Nonimmigrant Visas

Visa Types

Business Travelers

Selling

An individual traveling to the United States to take part in an exhibition, set up an exhibition booth, display samples, sign contracts, or take orders for merchandise produced in and delivered from Slovenia, may be eligible for a B-1 business visa or visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The holder of a B-1 visa or a VWP traveler may not sell or take orders for merchandise produced in the United States. If the proposed activities are not as described, an H-2 temporary work visa will be required.

Documents Required for B-1:

• Official invitation from the company in the U.S.
• Letter from your current employer
• Free-lancer should present trade license and tax payment certificate

Voluntary Work

Individuals participating in a voluntary service program that benefits a U.S. local community who can establish that they are a member of and have a commitment to a particular recognized religious or nonprofit charitable organization may be eligible for a B-1 business visa or visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).  The proposed work to be performed must traditionally be done by volunteer charity workers; the traveler must receive no salary or remuneration from a U.S. source, other than an allowance or other reimbursement for expenses incidental to their stay in the United State; and the traveler must not engage in the selling of articles and/or the solicitation and acceptance of donations.

A voluntary service program is an organized project conducted by a recognized religious or nonprofit charitable organization to provide assistance to the poor or the needy, or to further a religious or charitable cause.

If your proposed activities as a voluntary worker are not exactly as described, you will require either a J-1 exchange visitor visa or an H-2 temporary worker visa.

Please Note: When applying for entry into the United States as a voluntary worker with a B-1 visa or under the VWP, you should furnish a letter from your U.S. sponsor which contains the following information:

• Your name and date and place of birth;
• Your foreign permanent residence address;
• The name and address of initial destination in the U.S.; and
• The anticipated duration of your assignment.

Documents Required for B-1:

• Letter from your U.S. sponsor, as described above
• Proof of your financial circumstances in Slovenia, such as your bank statement

Service Engineer

If the engineer(s) will install, service or repair commercial or industrial equipment or machinery sold by a company in Europe to a buyer in the United States, and if the purchase contract requires that the Slovene company provide such services, then the B-1 business visa or visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is appropriate. However, in such cases, the engineer(s) must possess the specialized knowledge considered essential to perform the services, they must receive no remuneration from a U.S. source, and the Slovene company must not receive any payment for these services in addition to that specified in the original contract of sale. If the proposed activities are not exactly as described, H-2 temporary work visas will be required. Please note that the B-1 business visa or travel under the VWP is not appropriate for building or construction work, even if the purchase contract requires that the company provide such services. In such cases, the employees must apply and qualify for H-2 temporary work visas.

The B-1 visa or travel under the VWP is also appropriate for engineers traveling to the United States to train U.S. personnel in the installation, service, or repair of commercial or industrial equipment or machinery as specified above. The individuals concerned must continue to be paid by the Slovene company and the contract of sale must specifically require the seller to provide such services.

Documents Required:

• Original contract of sale between European and American company
• Purchase contract between Slovene and European company
• Individual's employment agreement from Slovene company

Speaker/Lecturer

If you are traveling to the United States in connection with a speaking engagement you may travel on a B-1 visa or visa-free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) provided there is no remuneration from a U.S.source, other than expenses incidental to the visit. Speakers/lecturers who will receive an honorarium in addition to incidental expenses may still be eligible for the B-1 visa or travel under the VWP provided all of the following are met:

• the activities will last no longer than nine days at a single institution;
• the institution is a nonprofit research organization or a governmental research organization, or an institution of higher education, or a related or affiliated nonprofit entity.
• such activities are conducted for the benefit of the institution or entity; and
• the speaker/lecturer has not accepted such payment or expenses from five such institutions during the previous six month period.

If the proposed activities are not exactly as described, a J-1 exchange visitor visa or an H-1 temporary work visa will be required.

