B1/B2 Visa with Annotation(B1)

[Paleshah 0]

I had to visit US to inspect some machines which my company had purchased. I applied for US B1/B2 Visa. I got only two months single entry B1/B2 visa with annotation "Going to OK to inspect some GE purchased equipment". Unfortunately I wasn't able to visit for machine inspection & now i want to visit for tourism. As the visa is B1/B2 can I utilize this for tourism with this case specific Annotation written on it?

[Unlockable 7,322]

Sounds like they gave you a business visa and now you want to use it as a tourist visa.

 

Here is the risk. If you come here, the border agent will ask you the purpose of your visit. Since you should not lie and it is also illegal to lie to an agent, you will need to tell him/her that your purpose is tourism. The agent will look at the notation on you visa and could likely deny you entry.

 

Most people who get tourist visas get multi-year multiple entry visa. Your visa is a one time use. The reason you got that visa is because you proved it was important that you go to the US strictly for business purposes. That is why your visa is so limited in use.

 

The reason it is so hard for some people to get a tourist visa to the US is because sometimes they are a risk of using the visa for other reasons, like living and working in the US. Agents have to make a judgement call when letting people enter. If you are trying to use a visa for something other than what it was issued then that will be a red flag.

[Paleshah 0]

16 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

Sounds like they gave you a business visa and now you want to use it as a tourist visa.

 

Here is the risk. If you come here, the border agent will ask you the purpose of your visit. Since you should not lie and it is also illegal to lie to an agent, you will need to tell him/her that your purpose is tourism. The agent will look at the notation on you visa and could likely deny you entry.

 

Most people who get tourist visas get multi-year multiple entry visa. Your visa is a one time use. The reason you got that visa is because you proved it was important that you go to the US strictly for business purposes. That is why your visa is so limited in use.

 

The reason it is so hard for some people to get a tourist visa to the US is because sometimes they are a risk of using the visa for other reasons, like living and working in the US. Agents have to make a judgement call when letting people enter. If you are trying to use a visa for something other than what it was issued then that will be a red flag.

Then why embassy has issued B1/B2. They should have to issue B1 only.

[Dashinka 25,844]

36 minutes ago, Paleshah said:

Then why embassy has issued B1/B2. They should have to issue B1 only.

Didn't they kind of do that by putting the annotation on it showing it was specifically for business purposes?

[Paleshah 0]

9 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Didn't they kind of do that by putting the annotation on it showing it was specifically for business purposes?

What do you people recommend, should I visit or not?

Secondly if the immigration officer don't allow me to enter US then what will they do? will the d-port me to my passport country?

[Christy&J 837]

3 minutes ago, Paleshah said:

What do you people recommend, should I visit or not?

Secondly if the immigration officer don't allow me to enter US then what will they do? will the d-port me to my passport country?

I would not go there as tourist with your business visa... I would apply for tourist visa now.

 

if they found out that you are there with wrong purpose and wrong visa they will put you into flight and send  you back and if you are lucky they wont put any stamp on your passport if they do then you have a fraud temptation stamp on your record for the rest of your life  

 

Good luck with whatever you decide

[gregcrs2 1,780]

1 minute ago, Paleshah said:

What do you people recommend, should I visit or not?

Secondly if the immigration officer don't allow me to enter US then what will they do? will the d-port me to my passport country?

Not recommended.  If denied entry into USA, they would typically put you on a plane back to country of flight origination and if you are very lucky they will not put a denied entry into your passport.  If you really want to visit, you can apply for a tourist visa only.  It seems your current visa was issued on the basis of a business trip only.

[SusieQQQ 11,588]

I agree, it is extremely unusual to get a 2-month single entry visa. That plus the annotation make it clear it is intended for this single-purpose business visit only.

 

it also looks suspicious (and trust me, if you think we are suspicious wait till you face a CBP officer) that you are unable to use the visa for the purpose under which it is was granted yet are still within the very narrow timeframe of the visa to be able to consider using it for tourism.

 

if you are denied entry you will have to note this on every future US visa application, as well as certain others (the UK for example asks if you’ve ever been denied entry anywhere, I believe Canada does as well) so it could end up being a problem for future travel not only to the US but elsewhere too. You will have to be truthful about the denied admission irrespective of whether or not your passport gets stamped with that fact.

 

by the way, is there actually such a thing as B1 or B2 only visa? In all my days of visit visas, for both tourism and work, I was only ever issued combined B1/B2s. I just assumed that was the only way they issued them.

Edited December 18, 2017 by SusieQQQ

[Boiler 47,453]

I would go back and get a visa without the annotation.

[az2014 381]

35 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

 

it also looks suspicious (and trust me, if you think we are suspicious wait till you face a CBP officer) that you are unable to use the visa for the purpose under which it is was granted yet are still within the very narrow timeframe of the visa to be able to consider using it for tourism.

Exactly, it's pretty clear what's going on here no need to even say it. The CBP will see it too and put the OP on the first flight back home.

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

If you, and company, went through the hassle to procure a visa, why back out?  Surely your company invested in the visa AND the equipment. Odd

[Californiansunset 336]

7 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

I agree, it is extremely unusual to get a 2-month single entry visa. That plus the annotation make it clear it is intended for this single-purpose business visit only.

 

it also looks suspicious (and trust me, if you think we are suspicious wait till you face a CBP officer) that you are unable to use the visa for the purpose under which it is was granted yet are still within the very narrow timeframe of the visa to be able to consider using it for tourism.

 

if you are denied entry you will have to note this on every future US visa application, as well as certain others (the UK for example asks if you’ve ever been denied entry anywhere, I believe Canada does as well) so it could end up being a problem for future travel not only to the US but elsewhere too. You will have to be truthful about the denied admission irrespective of whether or not your passport gets stamped with that fact.

 

by the way, is there actually such a thing as B1 or B2 only visa? In all my days of visit visas, for both tourism and work, I was only ever issued combined B1/B2s. I just assumed that was the only way they issued them.

I had a B1 visa two years ago and not a combination of B1/B2, so it does exist and actually makes me wonder why they gave OP the combi visa. I was asked at the consulate how many months of my 6 months stay would be for business purpose and I guess because I said all of it, they gave me the B1 visa with an annotation saying something about "employment for non-profit" or something like that and it stated a law.

 

I agree with the rest though, I wouldn't use this visa for tourism purposes... 

[SusieQQQ 11,588]

43 minutes ago, Californiansunset said:

I had a B1 visa two years ago and not a combination of B1/B2, so it does exist and actually makes me wonder why they gave OP the combi visa. I was asked at the consulate how many months of my 6 months stay would be for business purpose and I guess because I said all of it, they gave me the B1 visa with an annotation saying something about "employment for non-profit" or something like that and it stated a law.

 

I agree with the rest though, I wouldn't use this visa for tourism purposes... 

Ok, that may be why. Wonder if they asked the OP a similar question? I know almost no one other than very frequent travelers who never takes any time at all to do some sightseeing on a business trip. I have heard of other people who’ve been issued a combo B1/B2 with annotations describing the business purpose for which they have primarily been issued the visa for. 

[mustang85635 182]

I only had a B2 visa but multiple entry 10 years before I did AOS. I applied for tourism but the application always says B1/B2 IDK I think the officers decide they circle your piece of paper and I think it heavily depends on the officer interviewing you.

[Paleshah 0]

If I contact US consulate or embassy in my country and tell them all the situation and get their opinion on it.

Do you think that they will respond?

 

Edited December 19, 2017 by Paleshah