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B1/B2 Visitor Visa Application

Apply for a U.S. B-1/B-2 visitor visa for business or tourism: complete the DS-160, pay the fee, book and attend the consular interview, and receive your passport with the visa.

Curated by Raaya · Last reviewed Oct 2026

Steps

  1. Check whether you need a visitor visa

    1 day

    The B-1 visa covers business visits such as meetings, conferences and contract negotiations; B-2 covers tourism, visiting family and medical treatment. They are usually issued together as a B-1/B-2 visa. Neither allows paid work or full-time study.

    Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries can usually travel for up to 90 days with an approved ESTA instead of a visa, unless they are ineligible for it.

    Since September 2025, apply at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country of nationality or residence. Fees for applications made elsewhere are not refunded or transferred. Most applicants, including children and older adults, now need an in-person interview.

    Tip: Check your embassy's own visa page for local procedures, document centers and current wait times before you start.

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  2. Gather your passport and supporting documents

    5 days

    Under U.S. law, consular officers presume you intend to immigrate until you show strong ties to home and a clear plan to return. Your documents support what you say at the interview.

    Required: a passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay (some countries are exempt from the six-month rule), a digital photo meeting State Department requirements, the DS-160 confirmation page and the fee receipt.

    Helpful evidence: employment letter stating position, salary and approved leave; recent bank statements; property or business ownership; proof of family ties; a travel itinerary; for business trips, an invitation letter from the U.S. company; for medical visits, a doctor's diagnosis and proof of funds for treatment.

    Tip: Officers often decide based on the interview itself; bring documents organized but expect to show only what is asked for.

    Passport (valid six months beyond your stay) and old passportsDigital visa photo meeting State Department rulesEmployment letter or proof of business or studiesRecent bank statements (proof of funds)
    Attach my documents

  3. Complete and submit the DS-160 online

    2 days

    Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, is completed on the Consular Electronic Application Center website. Select the embassy or consulate where you will interview at the start, as the form is linked to it.

    You need your passport, travel dates, U.S. contact address, previous U.S. travel and visa history, five years of social media identifiers, education and work history. Answer in English using English characters, and answer truthfully; misrepresentation can bar you permanently.

    Write down the Application ID shown at the top of the first page; the site times out after inactivity, and you need the ID to resume.

    Tip: Upload a photo taken within the last six months on a plain white background, without eyeglasses; photo rejection is a common reason for delays.

    Passport (valid six months beyond your stay) and old passportsDigital visa photo meeting State Department rules
    Attach my documents

  4. Pay the visa application fee

    1 day

    The B-1/B-2 visa application fee, also called the MRV fee, is $185, payable in the ways your embassy's appointment website lists, such as bank transfer, card or cash at a designated bank. Local currency amounts follow the consular exchange rate.

    The fee is non-refundable even if the visa is refused, and it is generally valid for one year from payment for scheduling an appointment.

    A visa integrity fee created by 2025 law (base amount $250, adjusted for inflation) is charged on top when the visa is issued at posts where collection has started. Some nationalities also pay a reciprocity fee at issuance, and nationals of certain countries may have to post a visa bond. Check the fees page and your country's reciprocity schedule on travel.state.gov.

    Tip: Keep the receipt number; you need it to book the interview.

    Fee
    $185 · B-1/B-2 visa application (MRV) fee, non-refundable
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  5. Book your visa interview appointment

    2 days

    Book through the official appointment system linked from your U.S. embassy or consulate website. Many posts require a separate visit to a visa application center first for fingerprints and photo, and some have courier pickup or delivery options.

    Check the estimated interview wait time for your post on travel.state.gov. Some posts offer an expedited appointment request for urgent travel, and under a State Department pilot running through December 31, 2026, certain posts sell expedited B-1/B-2 interview slots for an extra $750. Paying only speeds up the interview date; it does not affect the decision.

    Interview waivers are now limited. Some renewal applicants may qualify; the booking system will tell you.

    Tip: Book only through the official site; private agents cannot buy you an earlier slot or improve your chances.

  6. Prepare for the interview

    3 days

    The interview is usually short, often just a few minutes. The officer wants clear, consistent answers about why you are traveling, how long you will stay, who pays, and why you will return home.

