Most businesspersons entering the United States enter with B-1 visas.  The visa itself, which is issued by a US consulate abroad, may be issued for varying periods of time, and may be issued for single or multiple entries.  This must be distinguished from the period of time that is granted by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) once the alien makes application for entry at a US border point.  Usually, the CBP will grant the B-1 applicant the period of time that is necessary for him or her to accomplish the purpose of the visit, usually from a few weeks up to six months. 

B-1 visas are usually issued to aliens who are coming to the United States to enter into or negotiate contracts, purchase goods for shipment abroad, obtain orders for products manufactured abroad, attend business conventions, consult with business organizations, or to investigate business opportunities in the United States.  They may also be used to check on business investments that the alien has previously made in the United States, and to permit the alien to open and establish a new US business, although, it must be pointed out that, the alien cannot actively participate in the management of said business.

In order to obtain a B-1 visa, the alien must establish that he or she has a residence in a foreign country which he or she has no intention of abandoning.  The alien must also establish an intent to depart from the United States at the expiration of the temporary stay and that he or she has adequate funds to cover the expenses of the expected stay in the United States.  In this regard, the consular or CBP official will look to the alien's ties with the foreign country to determine whether there are sufficient contacts to indicate the likelihood of the alien's returning to the foreign domicile.  These ties would include such things as employment abroad, family, property, or other business or social connections with the foreign country.

Accompanying family members of B-1s, who are defined as the spouse and minor unmarried children, are usually given the same period of time as the principal alien.  If, after entry to the United States, the alien discovers that he or she needs additional time in order to accomplish the purpose of the trip, an extension of time may be requested from USCIS, on immigration form I-539, which applications are usually granted.