Tourist & Student Visa Plan : VISITOR VISA B-2
The B2 Visitor visa is one of the most generous and welcoming of non- immigrant visas for entering the United States. Once issued, it is valid for 10 years of multiple entries, with each visit as long as six months.
What is the Visitor visa B-2?
The Visitor visa B-2 is a non-immigrant visa valid for 10 years that allows you multiple entries into the United States for certain defined non-work related purposes.
If you are planning a short visit to the United States for a holiday, meeting up with family and friends, for medical purposes, you will need to apply for a Visitor Visa (B-2).
Citizens of one of the 39 countries participating in the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), however, you will need an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) instead of a Visitor visa. You can see a complete list of the VWP countries here. You can apply for ESTA travel authorization here.
What does a Visitor visa B-2 allow you to do?
The Visitor visa B-2 allows you quite some latitude in having a good time in the United States. Here is a list of the kind of activities you may enjoy while in the United States as a tourist on a Visitor visa B-2 —
一 Have a vacation
一 Meet family and friends
一 Undergo medical treatment
一 Take part in social events such as parties and meetings
一 Take part in amateur events featuring music, sports or similar events or contests, as long as you are not paid for participating
一 Join a short recreational course of study such as 2- or 3-day cooking class, as long as it does count as a credit toward a degree
You will not be eligible for a Visitor visa B-2 if you are arriving at the United States as a crew member on a ship or aircraft, or work as a journalist in print, radio, television or any other kind of media. To see your visa options as a crew member or a journalist, click here.
You may not study in the United States while on a Visitor visa B-2, or take up employment of any kind, including paid performances. Needless to add, you may not take up permanent residence in the United States while on this visa. To see your visa options for visiting the United States to study, click here, and to review your work visa options, click here.
How long can you stay with a Visitor visa B-2?
You can stay in the United States for a maximum of 180 days per visit on a Visitor visa B-2. Since the Visitor visa B-2 is valid for 10 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 visa B2 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 visa B-2?
There are two major steps in applying for a Visitor visa B-2. 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 to 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 an 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 you click 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 choose to 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 visa B-2 cost?
There are two parts to the fee for getting a Visitor visa B-2 —
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 visa B-2?
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 6 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 Application fee: This applies only to countries where you are required to pay before your interview.
Photo: This is relevant only if for any reason you were not able to 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.
You should be able to apply for a Visitor visa B-2 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 visa B-2 here.
Need more help?
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.