A foreign national traveling to the United States to conduct temporary business needs a visitor visa (B-1) unless qualifying for entry under the Visa Waiver Program.
Examples of temporary business include:
- Attending business meetings or consultations
- Attending a business convention or conference
- Negotiating contracts
Most citizens of participating countries (see NOTE below) may travel to the United States for short visits for temporary business without a visa through the Visa Waiver Program.
Travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program requires ESTA approval.
While citizens of Canada and Bermuda generally do not need visas to conduct temporary business, some business trips may require a visa.
NOTE
With respect to a “country” or “countries” participating in VWP, it should be noted that the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, Pub. L. No. 96-8, Section 4(b)(1), provides that “[w]henever the laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with respect to Taiwan.” 22 U.S.C. § 3303(b)(1). Accordingly, all references to “country” or “countries” in the Visa Waiver Program authorizing legislation, Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1187, are read to include Taiwan. This is consistent with the one-China policy of the United States, under which the United States has maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan since 1979.
