The Business Traveler's Pre-Flight Visa Checklist

Business travel sits in a gray zone between tourism and employment. The wrong answer at the immigration counter can cost you the trip — and sometimes a future visa.

The seven-point check

1. Passport valid 6+ months beyond your return date.
2. Two blank visa pages minimum.
3. Confirmed travel authorization (ETA, ESTA, ETIAS, or visa) printed and on file.
4. Letter of invitation or meeting confirmation on company letterhead.
5. Proof of onward travel.
6. A clear, rehearsed answer to "What is the purpose of your visit?".
7. Knowledge of what activities your status does and does not permit.