B-1 Business Visa, Combined B-1/B-2 Business and Visitor's Visa,
L-1 Management/Executive Visa, E-1 Treaty Trader Visa, E-2 Treaty Investor Visa.
Business Visitor Visa (B-1) - For business-specific purposes, detailed information is as below:
For athlete, professional
Receives no salary or income from a U.S.-based company/entity, other than prize money for participation in a tournament or sporting event. Try-outs for a professional team, but cannot remain in US playing on US team.
Athletes or team members who seek to enter the United States as members of a foreign based team in order to compete with another sports team shall be admitted provided:
(1) The foreign athlete and the foreign sports team have their principal place of business or activity in a foreign country;
(2) The income of the foreign based team and the salary of its players are principally accrued in a foreign country; and
(3) The foreign-based sports team is a member of an international sports league or the sporting activities involved have an international dimension.
For business venture, investor seeking investment
Survey potential sites for a business and/or to lease premises in US. Cannot remain in US to manage business.
For conference, meeting, trade show or business event attendee
Will receive no salary or income from a U.S based company/entity. For scientific, educational, professional or business purposes.
For exposition or trade show employees of foreign exhibitors at international fairs (excludes government representatives)
Will receive no salary or income from a U.S based company/entity. Will plan, assemble, dismantle, maintain, or be employed in connection with exhibits at international fairs or expositions.
For lecturer or speaker
No salary or income from a U.S. based company/entity, other than expenses incidental to the visit. If honorarium will be received, activities can last no longer than nine days at any single institution or organization; payment must be offered by an institution or organization described in INA 212(q); honorarium is for services conducted for the benefit of the institution or entity; and visa applicant will not have accepted such payment or expenses from more than five institutions or organizations over the last six months.
For researcher
Independent research, no salary/income from a US based source, or benefit to US institution.
For sales/selling
Exhibition/taking orders/negotiating and signing contracts for products, which must be produced outside the U.S.
For service engineer (Commercial, Industrial)
Engineer(s) install, service or repair commercial or industrial equipment or machinery sold by a non-US company to a U.S. buyer, when specifically required by the purchase contract.
Installation cannot include construction work, except for supervision or training of US workers to perform construction.
For training
Participating in a training program that is not designed primarily to provide employment. Will receive no payment or income from a U.S. based company/entity, other than an expense allowance or expense reimbursement related to traveler’s stay.
Pleasure, Tourism, Medical Treatment - Visitor Visas (B-2)
As examples, if the purpose of your planned travel is recreational in nature, including tourism, vacation (holiday), amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature, and participation by amateurs, who will receive no remuneration, in musical, sports and similar events or contests, then a visitor visa (B-2) would be the appropriate type of visa for your travel. If you are going to the U.S. primarily for tourism, but want to take a short course of study which is recreational (and not for credit towards a degree), and the course is less than 18 hours per week, this is permitted on a visitor visa. As an example, if you are taking a vacation to the U.S., and during this vacation you would like to take a two-day cooking class for your enjoyment, and there is no credit earned, then this would be permitted on a visitor visa. A consular officer will determine the visa category you will need based on the purpose of your travel, and your supporting documentation.
In addition, the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)allows citizens of 27 countries to enter the United States without a visa as a visitor for business not to exceed 90 days.
Source: US Department of State