Family and Work Visa Plan VISITOR B-2 VISA (Medical Treatment)

Visitor B-2 Visa (Medical treatment)

Tourism is not always just for the fun of it. Sometimes its purpose may be to save a life. For example, if you are suffering from a medical condition and want top-notch treatment from a state-of-the-art medical facility in the United States, the US government treats you as a temporary visitor, the same as any tourist. Accordingly, the visa you would seek is also the Visitor visa, also known as B-2. However, because your objective is medical treatment rather than tourism, some steps in the visa application process are different.

What is the Visitor B-2 visa?

The Visitor B-2 visa is the perfect choice for someone planning a holiday in the US or who wants to meet up with family and friends. The B-2 is a non-immigrant visa valid for ten years that allows you multiple entries into the United States for specific defined non-work-related purposes, including undergoing medical treatment.

Citizens of one of the 39 countries participating in the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), however, will need an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) instead of a Visitor visa if they seek medical treatment in the US. You can see a complete list of the VWP countries here. You can apply for ESTA travel authorization here. Please bear in mind that a valid ESTA allows you a two-year stay in the US.

Who is eligible for B-2 visa Medical Treatment?

Requiring medical treatment is the single most important requirement for a B-2 Medical Treatment visa. However, since the B-2 is essentially a Visitor visa, immigrant intent is assumed. This means the US Immigration requires convincing proof that you are not using medical treatment as a pretext for entering the US and then applying for a permanent option for staying on.

Here is a short list of what you will need to prove to be considered eligible —

• You are traveling to the US solely to receive medical treatment.
• If you happen to be pregnant, you must prove that you are not traveling to the US to give birth there, even if the medical treatment you seek relates to that birth.
• The US physician treating you must issue a letter corroborating your claims and attest that you only need to stay for a temporary and specified period.
• You must have a permanent home outside the US in addition to other binding ties such as family and a permanent job to help establish that you sincerely intend to return home.
• You must have a valid, unexpired passport enabling you to return to your home country at the end of your visit.
• You must credibly show that you have the financial means to pay for your travel and personal expenses during your US stay.
• You must demonstrate that you have the financial means to pay for the entire medical treatment.

You will only have a few minutes at the visa interview to convince the consular official, so the more documented proof you carry, the better your prospects of being granted a B-2 visa for medical treatment.

How long can you stay with a Visitor B-2 visa​?

You can stay in the United States for a maximum of 180 days per visit on a Visitor B-2 visa. Since the Visitor B-2 visa is valid for ten years, you may visit multiple times without limit using the same visa, as long as you do not exceed the limit of 180 days per entry.

Covid-19 related: Under rules current as of March 11, 2021, travel to the United States under a Visitor B-2 visa is prohibited. Under normal circumstances, a Visitor visa can be extended for a maximum of 30 days if departure is delayed because of extraordinary difficulties. In such cases, a prior application for extension must be made if possible before the Visitor visa expires. More information on this, including where to get help, is here.

How do you apply for a Visitor B-2 visa for medical treatment?

It is a good idea to do your research and get opinions and options from medical professionals in the US before starting the visa application process. You should have a good idea of how long you will need to be in the US for treatment and how much you should expect to pay for the treatment, including the cost of tests, doctors’ fees, hospitalization, and prescription medication.

There are two major steps in applying for a Visitor B-2 visa for medical treatment. The first stage is to complete and submit the Online Visa Application. The second stage is to schedule a visa interview. If your application is successful, your visa will be issued after this process.

However, it is a good idea to read the specific instructions and guidelines at the website of the US Embassy or Consulate where you live, since the steps and how you complete them may vary from country to country.

1. Completing the Online Visa Application

This DS-160 form is the most important stage of your application process and is done entirely online. Since the form can be saved, you may complete your application over several sessions. The form is auto-saved each time you complete a page, so you have only a low risk of losing your information in case of an outage or a computer crash.

You can start filling the DS-160 online here. Take your time to read it carefully and understand all the instructions before you start filling it. The first thing you will be asked to do is select your country of application from a dropdown list. Most of the fields on the DS-160 are mandatory, though you may write ‘DOES NOT APPLY’ when a field is not relevant to you.

You will be asked to upload your photo while filling the DS-160. If your uploaded photo does not exactly match the requirements, your application may be denied, so it is worth reading and following the specifications for the photo. You can view the complete list of photo specifications here.

