How to Apply for a Tourist Visa to the United States

HOW TO APPLY FOR A TOURIST VISA TO THE UNITED STATES

The B-1/B-2 visitor visa is for people traveling to the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or pleasure or medical treatment (B-2). The B-1 visa is typically used by visitors who are consulting with business partners, attending conventions or conferences related to science, education, business, or professional fields, settling estates, or negotiating contracts. The B-2 visa is for leisure travel, such as vacationing, visiting friends or family, receiving medical treatment, and engaging in fraternal, social, or charitable endeavors. The B-1 and B-2 visas are sometimes merged into one document called the B-1/B-2.

The tourist or visitor’s visa is the most popular, widely available, and straightforward U.S. visa to obtain, yet despite its accessibility, the majority of prospective candidates continue to inquire about how to apply for the USA tourist visa.

The tourist visa also known as the B-2 visa grants the applicants a 90-day stay in the U.S. the 90 days is assumed to be enough for the visitor to complete whatever his/her is coming to do in the U.S.

Applicants for the Tourist visa must be between 14-79 years of age. This is the standard age bracket that is allowed to apply for this visa type, as people within this age are assumed to be able to take responsibility for filling out the visa application form and other application documentation.

Those below the age of 14 years or above the age of 79 i.e 80 years and above are qualified to make their visa application through courier. The courier visa information can be found here.

Qualifications

Qualifications on how to Apply for a Tourist Visa to the United States:

If you apply for a B-1/B-2 visa, you must show a consular official that you meet the requirements of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act to be granted a visa (INA). According to INA Section 214(b), every B-1/B-2 applicant is deemed to be an intending immigrant. To disprove this legal presumption, you must demonstrate:

That you are visiting the country temporarily for a specific reason, such as business, leisure, or medical care

That you intend to stay in the United States for a limited time only.

proof of sufficient finances to cover your costs while visiting the United States

that you maintain a home outside of the United States and possess other solid connections to society or business that will guarantee your return abroad at the end of your visit

How to Apply

Step 1

Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.

Step 2

Pay the visa application fee.

Step 3

Schedule your appointment on this web page. You need three pieces of information to schedule your appointment:

Your passport number
The CGI reference number from your Visa Fee receipt. (Click here if you need help finding this number.)
The ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page

Step 4

Visit the U.S. Embassy on the date and time of your visa interview. You must bring a printed copy of your appointment letter, your DS-160 confirmation page, one photograph taken within the last six months, and your current and all old passports. Applications without all of these items will not be accepted.

Supporting Documents

One of the numerous things a consular officer will take into account during your interview is the supporting documentation. Consular officials evaluate each application individually and take into account a variety of variables, including professional, social, cultural, and other considerations. Consular officials may consider your intents, family situation, long-term goals, and chances inside your home nation. Every aspect allowed by law is taken into account and each case is assessed individually.

Caution: Do not present false documents. Fraud or deception may render a person permanently ineligible for a visa. The applicant should deliver the paperwork to the U.S. Embassy in a sealed envelope if maintaining confidentiality is a concern. The American Embassy will maintain the secrecy of the information and not divulge it to anyone.

The following papers should be brought to your interview. You must bring these original documents to the interview because originals are always preferred to photocopies. Do not send any supporting documents to the US Embassy through fax, email, or postal mail.

Current evidence of income, tax payments, ownership of real estate or a business, or assets.
Your itinerary for your trip and/or any additional information.
A letter from your employer detailing your position, salary, how long you have been employed, any authorized vacation, and the business purpose, if any, of your U.S. trip.
Criminal/court records about any arrest or conviction anywhere, even if you completed your sentence or were later pardoned.

Additionally, based on your purpose of travel, you should consider bringing the following:

Students

Bring your latest school results, transcripts, and degrees/diplomas. Also bring evidence of financial support such as monthly bank statements, fixed deposit slips, or other evidence.