B-1 Business Visa: Allowed vs. Prohibited Activities

1. Can you work from home in the United States?

The B-1 Business Visitor Visa is for people who want to do business in the United States for a time. This B-1 Business Visitor Visa is not for people who want to work in the United States.

• A lot of people work from places now so some travelers do things that are not allowed with the B-1 Business Visitor Visa. When they do this they might lose their B-1 Business Visitor Visa. They might not get one, in the future.

• This guide clearly explains what is allowed, what is prohibited, and how U.S. immigration views remote work.
  

  

  A business traveler presents her documentation at U.S. Immigration Services, highlighting the distinction between allowed and prohibited activities under the B-1 Business Visa.

2. Allowed Activities on a B-1 Visa

You can do things that are related to business or your job. You cannot work and get paid in the United States. This usually includes:

• Consulting with business associates.

• Attending professional conferences, conventions, or seminars.

• Negotiating contracts.

• Participating in short-term training.

• Settling an estate.

• Conducting independent research.

2. Prohibited Activities on a B-1 Visa

There are some things that the system will not let you do. The following actions are not allowed:

Working for a U.S. company in any capacity

• Receiving payment from a U.S. source

• Performing productive or operational work

• Freelancing or consulting for U.S. clients

• Long-term project execution

• Internships or unpaid work that benefits a company in the United States are things that people do to gain experience. These internships or unpaid work are done for a U.S. Entity, like a business or an organization, in the United States. Sometimes people do internships or unpaid work for a U.S. Entity to learn skills. The U.S. Entity gets help from the people doing the internships or unpaid work.

• If your activity looks like employment, it is likely prohibited.

3. Can You Work Remotely in the U.S. on a B-1 Visa?

This is a problem because it can easily get you into trouble with your visa status. The thing about your visa status is that it is really important to follow the rules so you do not get in trouble. Your visa status is what allows you to stay in a country. If you do something wrong your visa status can be taken away. Your visa status is very important. You have to be careful, with it.

• Technically: The B-1 visa is not designed for remote work. Its purpose is temporary business visits, not performing your regular job from the U.S.

• In Practice: If you are a foreign employee briefly visiting the U.S. and need to check email or join a virtual call with your home-country office as an incidental part of your business visit, it is often tolerated.

• The Problem: If your primary activity during your stay becomes performing your regular remote job for your foreign employer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or USCIS may view this as you "working in the United States," which is not permitted on a B-1.

4. Why U.S. Immigration Is Strict About Remote Work

U.S. immigration law is based on physical location and the nature of work performed. The moment you perform work from within U.S. territory, you are generally considered to be "working in the U.S." This triggers requirements for appropriate work authorization (like an H-1B, L-1, or treaty-based visa) to protect the U.S. labor market and tax base.

5. How Officers Determine a Violation

Officers look at:

• Duration of stay: A two-week trip with incidental remote work is viewed differently than a three-month stay where you are primarily working from a U.S. location.

• What was the main reason you went on your trip? Was it for business meetings or just to do your job from a place, in the United States? The rules say you can have business meetings. You cannot just go there to work.

• What kind of work are you doing: are you working for someone in another country. Are you working for a company, in the United States?

• Compensation: Are you being paid into a foreign account by a foreign entity?

6. B-1 vs. Other Visa Options

• B-1 (Business Visitor): For short-term meetings, conferences, negotiations.

• B-2 (Tourist): For tourism, medical treatment, visiting friends/family. Remote work is also not permitted on a B-2.

• WB/WT (Visa Waiver Program): Same restrictions as B-1/B-2 apply.

• Work Visa (H-1B, L-1, O-1, etc.): Required for productive employment with a U.S. employer.

• Treaty Visas (E-1/E-2, TN): For nationals of specific countries to work under trade/investment treaties or NAFTA/USMCA.

Pro Tips

• Clearly state your business purpose at entry

• Keep trips short and specific

• When you are talking about your job do not say that you will work from home. Instead you can say that you will work from a location like a coffee shop or a special office that is not, at your company. This is what people mean by working. The thing is, saying you will work remotely is not an idea. It is better to say that you will do your work from else. Working remotely is what this means.

• Do not accept U.S. payments

• When in doubt, consult an immigration expert

Good Luck