Things to Know About the US Business (B1) Visa Application Process

The US business visa is a temporary travel permit that citizens of countries subject to visas must obtain in accordance with the US visa policy for their commercial activities in the US, such as business meetings, fair and conference participation.

The American business visa, also known as the American work visa, is one of the temporary visitor visa (B) types and is issued with the B1 code. The American business visa is issued as a multiple entry and has a validity period of 10 years, but the visa holder has the right to stay in the US territory for a maximum of 6 months in a single entry.

Situations in which you can get a US Business Visa

A US business visa can be obtained in the situations listed below.

  • Meeting with business partners
  • Travelling for a scientific, educational, professional or commercial meeting or conference on specific dates
  • Settlement of a property
  • Negotiating a contract
  • Receiving short-term training

How to Get a USA B1 Visa?

For US business visit visa applications, the steps below must be followed in order.

  • The online DS-160 visa application form is filled out and a confirmation printout is taken.
  • B1 visa application fee is paid.
  • An interview appointment is made at the US consulate.
  • Necessary documents for a business visa are prepared.
  • On the appointment date, documents are delivered, fingerprints are recorded and a visa interview is carried out.

At the end of the visa interview, the consular officer informs that the visa has been approved, that an administrative review process will be initiated for the submission of additional documents, or that the visa has been rejected. After the approved application, the passport is collected from the PTT center where the foreign representative office operates, within an average of 10 days, depending on the workload of the consulate.

US Business Visa Application Form

In order to apply for a US business visa, the first step is to fill out the DS-160 form via ceac.state.gov. In the travel information section of the online form, the purpose of travel should be marked as BUSINESS-B1; then, complete information such as the dates of the business trip, places to stay, and how expenses will be covered must be provided.

The DS-160 US visa application form image is given below.

After filling out the form, the applicant’s digital biometric photograph must be uploaded and a printout of the barcoded confirmation page must be taken.

USA Business Visa Fee

The US business visa application fee is $185 and must be paid before making an appointment for the visa. This amount increases if travel health insurance, translation services and consultancy services are purchased.

To pay the business visa application fee, after completing the DS-160 form, an account must be created with the application form code at usvisa-info.com. On this page; after selecting the foreign representative office where the interview will be held, the fee payment must be made in accordance with the instructions given.

Appointment for US Business Visa

An appointment for a US business visa from Turkey can be made from the visa unit of the US Embassy in Ankara or the US Consulate General in Istanbul. To make an appointment, first pay the visa application fee at usvisa-info.com and then select the appointment date and time to complete the process. After making an appointment, a printout of the appointment confirmation document sent to the applicant via e-mail must be prepared.

Documents Required for US Business Visa

For US business visa applications, the documents listed below are requested.

  • DS-160 application form approval printout
  • Current and undamaged passport
  • Commercial invitation letter from the USA
  • Supporting visa documents*
  • Identity card
  • 1 biometric photo
  • Old passport and US visas, if any
  • Appointment confirmation email printout

* In US business visa applications, supporting documents must be submitted to prove the person’s purpose of travel to the US, financial situation, and family, economic, and social ties to Turkey. Supporting business visa documents can be listed by making the relevant selections on the US visa required documents page.

What to Submit for Fair Participation

Visitors who will attend a fair in the United States must submit a fair invitation, fair ticket or entrance card. Applicants who will open a stand at the fair can submit documents such as fair registration document and stand plan in their US fair visa application.

B1 Visa Interview and Fingerprint Procedures

On the appointment date, the applicant will go to the US consulate, submit the prepared visa documents, have their digital fingerprints recorded, and have a visa interview with a consular officer. If additional documentation is deemed necessary, the applicant will be notified at this stage.

After the business visa interview, the US visa tracking process can be done via https://ceac.state.gov/.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the US business visit visa are provided below.

Can I Work in the USA with a Business Visit B1 Visa?

It is not possible to work in the United States with a business visitor B1 visa.

With a B1 visa, you can work as a domestic worker or caregiver for a foreign employer who is temporarily in the United States. In this case, applicants must apply for a US caregiver visa by following the business visitor visa procedure but also submitting additional documents.

I Have a Business Visa, Can My Family Come to the United States?

No, family members of a business visa holder cannot come to the United States. Since the B1 visa is an individual temporary visa, dependent family members cannot be included in the application. Spouses, children, or other family members must also apply for a B2 visitor (tourist visa) visa in order to join the B1 visa holder in the United States.

Applications for tourist visas for family members in the US are evaluated separately from those for a B1 visa. In other words, the applicant for a B2 visa must prove with supporting documents that he/she has sufficient financial resources under all circumstances and will return to the country.

What Visa Do I Need to Do Business in the USA?

To do business in the US, you must obtain an American E1 trader visa. The E1 visa is one of the non-immigrant visa types that allows citizens of a country that has a trade agreement with the US to establish a business in the US and live in the country temporarily, solely for the purpose of conducting international trade in technology, goods and services in their own names and on their own account.

Thanks to the trade agreement signed between Turkey and the United States on February 15, 1933, it is possible for Turkish citizens who meet the necessary conditions to obtain an American E1 trade visa to engage in international commercial activities in the United States .