B-1 Visa
The B-1 nonimmigrant visa is for individuals traveling to the U.S. for business. Generally, this visa is for short visits, and intial approvals range from one week to six months. Because of the nature of this duration limit, there are several unique requirements you must fulfill to be eligible for the B-1 visa that you do not need for other nonimmigrant visas, such as the H-1B or H-2B visas.
To be eligible for the B-1, you must meet these requirements:
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You must prove that you have a permanent home outside of the U.S. alongside other obligations which will ensure you return to your country of origin.
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Your employer, who is the official applicant for your visa, must have their principle place of business outside of the U.S.
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You need to already have a specific limited time for your stay.
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Finally, any payment you recieve must be abroad, except money used to cover daily expenses during your stay. Proving that you and your employer can finance your stay independently goes along with this.
There are very clear regulations with regards to what you can and cannot do while on this visa. The Department of State, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services all have manuels referencing these regulations.
The primary prohibitions include:
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Obtaining employment while in the U.S. or otherwise working for a company which is not your original sponser.
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Enroll in classes for study. To study in the U.S., you would first need to change your visa status to an F-1 or M-1 visa.
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Building or construction work.
The B-1 visa is most useful for people who are traveling to the U.S. to do consulting or negotiating with a U.S. company, attend a conference, do independent research, or transport goods by truck either to the U.S. or through the U.S.