Posted on: 10-03-05 23:08:32
I work for a software company in Canada and I am a PR here. My company has some work for me in my US office for 3 days. I dont have any type of Visa to the US. Since other members of my company are citizens of Canada, they travel freely to USA and they are not aware of applying for my Visa through the company. They asked me to apply for Visitor's visa on personal grounds like - visitor visa to visit my sister who is in USA.
Can some one help me out.... can you tell me which is the best way of going ahead in this situation? apply directly on personal grounds or apply something like business visa for a week or so? please help me out
Thanks in advance
IMO, what they are suggestion is not appropriate.
You should apply for the category of visa that you need - in your case, a business visa.
Anyway, when you apply for a visa you have to state the reason.
Also, when you arrive at the immigration checkpoint at the airport you have to state your reason.
Why do you want to state something that is false in both the cases?
Also, when you apply for a visa you are required to present documents to prove the reason of your visit - the documents required for a personal tourist visa and a visa for business purposes are quite different.
In the first case, you have to provide proof of your sister's financial status, your financial own status, etc.
In the second case, you need to provide proof of the company's business and the reason you are traveling and especially the proof that your company is paying for the trip.
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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."
-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"
Thanks for the information pratickm.
I will apply for the business Visa, but I also want to visit my sister in NJ, in that case do I have to apply for a Visitor's visa again? I may not combine the company and personal visit.
What are the chances of getting either type of visas? 5 years ago my H1 visa was rejected in India. Does that have any impact on my chances of getting either the Business Visa or the Visitor's visa?
Thanks
Quote:Usually the visa issued is the B-1/B-2, which can be used both for personal and business reasons.
Orginally posted by reachsnivas
I will apply for the business Visa, but I also want to visit my sister in NJ, in that case do I have to apply for a Visitor's visa again? I may not combine the company and personal visit.
So if you obtain a B-1/B-2 visa based on your company's information at this time, you can use the same visa for personal travel at a later time.
Quote:Probably not.
What are the chances of getting either type of visas? 5 years ago my H1 visa was rejected in India. Does that have any impact on my chances of getting either the Business Visa or the Visitor's visa?Thanks
5 years is a long time, and that rejection was in another country.
I am sure they will consider all the documents and proofs that you provide this time.
But that is no guarantee that they will issue the visa.
Both you and the people in your company should make sure that they present the case for your travel well and include all documents to prove that you are their employee, the reason you are travelling, how long you will be staying, the funds at your disposal (per-diem, if any) and that they will be paying for the entire trip including travel and stay.
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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."
-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"
Thanks my friend!!
You provided me with a wonderful information. I will follow your instructions and information.
Thanks again
Just curious...one can use a B1 visa for a personal visit?? That seems a bit confusing, if not illegal to me.
If it is allowed, do we need any supporting documentation with that?
I have a 10 yr B1 multiple entry. Will that allow me to fly into the States when I want?
Technically speaking NO. B1 visa is purely for Business purpose and when you leave Canada, the US Customs and immigration people stamp your I94 as B1 and write the duration of stay you are eligible.
But you may go for Business and then do your personal stuff too.
But I have friends who take a letter from their company and then go to US for personal purposes.
Hope this information is useful for you.