    Answer for yourself, briefly and honestly, in the language you are most comfortable with if interpreters are available at your post. Your answers should match your DS-160.

    Prepare your documents in a folder so you can produce any of them quickly.

    Tip: Check your embassy's security rules; most do not allow large bags, laptops or other electronics, and there may be no storage nearby.

    • Print the DS-160 confirmation page and appointment letter
    • Bring current passport and all old passports with U.S. visas
    • Bring the fee payment receipt
    • Bring employment letter, recent bank statements and proof of ties at home
    • Bring itinerary, invitation letter or medical documents as relevant
    • Rehearse answers on trip purpose, length, funding and return plans

  7. Travel to the embassy or consulate

    1 day

    Plan your trip to the embassy or consulate, and to the visa application center if your post requires a separate biometrics visit beforehand. Arrive at the time on your appointment letter; early arrivals may have to wait outside.

    Expect airport-style security. Most posts prohibit electronics, large bags, food and sharp objects, so check the list on your embassy's site.

    Only the applicant is usually allowed inside, except for parents accompanying minors, interpreters where permitted, or people assisting applicants with disabilities.

    Tip: Carry printed copies of your appointment letter and DS-160 confirmation; phones are often not allowed past security.

  8. Attend the visa interview

    1 day

    At the interview, a consular officer reviews your application, may ask questions and decides your eligibility. Ten-finger scans are taken if not collected earlier.

    Outcomes: approved, in which case the passport is kept so the visa can be printed; refused under section 214(b) if you did not show nonimmigrant intent, in which case you receive a letter and may reapply later with a new fee if your circumstances change; or refused under section 221(g) for administrative processing or missing documents, which can take from days to months.

    Visa validity and the number of entries depend on reciprocity with your country.

    Tip: If refused under 214(b), do not reapply immediately with the same facts; the outcome usually depends on a real change in your circumstances.

    Where
    U.S. Embassy or Consulate, nonimmigrant visa section · Bring passport, DS-160 confirmation, appointment letter, fee receipt and supporting documents. Fingerprints are taken if not already collected. The officer tells you the outcome at the window.
    Passport (valid six months beyond your stay) and old passportsEmployment letter or proof of business or studiesRecent bank statements (proof of funds)
    Attach my documents

  9. Track your passport return

    1 day

    After approval, track your case on the CEAC visa status page using your post and DS-160 Application ID. Issued means the visa has been printed; your passport is then returned by courier or ready for pickup as chosen during booking.

    If the status shows administrative processing, wait for instructions from the embassy and send any requested documents promptly. Avoid booking non-refundable travel until your passport with the visa is back.

    Most approved visas are printed within a few working days, but timing varies by post.

    Tip: When the passport arrives, check the visa immediately for spelling of your name, passport number, date of birth and visa type, and report errors to the embassy right away.

  10. Check visa details and plan your entry

    1 day

    A visa lets you travel to a U.S. port of entry and ask to be admitted; Customs and Border Protection decides on entry and how long you may stay.

    The visa expiration date is not your permitted stay. After entering, download your I-94 from the CBP website; its admit-until date is how long you can stay. Overstaying, even by one day, automatically voids the visa and can affect future visas.

    Carry the same supporting documents in your hand luggage to show at entry if asked.

    Tip: If you need to stay longer for a valid reason, apply to USCIS on Form I-539 before your I-94 date passes.

    • Check name, passport number, visa type and entries on the visa
    • Note visa expiration date separately from your permitted stay
    • Carry invitation, return ticket and proof of funds in hand luggage
    • Download and check your I-94 record after arrival
    • Calendar your I-94 admit-until date and leave on time
    • Buy travel health insurance for medical costs in the U.S.

Documents you'll need

Passport (valid six months beyond your stay) and old passportsMust be valid at least six months beyond your intended stay unless your country is exempt. Bring old passports with previous U.S. visas to the interview.
Digital visa photo meeting State Department rulesTaken within the last six months, in color, on a plain white background, with no eyeglasses. Uploaded with the DS-160.
Employment letter or proof of business or studiesShows a job, business or studies to return to. Ideally on letterhead with position, salary and approved leave dates.
Recent bank statements (proof of funds)Shows you or your sponsor can pay for the trip. Recent statements from the last few months are most useful.

Official sources

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General guidance, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change; confirm with the official source before you act.

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