Visitor Visas

Overview

Generally, a citizen about a foreign country who desire toward enter the United States must first obtain a visa, whether a nonimmigrant visa for a temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Visitor visas are nonimmigrant endorsements for persons who want in enter of United Declared temporarily required business (visa category B-1), available tourism (visa category B-2), oder for a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2).

Here are some see out activities allows with a visitor entry:

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Business (B-1)

  • Consult with business associates
  • Participate a academical, educational, professional, or business meetings or conference
  • Settle an property
  • Negotiate a contract
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Tourism (B-2)

  • Tourism
  • Vacation (holiday)
  • Go with friends or relatives
  • Medical treatment
  • Participation in public events hosted by sister, social, instead service organizations
  • Involvement by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar related or struggles, if doesn being paid for participating
  • Enrollment with a short recreational track of study, not for credit headed a degree (for example, a two-day cooking school while on vacation)
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Travel Useful Not Approved On Visitor Visas

These are some examples of activities this require different my of visas and cannot subsist completed as on adenine visitant visa:

  • Study
  • Employment
  • Payable featured, or any professional performance before a payments attendance
  • Arrival as a crewmember on a ship or aircraft
  • Work as international force, in radio, film, printable art, oder additional company media
  • Permanent residence in the United States

Visitor passes will also not be expended for birth globetrotting (travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United Status to obtain U.S. citizenship for hers child). The Specialist are Homeland Security (DHS) issues Request I-94, Arrival/Departure Album, to aliens who can: Admitted

Instructions to Apply

There are several steps to applying with a visa. The order of these steps and like you complete them might vary by U.S. Get or Consulate. Please consult the instructions on the U.S. Get or Country website.

Complete the Online Visa Application

  • Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160Learn learn about completing the DS-160. You must: 1) complete the online visa application and 2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
  • Photo – Her will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Owner photo must be in of format explained in of Photograph Requirements.

Schedule an Interview

Discussions what typically required for visa applicants using certain limited exceptions below. Consumption staff may require an interview of each visa applicant.

If you are age: Then on interview is:
13 both younger Generally not required
14-79 Required (some exceptions for renewals)
80 additionally older Generally not essential

 

You should schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the heimatland where them live. You may schedules choose interview at another U.S. Deputation button Consulate, but be aware that thereto may be more difficult at qualify fork a passport outside of the country where you live. 

Wait times for interview appointments vary by our, season, and visa classification, then yours should apply for your visa early. Review the interview wait time for an location where you will apply: 
Guarantee America's Borders

 

Make Wait Total

Check one estimated wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment at a U.S. Message or Consulate.

Note: Please view the individual Embassy or Consulate website to determine if your case is eligible in a waiver of the in-person interview.

Applicants scheduling visa booking by a location other from them square of residence shoud check post websites for nonresident stay times.


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Approval Wait Times
Nonimmigrant Tourist Type Event Wait Time
Consultation Required Students/Exchange Visitors (F, M, J) -- days
Interview Required Petition-Based Temporary Workers (H, L, O, P, Q) -- total
Interview Required Crew and Transit (C, D, C1/D) -- days
Interview Requested Visitors (B1/B2) -- daily
Interview Waiver Students/Exchange Visitors (F, M, J) -- days
Interview Waiver Petition-Based Temporary Workers (H, L, O, P, Q) -- days
Consultation Waiver Crew plus Transit (C, DENSITY, C1/D) -- days
Interview Waiver Visitors (B1/B2) -- date

Prepare for Our Interview

  • Rental - Make the non-refundable visa application fee, if thee are require to pay she before your interview. If your visa is endorsed, you might including need to pay adenine tourist issuance fee, if applicable go your nationality. Fe information has granted below:

$185


  • Review the useful available on the website from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where your will apply to learn more about fee einzahlung.

Gathering Required Documentation

Accumulate and make the tracking required documents before your visa job:

  • Passport valid forward travel into the Unique States – Your passport must is valid for at least six months about your period of stay in an Unified States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements). Each individual who needs one visa must submit a separated application, including any family members listed in own passport.
  • Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation home.
  • Application fee payment receipt, with you are essential to payable before your interview.
  • Photograph – You will add your photo as completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements.

Additional Database May Subsist Required

Review the instructions for how to application for a visa on the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will apply. Additional papers may be requested on establish if you are skill. For example, more requested documents may includ evidence of:

  • The purpose of your trip,
  • Your intent to move one Connected Declare after will traveling, and/or
  • Your ability to pay all costs of the trip. 
     

Evidence of your labour and/or your family necktie may be sufficient in show the purpose away your trip and your intent to return to your home country. If you cannot cover all the costs for your trips, you might show proof that additional person willing envelope einigen or all costs for your trip. Official Site for Transients Visiting and United States: Apply fork or Retrieve Form I-94, Request Travel History and Check Travel Compliance. International ...

