Learn what to do…
if I Need a Non-Immigrant Visa or How Do I Apply for a Temporary Visa?
What are Business Visas?
Business visas are a type of non-immigrant visa for the purpose of temporary stay in the U.S. for business purposes. The lengths and limitations for different kinds of business visas varies based on your purpose for coming. These types of visas are not for people who intend to permanently reside in the United States.
According to USCIS, business visas may be used for any of these business-related activites:
- Consulting with business associates
- Traveling for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, or a conference on specific dates
- Settling an estate
- Negotiating a contract
- Participating in short-term training
- Transiting through the United States: certain persons may transit the United States with a B-1 visa
- Deadheading: certain air crewmen may enter the United States as deadhead crew with a B-1 visa
What are Work Permits?
Only certain visa types allow the visa holder to be work eligible. Many temporary visas have strict limitations and only allow work under certain conditions and circumstances. Violating these stipulations and working without authorized permission can cause a visa holder to fall out of status, which puts their lawful presence in the U.S. at risk. The process to become work eligible varies for each visa type, but for those who are eligible, they often need to apply for a work permit.
For example, students on an F-1 visa are often only permitted to work part-time on their campus of study or as part of an internship required for their degree. Any work off campus requires that the student apply for a work permit. F-1 students must work closely with their Designated School Official (DSO) in order to ensure that they are following immigration protocol when participating in work activities.
Other temporary visa holders have similar restrictions and protocols in place that must be followed.
Are you unsure about the work eligibility for your current visa type? Talk to one of our immigration attorneys in the Rio Grande Valley to make sure that you stay in legal immigration status while you are in the United States.