World of Embassy

However, for Japanese travelers if your trip is for fewer than 90 days you may not need a visa. Please refer to the topic entitled the Visa Waiver Program to see whether you can travel without a visa.

Business travel generally means engaging in business activities other than the actual performance of labor. To work in the United States, you will need a visa specifically for that purpose. If you intend to work in the United States, please see the employment visa catagory.

The business visa is appropriate for the following types of persons: Selling, Voluntary Work, Service Engineer, Speaker/Lecturer, Conference, Researcher, Business Venture, Medical Elective, Telecommuters


Selling:

An individual traveling to the United States to take part in an exhibition, set up an exhibition booth, display samples, sign contracts, and take orders for merchandise produced in and delivered from Japan, may be eligible for a B-1 visa. The holder of a B-1 visa may not actually sell or take orders for merchandise produced in the United States. If the proposed activities are not as described, a temporary work visa will be required.

Voluntary Work:

Individuals participating in a voluntary service program which benefits a U.S. local community who establish that they are a member of, and have a commitment to, a particular recognized religious or nonprofit charitable organization, may be eligible for a B-1 visa if the work to be performed is traditionally done by volunteer charity workers; they will receive no salary or remuneration from a U.S. source, other than an allowance or other reimbursement for expenses incidental to their stay in the United States; and they will not engage in the selling of articles and/or the solicitation and acceptance of donations.

A voluntary service program is an organized project conducted by a recognized religious or nonprofit charitable organization to provide assistance to the poor or the needy, or to further a religious or charitable cause.

Business Venture: The B-1 visa is the appropriate visa classification to travel to the United States to survey potential sites for a business and/or to lease premises. However, the holder of a B-1 visa may not remain in the United States to manage the business. An L-1 (intra-company transferee) visa is required. This would enable the holder to travel to the United States for a temporary period to open up and operate a branch, subsidiary or affiliate office of the business there. To qualify, the new U.S. operation is required to file a petition on the employee's behalf with the nearest office of the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States.