If you have a business meeting or other business event in the United States, even if you are a Canadian citizen you might need to obtain a business visitor visa. This visa is called the B1 business visitor visa, and is for activities like business meetings. 
However, sometimes it is tricky to determine whether or not you require a business visitor visa or a work permit. There is a long list of activities permitted on a B1 business visitor visa, but there’s an even longer list of activities that are not permitted.
What can I do on a B1 business visitor visa?
On a B1 business visitor visa, you can do things like negotiate contracts, purchase United States property, consult with associates, attend business conventions, attend business conferences, negotiate contracts and attend business meetings.
United States immigration authorities must be convinced that you are only engaging in permissible B1 business visitor visa activities, which means that you cannot be working or doing anything that requires a work permit. You can demonstrate this in part with a letter from your employer detailing your activities, your complete itinerary and a letter from the organization that has invited you to the United States.
You must also show that you will return home when your time in the United States is done, as the B1 business visitor visa is temporary. This means showing your intentions to return home with information about your job in Canada, your family in Canada, your home in Canada and more.
Do you have an upcoming business event in the United States? Are you unsure of whether you require a business visitor visa or a work permit? We can help you! Give us a call at the number above for an assessment of your case.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