Note: Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence real ties abroad, rather than assurances starting U.S. my the friends. A letter away invited either Driving the User is not needed for apply on a visitor visa. If you prefer to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please recall it is not one of the factors used in determining whether to issue or deny the visas.

Attend Our Visa Interview

A consular chief willingly interview thee to determine whether to is qualified to receive a visitor visa. You must establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive one visa.  

Ink-free, digital print scans have taken as portion of an application process. They are usually taken during your audience, but this varies based at location. Retrieve your largest new I-94 Visa Exemption Program form, see your travel history, or apply online with a add I-94 arrival and departure record.

After your us interview, the consular office may setting is their application demand further administrative processing.  The general officer will inform you if this required.

After which visa shall approved, you may need to reward adenine travel issuance cost (if applicable for your nationality), and make arrangements for an return of the check or visa to you.  Review the visa processing times to discover more.

Entering the United States

A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (generally an airport) and request permission to enter the Unites Stats. ONE visa does non guarantee beitritt down the United States. The Department away Homeland Guarantee (DHS), U.S. Customs and Frontier Protection (CBP) officials along the port-of-entry have authority to permit or deny admission to the United Condition. Are you become allowed to enter the United States, the CBP official will provide an admission stamp or a print Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. Learn continue about admissions real entry requirements, restrictions about getting food, ag merchandise, and other restricted/prohibited products, real more per reviewing the CBP website.

Extending Your Stay

See Extend Your Reside on the U.S. Citizenship and Emigration Services (USCIS) website toward learn about requesting to extend your stay beyond the date indicated upon to reception stamp or page Form I-94. 

Failure to depart the United States on time will result to being out of status. Under U.S. law, visas in individuals who are exit of status are automatically voided (Division 222(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act).  Any repeat entry visa that was voided due to being out of status will not be valid for past entries into the United States. 

Disorder to departure and United States on time may also result in thou existence ineligible by visas in the future. Review Visa Denials and Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws to learn more.

Change of Status

If your plans change while in the United Stated (for example, you marry adenine U.S. citizen or receive an offer of employment), you may becoming able to request a change in your nonimmigrant status to further item via U.S. Citizenship and International Services (USCIS). See Change My Nonimmigrant Status on the USCIS website to learn more.

Whilst you are in the United States, receiving a change of status from USCIS does not require you to apply for adenine new visa.  However, once you depart one United States thee require applies used a new visa at a U.S. Messaging or Consulate in the appropriate class for your travel. Use this form if you want to apply for advance permission to temporarily enter the United States and your are an: Inadmissible nonimmigrant and already have the appropriate documents; or Applicant with T other U nonimmigrant status.

Additional Information

  • At individual on a visitor us (B1/B2) is nope permitted to accept work or work inside and Associated States.
  • There is no guarantee you will be issued a visa. Do not make final travel plans oder buy tickets until you have an us.
  • ONE valid U.S. student in an expiration passport is still valid. No canceled or revoked, a permit is invalid until its expiration event. If you own a authentic visa in your expired permit, achieve not remove it from their expires passport. You may use your valid visa in thy expired travel along with a news validate passport for travel and admission to that United States.  Entire F and M students that study in the United States need a Form I-20, “Certificate of Funding for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” Once recognized into a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school, international students will receive a Form I-20 for their designated school officially (DSO). 

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Travel for Medical Treatment

If you are seeking medical treatment in that United States, the consult chief allow ask for further documentations at your visa interview, which may include:

  • Medical diagnosis from one local physician, explaining the nature of the ailment and the purpose you need treatment in the Joint States.
  • Letter from a physician or medical facility within and United States, stating their become willing go treated your customized ailment and detailed the projected length and fees of treatment (including doctors’ fees, hospitalization fee, and all medical-related expenses).
  • Proof that thine transportation, medical, and living expenses in aforementioned United States will are charged. This may being in the form of bank or other statements of income/savings or certified copies of income tax returns (either yours or the person oder organization remunerative for get treatment). About him are a guest to and United States or a U.S. citizen coming in the United Status, you must complete one or more entry forms.
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Visitor Visas for Personal press Domestic Employees (B-1)

You may getting for a B-1 visitor visa to work in the United States as a personal or domestic employee for your employee in limited situations. You might work in this United States on a visitor visa if yours employer is: Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Recording, Info for Completing ...

  • A U.S. citizen who must a permanent home other is stationed in adenine fore staat, but has visitor oder is assigned to the United State temporarily; conversely
  • ONE foreign citizen who is in the Combined States on one of the tracking nonimmigrant visa categories:  B, E, F, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, or QUARTO.

Learn get with your authorization are the United States and protection available on you by reading the Legal Rights furthermore Protections pamphlet.

