I am currently holding a B1/B2 visa to the US, valid till 11 April 2006. I was earlier an employee of Company A in India, and my current visa was issued during that employment period. The annotation on my visa mentions "Company A".

I am now with a different employer (Company B), and I intend to travel to the US on business (expected stay of 6 weeks). I'd like to know whether I can travel to the US on the same visa. If yes, then what documents should I present to the Immigration officer in the US?

Any help in this regard would be very much appreciated.

Dear Amarnath

It is best advised that you obtain a new visa from the Consulate with your new company name as the annotation or request them not to endorse the visa with the company name, as you are frequent traveler. If your new company is enrolled in the “Business Executive Program” (BE) at the Consulate, then your company can make this change through the BE program. When you make this request, also do ask for fee waiver for visa issuance fee.

If you have any deadlines then you may try your luck without the change of name in the visa, but if you should be well prepared to answer questions raised by the Immigration official at the Airport in the United States. If you need additional information, please feel free to write to us at info@passintl.com or Solomon@passintl.com

Hello,

Thanks for your immediate reply.

I travelled to the US. I had with me the appointment letter of the new company, the relieving letter of the previous company, and an invitation letter (from the new company). The Immigration officer just looked at my visa and let me in; she asked me some questions on the purpose and duration of my travel.

As an aside, I had heard that a Business visa is issued to an individual and not to an individual-belonging-to-a-company.

Thanks once again for your consideration.

Dear Amarnath

Yes, generally visas are based on individuals, however, under certain circumstances, like the "Business Executive program", the visas are processed based on the company and the individual, hence the annotation is made on the visa. We would still advise you to request the Consulate General to remove the annotation when you apply again. Solomon