Generally, foreign national business travelers require a visa in order to apply for admission, unless exempted as described below.

The 'visitor' visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the US to engage in legitimate activities of a commercial nature (but not labor for hire) temporarily for business (B1). Examples of type B1 visas are: if the purpose for your planned travel is to consult with business associates; travel for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention; conference on specific dates; settle an estate; or negotiate a contract.

Foreign travelers, who are citizens from certain eligible countries, may be able to visit the US without a visa on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The VWP enables citizens of certain countries to travel to the US for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. A visa is not required for citizens of Canada for tourism, business, nor most other nonimmigrant purposes. The following APEC economies participate in the VWP: Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Japan; Korea; New Zealand and Singapore.  All VWP travelers are now required to obtain a travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to traveling to the US under the VWP. ESTA is now accessible online at https://esta/cbp.dhs.gov for citizens and eligible nationals of VWP countries.

The B1 visa does not permit entry to the US. A visa indicates that the holder's application has been reviewed by a US consular officer at an American embassy or consulate, and that the officer determined that the applicant was eligible to travel to a US port-of-entry. At the port-of-entry the Department of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection Officer decides whether to allow the traveler to enter and how long the traveler can stay. Only the US Customs and Border Protection Officer has the authority to permit entry into the US. The US Customs and Border Protection Officer will issue a Form I-94 - Record of Arrival-Departure, with the authorized length of stay in the US. It is important for the traveler to return the I-94 upon departure as failure to do so could cause delays in entry into the US on future trips.

It is important to apply for a visa well in advance of the travel departure date.

A machine-readable passport is required for a Visa Waiver business traveler. A machine-readable passport is a passport that conforms with the specifications of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), formulated to improve facilitation and enhance security, containing a mandatory data summary reflecting essential data elements capable of being machine read. Use of the Visa Waiver Program further requires that passports issued on or after October 26, 2006 by 'E-passports', meaning they possesss an integrated circuit, or 'chip', containing information from the data page.

Each applicant for a visa must submit the following forms and documentation:

• The appropriate Nonimmigrant Visa Application. Note that implementation of the online, electronic visa application process is being phased in, with the expectation that the process will be completed in Spring, 2010. At those posts where the online application is not yet available, these requirements apply:
  • An application, Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-156, completed and signed. The form is accessed and completed online at the website of the US Embassy or Consulate where the traveler plans to apply, printed, and brought to the Embassy or Consulate at the time of the visa interview.
  • A Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-157 provides additional information about your travel plans. Submission of this completed form is required for all male applicants between 16-45 years of age.
• Where already introduced, the electronic Non-Immigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160, which is completed online and signed electronically (instead of the DS-156 and DS-157). The form is accessible through the website of the US Embassy or Consulate where the traveler plans to apply. Information about the form is available at http://travel.state.gov./visa/frvi/forms/forms_4401.html.
• A passport valid for travel to the US and with a validity date at least 6 months beyond ending date of the applicant's intended period of stay in the US. If more than one person is included in the passport, each person desiring a visa must make an application.
• Proof of an un-relinquished foreign residence is required.

It is recommended that a visa application be submitted well in advance of intended travel. Contact the nearest US Embassy or Consulate for a current time estimate and recommendations. Processing times for the various embassies can be located at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php.

Multiple entry visas can be issued depending on the needs of the traveler and the circumstances of the traveler's case.

B1: Alien is admitted for the time necessary to complete business, not to exceed 1 year.

Visas can be issued bearing validity dates that vary due to the circumstances of the case. Unless previously revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date. The authorized time an individual is granted to stay in the US is determined at the time of entry at a port-of-entry by a US Customs and Border Protection Officer and is recorded on Form I-94, Record of Arrival-Departure. This time frame is different than the validity of the visa.

An individual must file an application for extension prior to the end of his or her authorized time of stay. Those visitors who wish to stay beyond the time indicated on their Form I-94. Record of Arrival-Departure, must contact the USCIS to request Form I-539, Application to Extend Status.