B1 Visa for Nigerians

Want to apply for a B1 Visa from Nigeria?

We can help to reduce the risk of visa refusal, ensuring your application portfolio is strong. Our expert team will help you to understand the B1 visa and your eligibility.

Allow us to unburden you and make your planned business in the US as straightforward as possible.

Nigerian Emigration

For Nigerian emigration matters, please call +44 (0) 3316300929 or +2342013438882

Other Immigration and Emigration Matters

For immigration/emigration to/from other countries, please call:

US –  +1 844 290 6312

Ireland –  (+353) 061 518 025

UK –  (+44) 333 4149244

Overview of the B1 Visa for Nigerians

If you are travelling from Nigeria to the United States for business, you might think that you need a Visitor Visa. However, the Visitor Visa does not grant you the right to conduct business in the United States. The B1 Visa is a non-immigrant visa which allows you to perform temporary business-related duties in the US.

The B1 Visa can only be granted for a short period of time and only allows holders to travel to the US for specific business purposes.

If you are unclear if your upcoming business trip meets the B1 criteria then reach out to an immigration expert to guide you on ensuring the B1 Visa is the right option for you.

Eligibility Requirements for the B1 Visa for Nigerians

To travel to the United States under a B1 Visa, you must work in an eligible field. You are allowed to visit the US for consultations, litigation, contract negotiation, or participation in scientific, educational, professional, or business conventions.

You will not be able to use the B1 Visa for Nigerians if you plan on operating a business or consultancy from the U.S. The visa does not cover matters of gainful employment.

Some of the business purposes covered by the B1 Visa include:

• Selling – you can travel to the United States to set up a temporary exhibition, booth, or promotional sales scheme. You require a H2 Visa, however, to take orders or sell products.
• Service engineering – if you have specialized knowledge, you can travel to the US to install, repair, or replace industrial equipment or perform service engineering duties.
• Speaker or lecturer – so long as your payment comes from your home country and not a US source, you can visit the U.S. under a B1 Visa to perform lectures. You mustn’t accept payment from the US entity in the 6 months prior to your application, and you can only engage in these activities for more than 9 days.
• Business venture – you may survey areas for a potential site or business using the B1 Visa.
• Conference – you can visit the U.S. for a conference so long as you spend no longer than 9 days at a single institution. You cannot receive payment from a U.S. source for the conference, and you cannot receive payment from the institution in the 6 months prior to the conference.
• Research – you can use a B1 Visa to perform research that does not benefit a U.S. institution and if you will not receive payment from any U.S. entity.
• Medical elective – you are permitted to use the B1 Visa to study an elective clerkship at a U.S. medical hospital.
• Voluntary work – if you can prove your membership to a non-profit or religious charitable organisation, you can visit the U.S. to carry out charitable works.
• Working on the outer continental shelf – you can use the B1 Visa to work on the outer continental shelf, but you will be required to provide a letter from the U.S. Coastguard.

Documents Required for the B1 Visa for Nigerians

When applying for a B1 Visa, it is best to prepare the required documents beforehand. Here are the documents you need to apply for a B1 Visa:

• Confirmation of a completed DS-160 form
• Appointment for interview confirmation page
• Passport or other travel document
• One 5×5 colour photograph taken in the last 6 months
• Evidence of previous U.S. visas and visa applications
• Evidence of your intended business in the United States (letter from your employer, or equivalent evidence)
• Evidence of your criminal history
• Evidence of your medical status from a medical evaluation
• Documents relating to any previous deportations or removals from the U.S
• Proof of your financial capacity to cover your travel expenses (bank statement, payslips)
• Your home address to which you intend to return following your trip to the U.S

If you need assistance in preparing your document portfolio, you can rely on our experienced immigration lawyers here at IAS. Our team can help you to prepare sufficient evidence for your financial capacity and check your employer letter. We can also advise you on how to obtain medical and criminal record checks.

