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The non-immigrant visitor category
may be used by foreign nationals who would like to make a short term
visit to the US. This category requires the foreign national
to have a foreign residence abroad that he has no intention of
abandoning, and to show that he will not work or study in the US.
There are four basic visitors classifications:
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B-1 visitors for business,
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B-2 tourists or visitors for
pleasure,
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WB waiver for business, and
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WT waiver for tourist.
B-1 and B-2 visitors must typically have
visas in order to enter the US. These visitors may be
admitted into the US for an initial period of up to six months.
They may also file to extend their stay for up to an
additional six-month period, or file an application to change their
status to another nonimmigrant or immigrant status, if eligible.
As for WB and WT visitors,
only citizens of certain countries are eligible to enter the US
under these classification. WB and WT visitors are visa exempt, meaning
that they do not need to apply for a US visa before entering the US.
However, they may only be admitted to the US for a maximum period of 90 days.
Also, visitors under these categories are not allowed to extend
their stay in the US or change their status to another nonimmigrant
or immigrant category. (There may be an exception for WB or WT
visitors who are immediate relatives of a US
citizen.) |
PLEASE NOTE: Immigration law and regulations change
frequently. In order to protect yourself you should make sure that
you understand the laws and how they apply to you. If you
have questions about your status, you should consult an expert. If you would like to be notified about recent
changes to this website, or if you would like to receive Immigration
Tips by email, please provide us with
your email address. If
you would like help from Ms. Chappell-Daly,
please contact her.
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