B1 is for short business visits: meetings, conferences, negotiating contracts or consulting with business associates. B2 is for tourism and personal visits: holidays, visiting family, medical treatment or attending a wedding. Both use the same DS-160 form and application fee, and most Pakistani applicants who qualify receive a combined B1/B2 visa. Neither allows you to work or study for credit in the United States.
What a B1 visa covers
The B1 category is for people travelling to the United States for temporary business activities that do not involve working for a U.S. employer or being paid from a U.S. source. Typical B1 activities for Pakistani applicants include:
- Meeting buyers, suppliers or business associates
- Attending conventions, conferences, seminars or trade shows
- Negotiating and signing contracts
- Consulting with business partners about a project
- Settling an estate
A Sialkot exporter meeting a sporting goods distributor in New York, a Karachi corporate manager attending a regional conference in Chicago, or a Faisalabad mill owner visiting a textile trade show are all classic B1 trips.
What a B2 visa covers
The B2 category is for tourism and personal visits. Typical B2 trips include:
- Holidays and sightseeing
- Visiting relatives or friends, for example children studying or working in the USA
- Medical treatment
- Social events such as weddings, graduations or religious gatherings
- Short recreational courses that do not lead to a degree or credit
Parents visiting their son in Houston, a family holiday in Orlando, or a patient travelling for treatment at a U.S. hospital are B2 trips.
Why most Pakistanis get a combined B1/B2
There is no separate form or fee for B1 and B2. You complete one DS-160, state your purpose, and attend one interview. When the consular officer approves an application, the visa issued is commonly annotated "B1/B2", which allows both business and tourist visits during its validity, as long as each trip is genuinely temporary and for a permitted purpose.
In practice, this means you do not need to "choose" one category on paper. What matters is that you explain your actual purpose for this trip clearly and truthfully.
What neither B1 nor B2 allows
- Paid work for a U.S. company, or any job in the United States
- Studying for credit towards a degree or qualification (that needs a student visa)
- Working as crew on a ship or aircraft
- Working as foreign press or media (a separate visa applies)
- Permanent residence or long-term stays
Doing prohibited activities on a visitor visa can lead to the visa being cancelled and future applications being refused.
How to describe your purpose at the interview
Officers usually ask a simple question: "What is the purpose of your trip?" Answer in one sentence that names the activity, place and time:
- Business: "I'm attending the sporting goods trade show in Las Vegas in January to meet two existing buyers."
- Tourism/family: "I'm visiting my daughter in New Jersey for her graduation in May, for three weeks."
If your trip combines both, for example a conference followed by a week with relatives, say so honestly. Mixed trips are common and acceptable.
How long can you stay?
The visa's validity (how long you can use it to travel) is different from your permitted stay. Each time you arrive, U.S. Customs and Border Protection decides how long you may stay on that trip, recorded on your I-94 record. Visitors are commonly admitted for up to six months, but the officer can admit you for less. Always leave by the date on your I-94.
Which category fits? Common Pakistani scenarios
| Your trip | Category |
|---|---|
| Visiting your son's family in Texas for a month | B2 |
| Attending a medical conference in Boston | B1 |
| Meeting a US buyer for your Sialkot export business | B1 |
| Medical treatment at a US hospital | B2 |
| A trade show in Las Vegas, then a week with cousins in California | B1/B2 (mixed) |
| Joining a US company as an employee | Not allowed: needs a work visa |
| Enrolling in a degree or diploma course | Not allowed: needs a student visa |
If your plans do not fit neatly into one of these, describe what you will actually do and ask for advice before you complete the DS-160. A wrong category on paper is less important than a clear, truthful explanation of your purpose.
Frequently asked questions
Is a B1/B2 visa the same as a tourist visa?
A B1/B2 visa covers both business and tourist visits. People often call it a tourist or visit visa.
Do I pay separately for B1 and B2?
No. There is one DS-160 and one application fee; the visa is usually issued as a combined B1/B2.
Can I attend a conference on a B2 visa?
Conferences are a B1 activity, but a combined B1/B2 visa covers both, so most holders can attend.
Can I work remotely for my Pakistani employer while visiting the US?
Rules on remote work are complex. Do not plan any work in the USA without professional advice. Visitor visas are not work visas.
This guide is general information for Pakistani applicants, not legal advice. Visa rules are set by the U.S. government and can change; confirm current details on official U.S. government sources. Visa decisions are made only by consular officers.