Ask the Consul
Can I use a work visa for a non-work trip to the U.S. or do I need to get a new visa? (July 14)
U.S. visas are issued in different categories with different purposes. A work visa should be used only for the type of work that was described and approved when the Consul issued the visa. A work visa is not a tourist visa and should not be used as such. If you try to use a visa other than for the use for which it was intended, you will be denied entrance into the United States at the airport, border crossing, or other point of entry.
The B1/B2 visa is a special and more flexible visa category. The B1/B2 visa is the visa classification for a short-term business trip (example: a job interview; a meeting with business partners; attending a professional conference) as well as for tourism (example, sightseeing in New York; visiting the national parks in California; visiting friends that live in Missouri). Depending on individual circumstances, Russian citizens may be issued a B1/B2 valid for multiple entries into the United States for up to two years. With a B1/B2 visa, as long as your purpose of travel fits within the parameters of that visa category, you may enter the United States even if the current purpose of travel differs from the purpose of travel when the visa was issued. For example, in April 2009 you were issued a B1/B2 visa with a validity period of two years to attend a cardiology conference in Boston. In February 2010 you decide to go to Miami for a week of vacation. This travel to Miami may be done using the B1/B2 visa issued in April 2009.