USA: B1/B2 visitor visa for tourism and business

The B1/B2 visa in brief

The B1/B2 is a temporary US visa for short trips: tourism, visiting friends and family, business meetings, conferences, negotiations, medical treatment, or a short recreational course that does not count toward a degree. It does not allow you to work, enrol in a full study programme or settle in the United States.

Do you need a visa or just an ESTA?

Before you start, check whether you need a visa at all. Citizens of countries in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) can usually visit the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days with an online travel authorisation, the ESTA, instead of a visa. The VWP includes the United Kingdom, most EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Israel, Qatar, Taiwan and Chile, among others. Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are currently not part of the programme, so their citizens still need a visa.

As of 2026, the official ESTA fee is 40 USD. Apply only through the official CBP website or app and do it well before you book your trip.

Even citizens of VWP countries need a B1/B2 visa if:

• the ESTA is refused or you have previously been refused entry or a visa;
• you plan to stay longer than 90 days in a single trip;
• you have previously overstayed or otherwise breached the terms of a US stay;
• you have travelled to, or hold the nationality of, certain countries that exclude you from the VWP (for example Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and some others, according to CBP rules);
• you are travelling on a passport that does not meet VWP requirements.

Where you can apply

Since September 2025 the US Department of State requires applicants for temporary visas to book their interview at a US embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or country of residence. Applying in a third country is only appropriate if you genuinely live there and can prove it.

If you book an appointment in a country where you are neither a national nor a resident, the State Department warns that it may be harder to qualify for the visa, that waiting times can be much longer, and that the fee will not be refunded or transferred.

Applying in your country of residence makes sense if:

• you live there with a residence permit, study, work, family or digital nomad status;
• you can show a residence card, local registration, a lease, a job, a business or studies in that country;
• you can explain your ties both to your country of residence and to your country of nationality;
• you can show that you will return there after your trip.

Important for travellers on short stays

If you are in a country only as a tourist and have no long-term status there, do not apply from that country. Under the current rules this does not count as residence, and the consular officer will also ask why you are applying there rather than at home.

For nationals of countries where the US does not offer routine visa services, the State Department designates specific embassies where they should apply, unless they reside in another country. Check the current list on travel.state.gov before booking.

How the process works

The application form is completed online, and the interview takes place at the US embassy or consulate in the country where you apply. You choose an available city when booking in your visa appointment account. Availability and passport return options change, so always check the final details at the time of booking.

Your passport is usually returned by courier or through a pick-up point shown in your appointment account. Do not plan urgent trips right after the interview: if approved, the passport stays at the consulate for the visa to be printed, and if your case is placed in administrative processing, it can take weeks or even months.

Interview waiver: only in limited cases

Since 2 September 2025, almost all applicants, including children under 14 and adults over 79, must attend an in-person interview. A waiver may be offered mainly to people renewing a full-validity B1/B2 visa that expired less than 12 months ago, who were at least 18 when it was issued, have no previous refusals and apply in their country of nationality or residence. Even then, the consulate may still call you for an interview.

What you can do on a B1/B2 visa

• B-2 tourism: holidays, sightseeing, visiting friends and relatives, medical treatment, social events. Not allowed: working, full-time study or living in the US.
• B-1 business: business meetings, conferences, consulting with partners, negotiations, professional events. Not allowed: receiving a US salary or performing work for a US employer.
• Combined B1/B2: the most common option, letting you combine tourist and business purposes in a short trip. It cannot replace a work visa, a student visa or a permanent residence visa.
• Short courses: a recreational course, such as a short cooking class during your holiday, is allowed if it does not earn academic credit. Language programmes or study for credit require a different visa category.

Step-by-step guide

1. Define the purpose of your trip: tourism, visiting family, business, a conference, medical treatment or a mix of B1/B2 purposes.
2. Check whether you qualify for ESTA. If not, choose where to apply: your country of nationality or the country where you legally reside, and prepare proof of residence.
3. Complete the DS-160 form on the CEAC website. Enter the correct application location, passport details, travel plans, work and education history, previous trips and the social media identifiers you have used in the last five years.
4. Create an account in the appointment system for that country, pay the application fee and book an available slot.
5. Prepare the required documents: passport, DS-160 confirmation, photo, payment receipt, appointment confirmation, proof of status in the country of application and evidence supporting the purpose of the trip.
6. Attend the interview. Fingerprints are usually taken. The officer asks about your trip, job, income, family, status and previous travel.
7. Wait for the decision. If approved, the passport stays for visa printing; if refused, it is returned without a visa; administrative processing times vary from case to case.

Required documents

• Passport valid for travel to the US; generally it should be valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay, unless your country has an agreement exempting you from this rule.
• DS-160 confirmation page with the barcode, not the whole form. You will not be admitted to the interview without it.
• Appointment confirmation.
• Proof of fee payment: keep the receipt from your appointment account.
• Photo: usually uploaded with the DS-160; bring a printed photo meeting US requirements (51×51 mm, white background) just in case.

