US - Non-Immigrant - Travel Visas
Citizens of most nations require a visa to visit the United States. Citizens of Canada may enter the U.S. without a passport under NAFTA, while citizens of Korea, Japan and many European Countries can enter visa free under the Visa Waiver program.
Currently, 35 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program, as shown below:
| Andorra | Iceland |
Norway |
Australia |
Ireland |
Portugal |
Austria |
Italy |
San Marino |
Belgium |
Japan |
Singapore |
Brunei |
Latvia |
Slovakia |
Czech Republic |
Liechtenstein |
Slovenia |
Denmark |
Lithuania |
South Korea |
Estonia |
Luxembourg |
Spain |
Finland |
Malta |
Sweden |
France |
Monaco |
Switzerland |
Germany |
The Netherlands |
United Kingdom |
Hungary |
New Zealand |
|
Visitors for business or pleasure can apply for a B1/B2 visa at the nearest consulate. B1/B2 visas are relatively easy to maintain. The applicant must be able to show:
- Significant ties to his or her home country, including a residence, family, employment, or other ties;
- The ability to support him or herself while in the U.S.; and
- A clean criminal history.
In general, air travelers are required to have a return ticket when visiting the U.S.
Business visitors can generally engage in business activities other than the performance of skilled or unskilled labor. Examples of activities that are allowed include:
- engaging in international commercial transactions, which do not involve gainful employment in the United States (such as a merchant who takes orders in the U.S. for goods manufactured abroad, or who travels to the U.S. to purchase American-made goods for export from the U.S.);
- negotiating contracts;
- consulting with business associates; and
- participating in scientific, educational, professional or business conventions, conferences, or seminars.
The performance of any skilled or unskilled labor - even if it is unpaid - is nearly always prohibited.