B-1 VISA - BUSINESS
Acceptable B-1 Activities
Selling
An individual traveling to the United States to take part in
an exhibition, set up an exhibition booth, display samples, sign
contracts, and take orders for merchandise produced in and delivered
from the United Kingdom, may be eligible for a B-1 visa or visa free
travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP. The holder of a B-1 visa or a
VWP traveler may not actually sell or take orders for merchandise
produced in the United States. If the proposed activities are not as
described, a temporary work (H-2) visa will be required.
Service Engineer
If the engineer(s) will install, service or repair
commercial or industrial equipment or machinery sold by a company in the
United Kingdom to a buyer in the United States, and the purchase
contract requires that the UK company provide such services, then the
B-1 visa or visa free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, (VWP) is
appropriate. However, in such cases, the engineer(s) must possess the
specialized knowledge essential to perform the services, receive no
remuneration from a U.S. source, and the company must not receive any
payment for these services in addition to that specified in the original
contract of sale. If the proposed activities are not exactly as
described, temporary work visas (H-2) will be required. Please note that
the B-1 visa or travel under the VWP does not cover building or
construction work, even if the purchase contract requires that the
company provide such services. In such cases, the employees must always
qualify for H-2 visas. |
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TEMPORARY WORK VISAS
Anyone going to the United States with the intention of
working there temporarily must obtain a nonimmigrant work visa. Persons
entering the United States on a visitor or business visa, or under the
Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are not permitted to work.
Unlike some countries, the United States government does not
issue work visas for casual employment. In general, work visas are
based on a specific offer of employment.
The most common categories of nonimmigrant work visas are listed below:
Temporary Work Visa (H)
Required by an alien who is to perform a
prearranged professional or highly skilled job for a temporary period,
or to fill a temporary position for which there is a shortage of U.S.
workers, or receive training from an employer. The employment or
training must be approved in advance by the United States Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States on the basis of an
application filed by the prospective employer.
Intra-company Transferee Visa (L-1)
Required by an alien who is being transferred by
his current employer to a specific executive or technical job with the
same firm, or subsidiary thereof, in the United States. The employment
must be approved in advance by the USCIS in the United States on the
basis of an application filed by the prospective employer.
Treaty Trader/Investor Visas (E -1 and E-2)
Required by a national of a country with which the
United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation who wishes
to go to the United States: to carry on substantial trade, including
trade in services or technology, principally between the United States
and the treaty country; or to develop and direct the operations of an
enterprise in which the national has invested; or is in the process of
investing a substantial amount of capital, may qualify for a
nonimmigrant Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor visa. |
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O VISAS - PERSONS WITH EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY &
MEMBERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT PROFESSION AND P VISA - ATHLETES, ARTISTS
& ENTERTAINERS
O Visa
The O visa classification provides for the admission into the United
States of persons with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts,
education, business and athletics, or extraordinary achievement in
motion picture and television production, and their essential support
personnel.
Only individuals qualify for the O-1 visa category. In order for a group
to qualify, each member would be required to meet the extraordinary
ability test. The visa is granted for a specific event, such as a tour,
lecture series or project.
For athletes and members of the entertainment industry, a provision
exists whereby aliens, who are an integral part of the performance and
have skills and experience which are not available in the United States
location, may apply for O-2 visas to accompany the O-1 visa holder.
P Visas
The P-1 visa classification provides for admission into the United
States of certain athletes, entertainers and artists, and essential
support personnel. Individual members of the entertainment industry are
not eligible for the P-1 visa classification, but individual athletes
are. For members of the entertainment industry, the visa will be issued
for a specific event only. However, individual athletes may be admitted
for five years and a team for a period of six months.
The P-2 visa classification provides for the admission into the United
States of an artist or entertainer, either an individual or group,
involved in a reciprocal exchange program between an organization or
organizations in the United States and one or more foreign countries
which provides for the temporary exchange of artists and entertainers.
The P-3 visa classification provides for the admission into the United
States of an artist or entertainer, either an individual or group, to
perform, teach, or coach under a program that is culturally unique.
