Domestic Employees

Personal or domestic servants who are accompanying or following to join an employer in the United States are eligible for B-1 visas. This category of persons includes, but is not limited to, cooks, butlers, chauffeurs, housemaids, parlormaids, valets, footmen, nannies, au pairs, mothers' helpers, gardeners, and paid companions.

Accompanying a Nonimmigrant Visa Holder

Personal or domestic servants who are accompanying or following to join an employer who seeks admission into, or who is already in, the United States in B, E, F, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, Q, or R nonimmigrant status may be eligible for the B-1 visa classification provided:

• The employee has been employed outside the United States by the employer for at least one year prior to the date of the employer's admission to the United States, or if the employer-employee relationship existed immediately prior to the time of application, the employer can demonstrate that he has regularly employed (either year-round or seasonally) domestic help over a period of years preceding the time of application;
  
• The employee has at least one year's experience as a personal or domestic servant as attested to by statements from previous employers;
  
• The employee has a residence abroad which he or she has no intention of abandoning.

Accompanying an American Citizen

Personal or domestic servants who are accompanying or following to join their United States citizen employer in the United States may be eligible for the B-1 visa classification if their employer ordinarily resides outside the United States and is traveling to the United States temporarily, or the employer is subject to frequent international transfers lasting two years or more and who, as a condition of employment, is going to reside in the United States for a stay not to exceed four years. Note: It is not possible to qualify for a B-1 visa if the United States citizen will reside permanently in the United States, even if the individual concerned has previously been in the United States citizen's employ abroad. In addition,

• the employer-employee relationship must have existed for at least six months prior to the employer's admission to the United States or, alternatively, that the employer has regularly employed a domestic servant in the same capacity while abroad;
• the employee has had at least one year experiences as a personal or domestic servant by producing statements from previous employers attesting to such experience;
• the employer will be the only provider of employment, and will provide the employee free room and board and round trip airfare as indicated under the terms of the employment contract. 

Applying for the Visa

Please review the following FOUR STEPS below before beginning your visa application.

Step 1: If you have ever arrested and/or have a criminal conviction, have a medical ineligibility, or have been denied entry into or deported from the United States you will be required to furnish documents relating to your situation in support of your application.  Please click on the relevant links for further information.  

Step 2:   Click on "How to Apply" on the left-hand navigation bar for information on method of application. 

Step 3: Complete the online DS-160

Step 4:  Gather additional required documents

Reminder: We always recommend that individuals apply for visas well in advance of their proposed date of travel. No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance. Therefore, final travel plans or the purchase of non refundable ticket should not be made until a visa has been issued and you are in receipt of the passport.