I have couple questions about US Business visa

[Denny_H. 0]

So, I will travel in about a year or two to the US to split ownership of a company with my business partner and also a good friend. He is the owner and I will be a co-owner.

Now I know that I must have a B2 Visa (As I would stay there anywhere from 4 to 6 months).

But I wanted to know if that is possible, as of my research up to date it is.

I would like to hear/know more about if something extra is needed for my trip (other than the stuff on the gov page).

Thanks very much!

 

[Boiler 45,657]

3 hours ago, Denny_H. said:

So, I will travel in about a year or two to the US to split ownership of a company with my business partner and also a good friend. He is the owner and I will be a co-owner.

Now I know that I must have a B2 Visa (As I would stay there anywhere from 4 to 6 months).

But I wanted to know if that is possible, as of my research up to date it is.

I would like to hear/know more about if something extra is needed for my trip (other than the stuff on the gov page).

Thanks very much!

 

Seems a long time to split a business, why do you need so long, I expect that to be questioned

B1 is for business btw

[Denny_H. 0]

 

2 hours ago, Boiler said:

Seems a long time to split a business, why do you need so long, I expect that to be questioned

B1 is for business btw

 Well because I need to be in Germany for 5 years to receive their passport and citizenship and that will happen in about 1/2 years 😁 

Edited October 17, 2021 by Denny_H.

[jan22 3,056]

What do you plan to do for the business during those 4 to 5 months?

[Denny_H. 0]

2 hours ago, jan22 said:

What do you plan to do for the business during those 4 to 5 months?

We will split the ownership of his company (So I will become a co owner and he will stay the owner) and then mostly I will be a tourist because we don't really have to do much as owners

[Boiler 45,657]

Sounds like more a B2.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

If you’ll have a German passport by that stage you’ll (generally)  qualify for 90 days visa free entry on VWP/ESTA. If you’ll be mostly a tourist anyway that’s probably going to just be the easiest way to do it. 

[Denny_H. 0]

6 hours ago, Boiler said:

Sounds like more a B2.

And I heard B2 is needed if I want to stay for longer than 3months

[Denny_H. 0]

5 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

If you’ll have a German passport by that stage you’ll (generally)  qualify for 90 days visa free entry on VWP/ESTA. If you’ll be mostly a tourist anyway that’s probably going to just be the easiest way to do it. 

I know that, but I won't be able to do anything business wise, as state on official US Gov website

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

10 minutes ago, Denny_H. said:

I know that, but I won't be able to do anything business wise, as state on official US Gov website

There is no difference between what you can do on a B1/B2 visa and what you can do on VWP. 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

5 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

There is no difference between what you can do on a B1/B2 visa and what you can do on VWP. 

Here is your official US government website proving this , it even explicitly states “Travel Purpose Must be Permitted on a Visitor (B) Visa”

If whatever you want to do is not the type of examples described below then it won’t be covered by a B visa either.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html

 

The following are examples of activities permitted while in the United States on the VWP. In addition, transiting through the United States to other countries is generally permitted for VWP travelers.

 

Business:

• consult with business associates
• attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference
• attend short-term training (you may not be paid by any source in the United States with the exception of expenses incidental to your stay)
• negotiate a contract

Learn more about Business Travel to the United States (PDF - 362 KB).

 

Tourism:

• tourism
• vacation (holiday)
• visit with friends or relatives
• medical treatment
• participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
• participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
• enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)
•  

Edited October 18, 2021 by SusieQQQ

[Denny_H. 0]

11 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Here is your official US government website proving this , it even explicitly states “Travel Purpose Must be Permitted on a Visitor (B) Visa”

If whatever you want to do is not the type of examples described below then it won’t be covered by a B visa either.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html

 

The following are examples of activities permitted while in the United States on the VWP. In addition, transiting through the United States to other countries is generally permitted for VWP travelers.

 

Business:

• consult with business associates
• attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference
• attend short-term training (you may not be paid by any source in the United States with the exception of expenses incidental to your stay)
• negotiate a contract

Learn more about Business Travel to the United States (PDF - 362 KB).

 

Tourism:

• tourism
• vacation (holiday)
• visit with friends or relatives
• medical treatment
• participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
• participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
• enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)
•  

Oh wow! That's amazing! But I will need B2 to stay for longer than 3 months (90 days), but I love that I can do Business under VWP! That's good because in case I am able to travel to US if needed for a Business trip instead of having to wait for Visa! 

[Denny_H. 0]

11 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Here is your official US government website proving this , it even explicitly states “Travel Purpose Must be Permitted on a Visitor (B) Visa”

If whatever you want to do is not the type of examples described below then it won’t be covered by a B visa either.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html

 

The following are examples of activities permitted while in the United States on the VWP. In addition, transiting through the United States to other countries is generally permitted for VWP travelers.

 

Business:

• consult with business associates
• attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference
• attend short-term training (you may not be paid by any source in the United States with the exception of expenses incidental to your stay)
• negotiate a contract

Learn more about Business Travel to the United States (PDF - 362 KB).

 

Tourism:

• tourism
• vacation (holiday)
• visit with friends or relatives
• medical treatment
• participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
• participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
• enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)
•  

And thank you for making this a lot more clean! It definitely makes it better! 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

9 minutes ago, Denny_H. said:

Oh wow! That's amazing! But I will need B2 to stay for longer than 3 months (90 days), but I love that I can do Business under VWP! That's good because in case I am able to travel to US if needed for a Business trip instead of having to wait for Visa! 

Why do you need to stay longer than 90 days if it is mostly tourism? This is what I don’t understand. Your statements are a little contradictory. If it is mostly tourism, you may find it hard to prove ties to home and therefore be denied a B visa. If you are denied a B visa, you won’t get an ESTA to use the VWP either. This is why the general recommendation to those who qualify for VWP is just to use it and be satisfied with 90 days at a time, rather than risk refusal on both because you now have to actively overcome the usual obstacles to getting a B visa.

 

 

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from Work Visas to Tourist Visas forum -- topic is about B1/B2/ESTA ***