Documents Required for B-1:

• Official invitation from the American company/institution
• Letter from your current employer that describes your position within the company and how long you have worked there, the purpose and duration of your stay in the U.S., and details of the company or institution you will visit

Conference Participant

Participants in scientific, educational, professional, or business conventions, conferences, or seminars may travel to the United States on a B-1 business visa or visa-free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), if otherwise qualified. Holders of B-1 business visas or those who have entered the United States under the VWP may present a paper at a conference, provided there is no remuneration from a U.S. source other than expenses incidental to the stay. Anyone who will receive an honorarium in addition to incidental expenses may still be eligible for the B-1 business visa or travel under the VWP provided all of the following are met:

• the activities will last no longer than nine days at a single institution;
• the institution is a nonprofit research organization or a governmental research organization, or an institution of higher education, or a related or affiliated nonprofit entity;
• such activities are conducted for the benefit of the institution or entity; and
• the delegate has not accepted such payment or expenses from five such institutions during the previous six month period.

If the proposed activities are not exactly as described, then a J-1 exchange visitor visa or an H-1 temporary work visa will be required.

Note: The applications of those seeking visas to attend certain kinds of technical conferences may be subject to additional administrative processing. We regret that we are unable to provide any guidance on how long it may take. Therefore, if you intend to attend a technical conference in the U.S., please do not make any final travel plans until you have received your passport with a visa in it.

Documents Required for B-1:

• Proof of current employment in Slovenia
• Letter from sponsoring U.S. institution describing the visit

Researcher

An individual who will engage in independent research may be eligible for a B-1 business visa or visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, provided there is no remuneration from a U.S. source and the results of the research will not benefit the American institution. Those who will receive payment from a U.S. source, and/or if the U.S. institution will benefit from the results of the research, will require a J-1 exchange visitor visa or an H-1 temporary work visa.

Documents Required for B-1:

• Proof of current employment in Slovenia
• Letter from sponsoring U.S. institution describing the visit

Business venture

The B-1 business visa or visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program is the appropriate visa classification to travel to the United States to survey potential sites for a business and/or to lease premises. However, the holder of a B-1 visa may not then remain in the United States to manage the business; for this an L-1 intra-company transferee visa is required. The L-1 visa would enable the holder to travel to the United States for a temporary period to open up and operate a branch, subsidiary or affiliate office of the business there. The new U.S. operation begins the L-1 visa process by filing a Form I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.

Documents Required for B-1:

• Letter from the U.S. company regarding the potential sites for a business or lease premises
• Letter from your current employer that describes your position within the company and how long you have worked there, the purpose and duration of your stay in the U.S., and details of the company or institution you will visit

Documents Required for L-1:

• Original Form I-797 Notice of Action indicating USCIS approval of the I-129 petition
• Letter from your current employer that describes your position within the company and how long you have worked there

Medical Elective

A medical student studying at a foreign medical school who seeks to enter the United States temporarily in order to take an “elective clerkship” at a U.S. medical school’s hospital without remuneration from the hospital may be eligible for a B-1 business visa, or visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program. Note: The medical clerkship is only for medical students pursuing their normal third or fourth year internship in a U.S. medical school as part of a foreign medical school degree. An "elective clerkship" affords practical experience and instructions in the various disciplines of medicine under the supervision and direction of faculty physicians at a U.S. medical school’s hospital as an approved part of the alien’s foreign medical school education. It does not apply to graduate medical training in the United States, which normally requires a J-1 exchange visitor visa. 

Documents Required for B-1:

• Letter from the U.S. medical school outlining the nature and duration of the elective clerkship
• Proof of current academic program in Slovenia
• If traveling under the VWP, the traveler should present these same letters to the U.S. immigration official at the port of entry

Students seeking training as physiotherapists, dentists, nurses, or veterinarians require either a J-1 exchange visitor visa or an H-3 trainee visa.

Please note that we can give no assurances in advance regarding the issuance of visas. Therefore, please do not make final travel plans or purchase nonrefundable tickets until a visa has been issued.