Visa waiver vs B1 Visa

[nlivgie 0]

I am a Dutch resident and work for an international company. Colleagues of mine are travelling between the US and the Netherlands back and forward, using the visa waiver program. I need to be in the US to meet up with my US colleagues. The visit usually is from Monday until Friday. I was travelling frequently due to a project (6 times over a period of 3 months)when an immigration officer in Minneapolis stated that I had to apply for a B1 visa otherwise he would refuse me entrance the next time. I still don't understand why but anyway, I got the visa and travel to the US without any problem.

In the meantime I am travelling less frequently (6/7 times a year). Because my visa is expiring (The B1 visa expires after entering the US but before leaving the country), I find myself in the same situation as before: Do I need to re-apply for a B1 visa or can I make use of the visa waiver program?

Can someone please advise?

Thanks in advance,

[kmossel 0]

I am a Dutch resident and work for an international company. Colleagues of mine are travelling between the US and the Netherlands back and forward, using the visa waiver program. I need to be in the US to meet up with my US colleagues. The visit usually is from Monday until Friday. I was travelling frequently due to a project (6 times over a period of 3 months)when an immigration officer in Minneapolis stated that I had to apply for a B1 visa otherwise he would refuse me entrance the next time. I still don't understand why but anyway, I got the visa and travel to the US without any problem.

In the meantime I am travelling less frequently (6/7 times a year). Because my visa is expiring (The B1 visa expires after entering the US but before leaving the country), I find myself in the same situation as before: Do I need to re-apply for a B1 visa or can I make use of the visa waiver program?

Can someone please advise?

Thanks in advance,

As long as you file with the ESTA you should be fine to travel under the VWP. Check that your passport is from a country that qualifies for the VWP because even though you reside in the Netherlands If your passport is from a different country that might be the reason you need the B1 visa. I don't think there is a limit of how many times you can travel on the VWP in a year but I could be wrong. Better to contact the consulate and be safe rather than sorry.