How to Apply For American Tourist Visa B2

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Last Updated: June 1, 2021 Approved

More than 75 million people visit the United States every year, and if you want to be one of them you need to get a B-2 tourist visa. ^{[1]
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Research source} With this visa, you can go sightseeing, visit family or friends, or just rest. Apply online and submit all required supporting documents. Your tourist visa is good for six months.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Submitting Your Application

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Have a recent picture taken. You need to submit a recent picture as part of your application. The picture will be passport-sized and should meet the following requirements: ^{[2]
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- The picture must be in color in front of a white background.
- It should be 2 x 2 inches.
- It should have been taken within the past six months.
- Your head in the image must be 1 inch (2.5 cm) and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50% and 69% of the image’s height, from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin.
- Your face should stare directly at the camera with a neutral facial expression. Your face must be visible.
- You should wear normal daily clothing. Avoid wearing a hat or other headgear unless you have a religious purpose for wearing it.
- You cannot wear headphones or glasses.
- The picture must be in JPEG format. Minimum digital dimensions are 600 x 600 pixels, with maximum dimensions of 1200 x 1200 pixels. ^{[3]
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2
Complete the application online. Form DS-160 is available online here: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ . You will need to select your location from the drop-down menu. Follow the instructions on the page when answering questions. You can check your answers before submitting them. ^{[4]
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- You will upload your digital picture to the application. If it won’t load, then you’ll take a picture to your interview.
- Remember to print off the confirmation screen that contains a barcode.
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You may have to pay your visa application fee before your interview. Generally, the fee is $160. Visit the usembassy.gov website to find out how to pay your fee. ^{[5]
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4
Schedule an interview. The exact process varies by location, so visit the nearest embassy or consulate’s website and read what you must do next. Generally, only people aged 14 to 79 need to attend an interview. ^{[6]
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- You can check the appointment wait times at the State Department website. ^{[7]
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5
Renew your passport, if necessary. Your passport must be valid for six months past the date you intend to stay in the U.S. For example, if your visit ends June 12, then your passport should be valid until at least December 12.
- There are many exceptions, depending on your country. You can see a list of countries exempted from this requirement on the Customs and Border Patrol website. ^{[8]
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  Trustworthy Source
  U.S. Customs and Border Protection
  Federal law enforcement agency responsible for monitoring U.S. borders, facilitating international trade, and upholding customs laws
  Go to source}
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Attending Your Interview

1
Gather documents. The consular official should tell you what you need to bring in advance of your interview. For example, you will probably need the following:
- confirmation page to Form DS-160
- receipt for payment of the application fee
- passport
- photographs if you couldn’t upload the picture
- evidence you intend to return home after your trip (some applicants)
- evidence of your ability to pay for the trip, such as bank statements (some applicants)
2
Answer questions. When you arrive at the consulate or embassy, show your appointment letter to the guards. An embassy or consular official will check to make sure everything is in order. You will then talk to a different official, who may ask you questions about your job, education, and your plans while you are in the U.S. ^{[9]
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Research source} Answer all questions honestly.
- The interviewer wants to see that you have sufficiently strong ties to your home country so that you won’t try to stay in the U.S. permanently.
- If you are traveling for medical treatment, you may need to provide a diagnosis from your doctor and an explanation of the treatment you are seeking.
In some countries, you must pay an additional issuance fee. You can check how much you will pay ahead of time by contacting your embassy or consulate. You can also check the State Department website and enter your country. ^{[10]
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Digital, ink-free fingerprints will probably be taken during your interview. ^{[11]
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Research source} However, each consulate or embassy is different, so you may give them at a different time.
If you are approved, then arrange for the delivery of your visa. For example, you can usually pay at the consulate for a courier to deliver the visa to you. The average processing times will differ depending on the embassy and your personal situation, but 3-5 business days is typical. ^{[12]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Visiting the U.S.

1
Present your visa at a port of entry. The visa lets you travel to a port of entry and ask for permission to be admitted. Your visa doesn’t give you a right to enter. A Customs and Border Protection official will ask you questions about your stay before deciding whether to admit you.
- Once admitted, you’ll receive a paper Form I-94 or an admission stamp. ^{[13]
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  Research source} The form or stamp will tell you when you must leave the U.S.
2
Don’t violate your visa. A tourist visa allows you to visit friends and relatives, rest, or receive medical treatment. You can also participate in activities of a fraternal or social nature or participate in contests as an amateur. ^{[14]
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Research source} However, you can’t do any of the following: ^{[15]
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- You can’t study in a school. Instead, you should get a student visa.
- You can’t work a job. Instead, you should seek a work visa.
- You can’t receive payment for performances or perform professionally in front of a paying audience.
- You can’t seek permanent residence in the U.S.
- You can undertake business activities, such as negotiating a contract or consulting with business associates. Instead, get a B-1 business visa.
You must leave by the date on your I-94 or admission stamp. ^{[16]
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Research source} This date probably is earlier than the date your visa expires. If you don’t leave on time, then you will be out of status, which can seriously hurt your chances of getting a visa to the U.S. in the future.
4
Extend your stay. You might choose to stay longer, or you might be forced to because of an accident or medical emergency. Extend your stay by filing Form I-539. ^{[17]
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Trustworthy Source
US Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S. government agency in charge of the naturalization and immigration systems
Go to source} Download the form and read the instructions here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-539 . You should file at least 45 days before your stay expires.
- You can get an extension if your visa or authorized stay has expired. However, you must have compelling circumstances, such as a medical injury that prevented you from filing for an extension on time.
- After you submit your form, you will receive a receipt. This receipt will tell you how to check on the status of your extension request.
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How can I visit the USA?

Community Answer

You would need a passport and visa to visit the USA. The type of visa will depend on the purpose and duration of your visit.

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How long is a tourist visa good for?

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It varies, but it is typically valid for a few weeks. Visit the government website of the country you are getting a visa for; it should say how long the visa is good for.

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My parents are visiting the U.S. for their grandson's graduation. What documents do they need to present? Also, my dad is 80 -- does he still need to attend the interview?

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It depends on which country they are coming in from -- every country has different regulations. Your father will not be exempt from the interview solely because of his age.

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Tips

Check if you qualify for the visa waiver program. If you are coming from a qualified country, you can visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa. A list of countries is available here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html .

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How to Apply For American Tourist Visa B2

Steps

Submitting Your Application

Attending Your Interview

Visiting the U.S.

Community Q&A

Tips

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