Recommended supporting documents

There is no universal “perfect package” for a B1/B2 visa. Your goal is to show a short-term purpose, the ability to pay for the trip and your intention to leave the US on time. If you apply in your country of residence rather than nationality, show ties to both.

• Status in the country of application (if it is not your country of nationality): residence permit, student card, long-stay visa, registration, lease agreement.
• Employment and income: employment letter, contract, payslips, business registration, tax returns, bank statements showing stable income and work outside the US.
• Studies: enrolment letter, timetable, proof that you will continue your studies.
• Family: marriage and birth certificates, documents of your spouse and children, showing personal reasons to return.
• Purpose of the trip: itinerary, travel plan, invitation, conference registration, business correspondence, refundable bookings.
• Travel history: old passports with visas and entry and exit stamps.

How to fill in the DS-160

• choose the correct application location and save your Application ID;
• enter all data exactly as in your passport: spelling, dates, place of birth, nationalities;
• honestly declare any refusals, removals or overstays;
• do not artificially shorten your trip: the itinerary must be realistic;
• your US address should match the purpose of the trip: hotel, relatives or friends, event organisers;
• list all social media identifiers requested by the form;
• after submitting, save the DS-160 confirmation page with the barcode.

Practical tip. If you find a serious mistake after submitting the DS-160, you usually fill in a new form and update the confirmation number in your appointment account. Do not attend an interview with a form that has the wrong passport, nationality, refusal history or trip purpose.

The interview: typical questions

The interview is usually short, but your preparation must be thorough. The officer decides based on your form, your answers and your overall profile. They may not look at all your documents, so your answers must be clear and consistent with the DS-160.

• Why are you travelling to the US and for how long?
• Why are you applying in this country?
• What is your status in your country of residence and how long have you lived there?
• Where do you work or study?
• Who is paying for the trip?
• Do you have relatives or friends in the US?
• Have you ever been refused a US visa or a visa for another country?
• Where will you return after the trip and why?

Common mistakes

• applying in a country where you are not a national and do not actually live;
• applying for a visa when you could simply use ESTA, or using ESTA when your situation requires a visa;
• planning a two-week trip with low income or unstable employment;
• saying one thing in the form and another at the interview;
• hiding relatives in the US, past refusals or long stays;
• relying only on an invitation from the US and failing to show your own ties;
• buying non-refundable tickets before getting the visa;
• describing the B1/B2 as a way to “live there for a while”, “look for work” or “explore relocation options”.

Timing, fees and outcome

The application fee for a visitor visa is 185 USD. It is non-refundable if you are refused, change plans or cancel the trip. For some nationalities, an additional issuance (reciprocity) fee applies after approval.

In 2025 the US also enacted a visa integrity fee of at least 250 USD, payable on visa issuance. Its implementation has been gradual and practice varies by consulate, so check the current status on the official pages of your embassy before applying.

Nationals of some countries may also be asked to post a refundable visa bond as a condition of receiving a B1/B2 visa. The list of countries and the amounts are published on travel.state.gov and change over time.

Appointment waiting times vary by season, city and category. After approval, the passport with the visa is usually returned within a few working days, but administrative processing can take longer. Apply early and do not buy non-refundable tickets until you have your passport with the visa.

Travel restrictions for certain nationalities

Since 1 January 2026, a presidential proclamation fully or partially restricts the issuance of visas to nationals of a number of countries. In the Americas this includes, for example, Haiti (full restriction), and Cuba, Venezuela, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica (partial restriction covering B, F, M and J visas, among others). The proclamation provides limited exceptions, and the list is reviewed periodically. If you hold the nationality of any affected country, check the current rules before paying any fees.

What to know before applying

• A B1/B2 visa does not automatically entitle you to enter: the final decision is made by CBP at the border.
• The visa may be valid for several years, but the length of each stay is set by the border officer and recorded in your I-94.
• A strong application is not “lots of documents” but a coherent story: who you are, why you are travelling, how you pay for it and why you will return.
• Applying outside your country of nationality only works if you really live in that country and can prove it.
• Consular officers may review your online presence, so keep the information you share consistent with your application.
• A refusal under Section 214(b) is not a lifetime ban, but a new application should reflect changed circumstances or stronger preparation.

How Via Globally can help

• check whether you can travel with ESTA or need a B1/B2 visa;
• review your profile before you apply;
• confirm where you can apply and assess the risks;
• select documents based on your nationality, status and travel purpose;
• complete the DS-160 without critical errors;
• prepare you for the interview and typical questions.

Via Globally is a private visa agency, not a government body. We work online and in Moscow and Barcelona. The final decision is always made by the US consulate.

Free consultation: WhatsApp +34 691 527 216 · viaglobally.com