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Acceptable B-1 Activities
Selling
An individual traveling to the United States to take part in
an exhibition, set up an exhibition booth, display samples, sign
contracts, and take orders for merchandise produced in and delivered
from the United Kingdom, may be eligible for a B-1 visa or visa free
travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP. The holder of a B-1 visa or a
VWP traveler may not actually sell or take orders for merchandise
produced in the United States. If the proposed activities are not as
described, a temporary work (H-2) visa will be required.
Service Engineer
If the engineer(s) will install, service or repair
commercial or industrial equipment or machinery sold by a company in the
United Kingdom to a buyer in the United States, and the purchase
contract requires that the UK company provide such services, then the
B-1 visa or visa free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, (VWP) is
appropriate. However, in such cases, the engineer(s) must possess the
specialized knowledge essential to perform the services, receive no
remuneration from a U.S. source, and the company must not receive any
payment for these services in addition to that specified in the original
contract of sale. If the proposed activities are not exactly as
described, temporary work visas (H-2) will be required. Please note that
the B-1 visa or travel under the VWP does not cover building or
construction work, even if the purchase contract requires that the
company provide such services. In such cases, the employees must always
qualify for H-2 visas. |
|
|
Anyone going to the United States with the intention of
working there temporarily must obtain a nonimmigrant work visa. Persons
entering the United States on a visitor or business visa, or under the
Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are not permitted to work.
Unlike some countries, the United States government does not
issue work visas for casual employment. In general, work visas are
based on a specific offer of employment.
The most common categories of nonimmigrant work visas are listed below:
Temporary Work Visa (H)
Required by an alien who is to perform a
prearranged professional or highly skilled job for a temporary period,
or to fill a temporary position for which there is a shortage of U.S.
workers, or receive training from an employer. The employment or
training must be approved in advance by the United States Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States on the basis of an
application filed by the prospective employer.
Intra-company Transferee Visa (L-1)
Required by an alien who is being transferred by
his current employer to a specific executive or technical job with the
same firm, or subsidiary thereof, in the United States. The employment
must be approved in advance by the USCIS in the United States on the
basis of an application filed by the prospective employer.
Treaty Trader/Investor Visas (E -1 and E-2)
Required by a national of a country with which the
United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation who wishes
to go to the United States: to carry on substantial trade, including
trade in services or technology, principally between the United States
and the treaty country; or to develop and direct the operations of an
enterprise in which the national has invested; or is in the process of
investing a substantial amount of capital, may qualify for a
nonimmigrant Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor visa. |
|
|
O VISAS - PERSONS WITH EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY &
MEMBERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT PROFESSION AND P VISA - ATHLETES, ARTISTS
& ENTERTAINERS
O Visa
The O visa classification provides for the admission into the United
States of persons with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts,
education, business and athletics, or extraordinary achievement in
motion picture and television production, and their essential support
personnel.
Only individuals qualify for the O-1 visa category. In order for a group
to qualify, each member would be required to meet the extraordinary
ability test. The visa is granted for a specific event, such as a tour,
lecture series or project.
For athletes and members of the entertainment industry, a provision
exists whereby aliens, who are an integral part of the performance and
have skills and experience which are not available in the United States
location, may apply for O-2 visas to accompany the O-1 visa holder.
P Visas
The P-1 visa classification provides for admission into the United
States of certain athletes, entertainers and artists, and essential
support personnel. Individual members of the entertainment industry are
not eligible for the P-1 visa classification, but individual athletes
are. For members of the entertainment industry, the visa will be issued
for a specific event only. However, individual athletes may be admitted
for five years and a team for a period of six months.
The P-2 visa classification provides for the admission into the United
States of an artist or entertainer, either an individual or group,
involved in a reciprocal exchange program between an organization or
organizations in the United States and one or more foreign countries
which provides for the temporary exchange of artists and entertainers.
The P-3 visa classification provides for the admission into the United
States of an artist or entertainer, either an individual or group, to
perform, teach, or coach under a program that is culturally unique.
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