B1/B2 Visa for Business Travel

Hi there,

I had applied for a B1 visa when I was with my previous employer to make a short term business trip the US. I never got to travel for the project and hence never saw the visa again.

I am visiting some friends this December in US and began the process of applying for a B2 visitor visa. That's when I checked my passport and found that the B1 visa I had applied for, had actually turned out to be stamped as B1/B2. The visa is multiple entry, valid until 2018 and has no 'Annotations'. The only thing that has changed is that I have changed my employer since the visa was applied and I now work in the UK. I hold an Indian passport.

Iam still not 100% sure if I can travel on this visa, is it true that a B1/B2 visa can be used for both business and tourism purposes? Please advice.

Thanks in advance.

The B1 and B2 visas are described here. They are often issued as B1/B2, in which case the visa is valid for both purposes.

Hi,
I have been traveling to the USA for the last 14 years. I spent there just the summer months. I am a retired businessman. I never broke any laws. I always respected the terms of my B1-B2 Visa. I was issued 3 previous visas. I have always been straight forward explaining my reason of travel and how long I wished to stay. On arrival at the port of enter, I always showed my returned ticket to my home country. The Port of entry officer always gave me 6 months permission to stay in the USA. I always returned when I said I would. I have never asked for extension of stay. I have an American friend in the USA whom I stay with and travel with. My American friend spend every winter months with me here in Egypt. We have been friends for so many years. My latest visa application was denied by the US Embassy here in Cairo about 4 months ago, I have never had any problems with my visa application in the past. He said that he thought that I was living half the year in the USA, so he denied my visa. Needless to say, this has caused us a good deal of anguish. Is there any thing that I can do to allow me a visa again. If I was not allowed to stay the 4 or so summer months in The USA, why did they always give me permission to stay for 6 months. If they said that I was allowed only a week. I would have done as they allowed me. I am an older single person. I don't break laws.