On average, completing the DS-160 can take anything up to 45 minutes or longer.

Once you complete the DS-160 form, review the data carefully for accuracy, completeness and truthfulness before clicking the Submit button. After submission, you will be shown a confirmation page with your application ID number and a barcode. Print this page out as you will need it when you go for the interview.

2. Schedule an interview

Most visitors will be required to go for an interview, though persons under 13 or over 80 are generally exempted. However, Consular Officers have the discretion to require anyone, irrespective of age, to come for an interview.

It is advisable to set up an appointment for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence. It is considerably more difficult to qualify for a visa if you apply outside your country of residence.

How long will you have to wait for your interview? Wait times can vary from country to country, but you will find an online calculator on the government visa page that will estimate your wait time once you enter the name of the city where you have applied for an interview.

How much does a Visitor B-2 visa cost?

There are two parts to the fee for getting a Visitor B-2 visa —

Application fee: This is a flat non-refundable fee, currently US$ 160, that you will be asked to pay at the time of submitting the DS-160 Online Visa Application.

Issuance fee: Some countries may seek an additional Issuance fee at the time of issuing your visa if your visa application is approved. This amount may vary from country to country and is best to ascertain at your local US Embassy or Consular Office.

What documents do you need to apply for a Visitor B-2 visa for Medical Treatment?

The following list describes the minimum documents you should carry to the visa interview. The visa officer may seek additional documentation after the interview.

• Passport: This document should have validity for at least six months beyond the planned period of your stay in the United States.
• Printout of the Confirmation page: This is the page with your application ID and barcode that you received after submitting the DS-160 Online Application Form.
• Receipt for payment of the application fee: This applies only to countries where you are required to pay before your interview.
• Photo: This is relevant only if you could not upload your photo while submitting the DS-160 Online Application Form. In this case, carry one printed photo conforming to the specifications listed in the photo requirements.

If you will be seeking medical treatment while on your B-2 visa, you will need some additional documents. From your local doctor, you should get a letter on their official letterhead and with their medical registration number, stating the following —

• The nature of your illness or ailment.
• The diagnosis and your recommended treatment
• The reason why this treatment is unavailable in your home country (for example, the poor quality of hospitals and medical equipment or unavailability of health services related to your condition).
• The doctor’s recommendation that you seek medical treatment in the US.

You may be asked to go to an impaneled US Embassy physician to determine whether the treatment you seek requires you to go to the US.

The healthcare professional who has agreed to treat you in the US must issue a letter, also on official letterhead with their medical registration number, with the following details —

• Their willingness to accept you as a patient based on the information they have received from your local physician.
• A detailed treatment plan for your medical condition.
• An evaluation of how long you will need to stay in the US to complete your medical treatment.
• A cost estimate including all medical procedures and fees for inpatient and outpatient care.

In addition to these, you would be well advised to carry documentation to show that you have sufficient funds to cover the costs of your transportation, medical and living expenses in the United States. This could include bank or other statements of income/savings or certified copies of income tax returns (either yours or the person or organization sponsoring your treatment).

If the costs of your medical treatment will be covered by a close relative in the US, they will have to furnish a Form I-134 Affidavit of Support with evidence of their income and assets, including income tax records and bank statements showing the previous year’s transactions. Note, though, that affidavits from persons other than close relatives are not acceptable.

 You should be able to apply for a Visitor B-2 visa by yourself in most cases as the process is relatively straightforward even if it is detailed and requires a little time. Taking the help of a third party to fill out the DS-160 form may save you some time, but it will considerably increase the cost. Besides, you will still need to be part of the process as your electronic signature will be required at the end of the application process.

You can start the application process for a Visitor B-2 visa here.

If you still feel that you would like to have professional help in making your application or would like to consult a lawyer who specializes in immigration and visa matters, click here to see some of your options, including how to access our exclusive list of professional immigration lawyers. If you have questions or would like clarifications, please click here to send us an email, and we’ll do our best to get back to you within 24 hours with an answer.

Under rules current as of March 11, 2021, travel to the United States under a Visitor visa B1 or B2 is prohibited.

As of January 26, 2021, the  US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  requires all air passengers aged two years or more who wish to enter the United States to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days. The carrier airline is required to confirm the negative test result or proof of recent recovery for all passengers prior to boarding. Airlines must deny boarding of passengers who do not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery.