B1/B2 Visa – Tourist Visa
Eduardo Mattos • October 27, 2022
You probably have already heard, seen, or had a B1/B2 visa. But do you know what B1 and B2 mean? For starters, B1 is for temporary visitors for business, and B2 is for temporary visitors for pleasure. Ok, so B1 is for business purposes, and B2 is for enjoying the United States while spending money there.
But what does business purposes mean here?
The main question that might come to your mind is, "Can I get paid for doing something that adds value to a business?" The answer is my favorite, get ready.
It depends!
What you want to ask here is where the money is coming from. If the payment comes from a U.S. source, then this probably means you are working without authorization, violating the B1/B2 status. This type of visa does not allow you to enter the American labor market.
However, a B1/B2 visa allows you to perform services in the United States for your foreign employer. For example, you can come with a B1/B2 to perform repair services on a machine that your foreign employer sold to an American company. When the deal was made, there was likely a clause entitling the buyer to get the necessary repairs by the seller in case something was not working as it should. Well, someone will most likely need to come to the United States and get their hands dirty. In this case, you can come to perform the service and, if you wish, stay to hang out and shop. Here, the B1/B2 holder is employed and paid by a foreign company and is coming to the United States to further the business relationship between the U.S. company and the employer, so no problem.
Other permissible activities for this visa are commercial transactions that do not involve getting paid by a U.S. company, such as coming for meetings, taking orders, and selling. Selling here means that you are selling on behalf of the foreign company, which will then get paid for the product or service. You would be ultimately paid by your foreign employer outside the United States.
What about volunteer activities? I am not getting paid, so it’s ok, right? Not really. The safest definition of volunteer work is work done without the expectation of receiving any benefits, done on behalf of a nonprofit organization. Anything other than that is risky since you might be getting non-financial benefits for your volunteer work, and your "volunteer employer" will likely be profiting from your admirable willingness to work with the expectation of return.
Lastly, athletes can come to the United States to compete under a B1/B2 and may receive a cash prize but might not get "paid to perform." And entertainers cannot use this type of visa to perform in the United States unless they participate in cultural programs sponsored by the home country's government. Other than that, entertainers need an appropriate visa, such as, in many cases, an O visa. More to come on this.
This blog is not intended to be legal advice and nothing here should be construed as establishing an attorney client relationship. Please schedule a consultation with an immigration attorney before acting on any information read here.
On January 14, 2026, the Trump administration announced a freeze on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries . The administration states that this “visa freeze” is intended to review security protocols, “reduce risks,” and control immigration flows. However, the immediate reality is that this change in policy has temporarily suspended visa processing and restricted travel for applicants from numerous countries across the globe. While the legal landscape surrounding these suspensions is highly fluid and subject to change, it is important to consider how this “visa freeze” might impact your current status or immigration plans. The scope of the restrictions varies drastically depending on your country of origin and specific visa category. Most notably, a nationality-based travel ban restricts visa issuance for 19 countries : Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Beyond this targeted ban, a broader freeze affects applicants from a designated list of up to 75 countries, leading to indefinite delays for many visa petitions. However, it is important to note that immigrant visa applications first need to be processed through USCIS, which has not paused processing applications from the 75 countries. Thus, it is important to contact an attorney to understand at what point in the process this visa freeze may affect your case. While Brazil is included in the list of 75 countries, at the time of this publication, the freeze does not include non-immigrant visas for Brazil . Non-immigrant visas are granted to foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States on a temporary basis for specific purposes, such as tourism, studying, or temporary work. This means that Brazilian applicants can still safely pursue non-immigrant employment options, such as O visas for individuals with extraordinary ability or P visas for internationally recognized athletes, without being subjected to the current travel bans or suspensions. This alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. There are many changes and uncertainties, so please consult with a qualified attorney at Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C. to understand how these evolving policies might affect your specific case
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In recent weeks, the U.S. government has moved to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for multiple countries, sparking a wave of last-minute litigation and creating significant uncertainty for beneficiaries. This shift is having a profound impact on those who rely on TPS for lawful presence and work authorization in the United States. Across the country, federal courts have intervened to pause or block scheduled TPS terminations for several countries, including Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, and Syria. In response to these court orders, USCIS has updated its webpages to indicate that TPS status and related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) are extended for these populations. However, USCIS is intentionally not providing specific new end dates for EAD validity while the litigation remains in flux. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has prominently noted that it "vehemently disagrees" with these court orders and is actively working with the Department of Justice on next steps. This legal landscape remains highly unpredictable and varies drastically depending on the country of origin. For example, on February 9, 2026, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay allowing the government to proceed with the termination of TPS for Nicaragua, Honduras, and Nepal while the underlying legal challenges continue. Because of this ruling, the automatic extension of work authorization for these individuals has ended, and employers are now required to reverify the work authorization of affected employees, who must present alternative valid documentation to continue their employment. These rapid changes and the lack of clear end dates are causing complications beyond the workplace. Because driver's licenses often track the length of an individual's authorized stay, many DMVs are currently declining to issue or renew driver's licenses for impacted TPS populations. For employers, managing internal communications, avoiding onboarding errors, and navigating Form I-9 compliance has become increasingly complex. It is more important than ever to be well-prepared and proactive in monitoring these rapid changes. At Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C., our immigration attorneys are ready to guide you through this evolving process and ensure you are informed, and supported. Please contact us if you have questions or need assistance.
