-China Business Initiative, which began as a pilot program in January, expanded into a new Business Visa Center available to assist businesses in the United States and their partners, customers, and colleagues worldwide. (The Department of State requests that overseas companies continue to direct their inquiries to the appropriate consul overseas.)
The Business Visa Center assists American businesses by explaining the B-1 business visitor visa process when they invite employees or current and prospective business clients and partners to the United States. This involves providing information to U.S. companies about the application process for visas for those seeking to travel to the U.S. for business purposes. The Business Visa Center will work with both the companies and the consular officers, when needed, to communicate information effectively between U.S businesses and the embassies and consulates worldwide.
In addition, the Bureau of Consular Affairs will continue to maintain a list of "Upcoming Conferences" to be held in the United States. This list is for conferences in the United States that expect a large number of foreign visitors where Visa Services has received notification by the U.S. organizer of the event. The list not only provides Consular officers around the world with information on the event, but may also include a list of event participants when one is provided by the event coordinator. The list, however, is not available to the public; it is meant to streamline visa processing for attendees of such events.
Improved information for businesses and the public, in the form of up-to-date details about wait times for interviews and processing times, is available on most embassy web sites and the travel.state.gov web site. This information allows business travelers to better prepare for their interview and better plan their trip.
Generally, the travel appropriate for a business B-1 visa includes travel to consult with business associates; attend a scientific, educational, professional or business convention or conference on specific dates; settle an estate; or negotiate a contract. Other types of business travel may also be appropriate if the B-1 category requirements are met. If you have specific questions about the requirements for a B-1 visa, temporary work visas, or permanent immigration options, you should contact an immigration attorney.
Questions?
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This article is meant to bring awareness to this topic and is not intended to be used as legal advice.