Business and tourism on B1/b2 visa

[Vikram Kumar]

Had a quick query around b1/b2 visa. Have a 10 year b1/b2 visa and plan to visit uS for weeks of business meetings for which I have the invitation letters.
I was planning to extend the stay by a week to meet my real brother from whom I have got the invitation letter for that week along with the itinerary of places we would visit.

Wanted to understand that at the US port of entry when the officer asks me the reason for travel should I say business or tourism or is it perfectly ok to say both business and tourism.

Thanks in advance

[peace999]

Your main purpose is business.And you will need a B1 stamp( business) on your passport at entry.
B1 by default is allowed to engage in B2 ( pleasure activities) , ( while B2 is not allowed to engage in B1)
so it does not matter if you mention tourism or not.

[Vikram Kumar]

Thanks for the reply. Since I already have a b1/b2 visa stamped on the passport during my port of entry when the security officer asks my purpose of visit should I say business or both business and pleasure since I just have 2 weeks of itenary of business meetings and the third one is for tourism

Your main purpose is business.And you will need a B1 stamp( business) on your passport at entry.
B1 by default is allowed to engage in B2 ( pleasure activities) , ( while B2 is not allowed to engage in B1)
so it does not matter if you mention tourism or not.

[peace999]

Yes, I understood your question but it seems you did not understand my answer.

Tell them ' I am here for business meetings for 2 weeks and then I plan to go sightseeing for xxx weeks'.

They will give you a B1 stamp.

[Vikram Kumar]

Thanks. This helps.

Yes, I understood your question but it seems you did not understand my answer.

Tell them ' I am here for business meetings for 2 weeks and then I plan to go sightseeing for xxx weeks'.

They will give you a B1 stamp.