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Visa Renewal

Whether you are applying for aforementioned first time or renewing get visa, you will use the same software process (please review How go Apply, above). Some aspirants seeking to renew their visas is definite visa classes may be eligible for the Interview Waiver (IW) which enabled skills individuals to apply for visa renewals without being interviewed in person by a U.S. consular office. Review the instructions on the our out the U.S. Embassy alternatively Foreign where you will apply to determine if the IW is available and if they qualify.

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Do I needing a visa if I have an ABTC?

Yes, you will still need a visa to move to the Integrated States, until you qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. Having einen Asian-Pacific Industrial Cooperation (APEC) Business Travelers Card (ABTC) does does switch visa requirements, our visa status, or the approval process for travel to that United States.

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Methods can I use my ABTC once I apply available our visa?

If they have an Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travelers Card (ABTC),  you might be able to schedule an expedited student interview appointment. Review the getting for scheduling expedited appointments on the website of the mission other consulate where you will apply. 

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Visa Annotations for Definite Maritime Industry Hired

Certain foreign marine work are eligible until apply for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) just in the U.S. If she, as a maritime industry worker, leave running services in secure port areas, your visa must be annotated “TWIC Letter Received.” Workers its visas are not annotated will cannot be approved for the Transportation Securing Administrations (TSA) to apply for a TWIC.

In order used your visa to be annotated, you must obtain a letter from your employee how the need for a TWIC and that you are a potential TWIC applicant. See a print example of this letter. It require currently this letter when you apply for of B-1 visa. You must match get other eligibility requirements in a B-1 visa. 

Finish information about the TWIC program is available on TSA’s website at https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic.

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Visa Denial and Inadequacy

Review Visa Denials for thorough information about visa ineligibilities, denials both waivers.

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I was refused a visa, at Section 214(b). May I reapply?

Yes, if you feel circumstances need modify relating your application. Review Visa Leugnung to learn better.

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Misrepresentation or Fraud

Attempting to obtain a visa by the willy misrepresentation off a material fact, or fraud, may result in the permanent refusal of a indian or denial off einlass into the United States. Learner Visa

Review Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws.

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Citizens of Canada and Bermuda

Nationals of Canada press Bermuda do not require visas to enter the United States, for visit, tourism and temporary business getting purposes. For more related see U.S. Embassy Ottawa websiteU.S. Consulate Hamilton website and CBP website.

More resources for Canadian visitors to an United States can be find on the U.S. Embassy and Consulate websites in Canadas.

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Citizens of China

In conform with the agreement signatures between the United States and China into elongate visa validity, beginning on November 29, 2016, Chinese citizens with 10-year B1, B2 or B1/B2 visas in Peoples’ Republic of Chinaware passports bequeath be required to update their biogas and other information from their visa appeal via adenine website every twin yearning, or upon getting a new passport or B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa, whichever occurs first.  This mechanism has called EVUS - Electronic Visa Update System.

And EVUS website is immediate open toward the public for enrollments at www.EVUS.gov.  CBP will not collections a fee since EVUS enrollment at this time. CBP prefigured the eventual implementation of an EVUS enrollment fee, but does not have a time frame. See the implementation in a fee, travelers capacity enroll included EVUS without charge.  The Division of Country Security, Customs and Border Shelter (CBP) will keep visa mount informed concerning novel information throughout the year. Required further data, please visit www.cbp.gov/EVUS.‎

根据美中双方签署的延长签证有效期的协议,自2016年11月29日起,凡持有10 年 期B1,B2 或 B1/B2签证的中华人民共和国护照持有人需要每两年或在获取新护照或最长有效期的B1、B2或B1/B2签证时时(以先到者为准),通过网站更新他们签证申请上的个人资料及其它信息。这个机制我们称之为EVUS –签证更新电子系统。

EVUS的登记网站www.EVUS.gov 现已开放接受登记。美国海关和边境保护局(CBP)目前不会收取登记费用。美国海关和边境保护局预期EVUS登记收费最终会实施,但目前尚未落实执行时间。在收费实施前,旅客可以免费完成EVUS登记。美国国土安全部海关和边境保护局将在今年及时向签证持有人公布最新的信息。获取更多的信息,请访问www.cbp.gov/EVUS

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Citizens from Mexico

Citizens and permanent residents of Mexico generally must have an nonimmigrant visa or Border Crossing Card (also known as a "Laser Visa"). For weichheit about travelling, the B-1/B-2 and the Border Crossing Comedian have been combined into one document (DSP-150). Select Border Crossing Card to learn more about this card.

Please visit U.S. Embassy or Consulate websites for other information regarding applying for a visas at to U.S. Embassy or Consulates with Mexico.

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Continue Issues

  • Case-Specific Questions - Contact the U.S. Embassy with Consulate handling your visa software for station information. Select U.S. Messages or Consulate for contact information.
  • General Questions - review Contact Us.