How To Apply for a B1 Visa for Nigerians

To apply for a B1 Visa, you must take the following steps:

1. Complete a DS-160 form – you can complete this form online
2. Pay the application fee
3. Schedule your appointment for interview – to schedule your appointment, you’ll need the following items:
   • Your passport number
   • The CGI number from your visa fee payment confirmation
   • The 10 digit number from your DS-160 completion page
4. Visit the U.S. Embassy for your appointment – you must bring your appointment confirmation letter, DS-160 confirmation letter, a photograph taken in the last 6 months, and your existing and previous passports. You must also bring your supporting documents to the interview, including the letter from your employer

You should provide certified translated English copies of any of the required documents you bring with you. The U.S. consulate in Nigeria is in Lagos, at Victoria Island.

B1 Visa Interview Process

Here are some of the questions you should prepare for in your B1 Visa interview:

• Questions about your intended stay in the U.S
• Questions regarding your life in your home country
• Your immigration background
• Corroborating information provided in your visa application

You must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment. If you are late, your appointment will be cancelled. Your appointment will last between 2 and 3 hours.

The interview portion with the consulate officer will only last 5-15 minutes. For the rest of your appointment, the clerks will be making copies of your documents and performing data entry. Your fingerprints will be scanned during the interview process.

If you need assistance preparing your application portfolio or understanding how to answer the interview questions, you might benefit from legal assistance. Our immigration lawyers here at IAS can help you to prepare your application documents and help you prepare for the interview.

Processing Time and Cost of B1 Visa

Your B1 Visa will take between a couple of weeks and 2 months to process. In recent years, it has been taking longer to process B1 Visas due to increased demand.

The application fee for a B1 Visa is $185. You must be prepared to pay this amount before beginning the application process. In most cases, visa fees are non refundable if your application is refused.

B1 Visa Validity & Renewal

Each B1 Visa is assessed based on your circumstances. When you enter the United States, you will have an allotted amount of time for your duties and tasks. You can re-enter the country as many times as needed during this time, as it is a multi-entry visa. The maximum validity for a B1 Visa is 6 months.

You can renew your B1 Visa if you have genuine grounds to remain in the U.S. for business. To do this, you will need to pay the fee and fill out form I-529. You must apply for an extension before your B1 Visa expires.

The extension you can access depends on the nature of the business you must carry out in the United States, but cannot be above 6 months. You are not required to attend a second embassy interview during the reapplication process, but you must apply from your home country. There is a limit to how many times you can renew the visa, as you can only use it to stay in the US for 1 year maximum.

Can I Bring Family with Me on a B1 Visa?

If your partner, spouse, family member, or business partner wishes to accompany you to stay in the US, they can join you by applying for a B2 Visa. The B2 Visa is a visitor visa that allows your partner to live with you during your time in the United States. They cannot work in the United States under the B2 Visa and must not remain in the US once the B1 Visa holder has returned to Nigeria.

Can I Apply for a Green Card under a B1 Visa?

No, you are not allowed to apply for a Green Card under a B1 Visa unless unexpected conditions apply. If the following conditions apply, you can apply for a Green Card under a B1 Visa:

• You have married a US citizen
• You have acquired a new job and the employer is willing to sponsor you
• You have family members in the US and wish to join them

Unless you are married to a US citizen, or have an unexpected employment opportunity, you must return home to apply for your Green Card.

How Can IAS Help?

When you are applying for a B1 Visa, you need to have supporting documents and evidence of your planned activities in the United States. Knowing which evidence to provide, and how to strengthen your case can be challenging.

At IAS, we offer support for various Nigerian visa applicants. We have extensive knowledge of immigration law which allows us to support and assist in your visa application.

We can help you every step of the way, from understanding how to fill out the DS-160 form to preparing you for your visa interview. We can also provide you with a letter of endorsement to strengthen your case and increase the likelihood of success.

Contact our team at IAS today to begin your application process, backed by a wealth of immigration expertise. You can message us online or reach us at +44 (0) 3316300929 or +2342013438882.