The visitor visas allow its holder to go to the US short-term visits for a maximum of six months. There are also two types of visitor visas into the B category:
B1 visa
Allows you to enter the US with the purpose of doing business with a company within the US.
B2 visa
Allows you to enter the US with the purpose of tourism, pleasure, or visit to friends and family.
Do I Need to Apply for a US Visitor Visa?
If you are a citizen of one of the countries in the Visa Waiver Program, you will not need to apply for the US visitor visa. You can apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) instead. With the ESTA program, you will not be required to go to the US Embassy in person and can get the business visa much faster.
Important: Starting May 30, 2023, the cost of a B1/B2 visa application has increased to $185 from the previous price of $160.
This tool will help you determine whether you need a B1/B2 visa:
B1/B2 Visa Requirements
To be eligible for a US tourist visa or a business visa, the purpose of your visit should be one of the following:
Criteria for a B1 Visa
- That your intent for visiting the United States is business-related.
- You have enough finances to cover your stay in the United States.
- You intend to return to your home country as soon as your visa expires and you do not intend to stay in the United States.
Criteria for a B2 Visa
- Have a holiday in the United States.
- Tour various cities in the United States.
- Visit friends or family.
- Participate in social events hosted by various organizations.
- Visit for medical treatment.
- Participate in events or contests related to music or sports, for which you will not receive payment.
- Enroll in short study courses for which you will not receive credit (ex. cooking classes).
If you do not fall into any of the categories above, then you should look into other types of US non-immigrant visas to see for which ones you qualify.
Supporting Documents for a US Visitor Visa
Here are the required documents that you need to submit when applying for a visitor visa:
- Your valid passport. You must possess a passport which is six months valid beyond your planned stay in the US.
- A photograph that complies with the requirements and guidelines.
- Form DS-160 confirmation page and code.
- Receipt of paid visa fees.
- Interview confirmation page.
- A letter which describes the purpose of your trip.
- Proof of financial means. Financial or bank statements to prove you have the finances to stay in the US of at least $266 for each day of your planned stay.
- Ties to your home country. Family, job contract, lease, or property deed, which prove you will return.
- Criminal records or letter from authorities stating that you do not have prior convictions.
- Details of your social media accounts. A list of the social media that you use, and the name
of your account in each. - If travelling for leisure:
- Optional US visitor visa invitation letter from friends or family in the US.
- Photocopies of your relative’s status in the US.
- If traveling for a business trip: a letter from the company detailing the purpose of the trip and your job position.
- If travelling for medical purposes: Letters from doctors on your diagnosis and treatment.
- If you work: a letter from your employer and payslips for the last three months.
- If you have visited the US before: documents relevant to your prior visits.
How to Apply for a US Visitor Visa?
To apply for a US Visitor visa you must go through these simple steps:
Step 1: Submit Form DS-160
Submit your information as well as details about your purpose of visit. You must fill in the required sections and then submit it online. After you submit it, you will get a verification page and code which you need for your documents file.
You can fill the DS-160 form online through the Consular Electronic Application Center.
Step 2: Pay the application fees
The application fee is $185. Depending on your country’s relationship with the US, you might have to pay other fees too. These are called visa issuance fees and they vary from country to country. After making the payments, you need to keep the receipts and attach them to your file of required documents.
Step 3: Schedule an interview
All applicants between 14 and 79 years old must go through an interview at the US Embassy. To attend this interview, you must schedule an appointment with the US Embassy in your country of residence. Due to the high workload that they have, make sure you schedule it as soon as possible. When this procedure is done, you will get an interview confirmation letter which you need to bring to the interview.
Step 4: Compile the supporting document file
The documents file that you have includes all supporting documents to show the US Embassy that it is safe to give you the visa. You must bring all of the documents to your visa appointment.
Step 5: Attend the visa interview
On the date of your interview, a US Embassy official will ask questions about your background and why you want to go to the United States. They will go through your documents to ensure that everything is in order. The interviews do not last long but make sure to disclose all necessary information to avoid problems later on.
What are the Limitations of the B1/B2 Visas?
With a B1/B2 visa, you are strictly forbidden from doing these activities:
- Become a full or part-time student.
- Perform and get paid for it.
- Work in press or journalism.
- Engage in any form of employment.
- Enter as a crewmember on an aircraft or ship.
- Seek permanent residence in the US.
How Long do the Visitor Visas take to Process?
The processing time for the B1/B2 visa can vary from a few weeks to a few months. If you have a specific date that you need to be in the US in, it is best to apply as early as possible so that you can allow enough time for the visa to be processed.
How Long Are the US Visitor Visas Valid?
US Visitor visas are given for a period 1 month up to 10 years. The maximum stay on a visitor visa is six months, but bear in mind that you are not allowed to work during that time, so you must prove you can afford to stay for that period of time.
Can I Extend My Stay?
If you want to stay longer, you can apply for B1/B2 visa extension for an additional 6 months. You should do so at least 42 days before the expiration of your I-94 card. Yet, you are not allowed to apply within three months of arrival in the US. You should submit the following documents when applying for an:
- Completed form I-539.
- Your valid passport.
- A written statement on the reason behind the requested extension.
- Evidence of financial support.
- Payment of the extension fee, which is $370.
- Original or photocopy of I-94 card.
The extension processing time varies on the number of applications USCIS is processing at the time of your application.
Can I Get a Green Card With the Visitor Visas?
Since the visitor visas are temporary and require you to prove that you will return to your home country, it is difficult to get permanent residence. You can do so only if you are able to change your status to a longer-term visa which allows dual intent (applying for a Green Card), marrying in the US, or applying to join your family.
Can I Bring my Dependents With a B1/B2 Visa?
The B1/B2 Visas do not have dependents visas, so if you want to travel with your family, they must also get the appropriate visitor visas.