A B2 visa is a tourist visa, so if you want to relax and take a break from work and feel a vacation in the United States is what you need to recoup your depleted mental energy, then you need to know the right way to go about it.
The B2 visa Is a tourist visa that gives you access to the United States for pleasure, tourism, or visiting your family members or friends.
Do I Need to Apply for a Tourist Visa Before Entering the USA?
For you to be able to apply for the tourist visa, you should not be in the US Visa waiver program. But if you are in the waiver countries, you are in luck.
You can follow the various steps and procedures for applying for an ESTA and then make travel plans.
What Are the Eligibility Criteria for a Tourist Visa?
For you to be eligible for the US tourist visa, the purpose of your visit has to be one of the following:
- Have a holiday in the United States.
- Tour various cities in the United States.
- Visit friends or family.
- Participate in social events hosted by various organizations.
- Visit for medical treatment.
- Participate in events or contests related to music or sports for which you will not receive payment.
- Enrol in short study courses for which you will not receive credit (ex., cooking classes).
If you don’t participate in any of these categories, you should check out other types of non-immigrant visas to see which one you qualify for.
How to Apply for a US Tourist Visa?
For you to apply, you have to go through these various steps:
1. Submit Form DS-160
To apply for any nonimmigrant Visa, you must fill out the DS-160 form.
A DS-160 form is an application form for all types of nonimmigrant visas, including K visas.
This form can be seen on the Consular Electronic Application Center website, where you have to fill it out and then submit it online to the Department of State.
All information must be in English while filling out the form.
2. Pay the application fees.
The application fee for the US Tourist Visa is $160. Depending on your country’s relationship with the US, you might also have to pay other fees.
These are called visa issuance fees and vary from country to country.
After making the payments, you must keep the receipts and attach them to the file with the required documents.
3. Schedule your interview
Applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 must attend the visa interview.
The interview is conducted by an official at the embassy where they are applying.
It is important for you to schedule your interview on time because of the embassy’s workload.
When you schedule your interview, you will receive a confirmation letter, which you are to bring on the day of the interview.
4. Compile your B2 Visa document file.
When you appear in the United States embassy, you are expected to add the supporting documents to your document file.
You are expected to bring it for your visa appointment interview.
Here are the required documents that you need to submit when applying for a B2 visa:
- Valid passport.
- A photograph
- Form DS-160 confirmation page and code.
- Receipt of paid visa fees.
- Interview confirmation page.
- A letter which describes the purpose of your trip.
- Proof of financial means.
- Ties to your home country.
- Optional US visitor visa invitation letter from friends or family in the US.
- Criminal records or letters from authorities saying that you do not have convictions in the past
- Documents relevant to your prior visits (This only applies if you have been to the US before).
- Transcripts or diploma (This only applies if you are a student).
- A letter from your employer and payslips for the last three months.
- Letters from doctors on your diagnosis and treatment. If you are coming for medical purposes.
- Social media details.
5. Attend the visa interview
When you come for your interview, you are to bring the documents that are with you and be prepared for the questions that you will be asked.
You will be asked questions about your business visa, such as the purpose of the visa, what business you will be doing in the United States, and if you intend to return.
Your answers should be very specific and straight to the point.
How Long is the B2 Visa Processing Time?
The B2 visa takes about a few weeks or months to be processed, and the processing time differs from country to country.
If you haven’t heard from the embassy, you must be patient and wait to be informed if you have been given.
B2 Visa Duration
The duration of stay on a B2 visa is 6 months.
You can travel anywhere in the US or for any other purpose during that time.
However, as soon as your visa expires, you are expected to return to your home country.
B2 Visa Extension
If you intend on staying longer, you can apply for a visa extension and you should do it at least 42 days before the expiration of your I-94 card.
You are to submit the following documents when applying for a B2 extension visa :
- Completed form I-539.
- Your valid passport.
- A written statement on the reason behind the requested extension.
- Evidence of financial support.
- Payment of the extension fee, which is $370.
- Original or photocopy of I-94 card.
- The extension processing time varies on the number of applications USCIS is processing at the time of your application.
Can I Get a Green Card With a US Tourist Visa?
It is very hard to get permanent residence if you are a tourist in the US, and since the B2 is a temporary Visa, you need to prove that you will leave the United States when your visa expires for you to be able to get it.
Can My Parents Visit Me In the USA With a B2 Visa?
If you are living in the United States, working or studying, you can invite your parents to see you.
They will have to have to follow some process; the only difference is that the requirements are a bit different and they are:
- Passports.
- Completed DS-160 Form.
- Bank Verification Letter.
- Employment Verification
- Invitation Letter.
You are solely responsible for collecting so of the documents for your parents; they will also need to take some extras in their home country
The visiting parents should get an insurance plan that covers their entire stay in the United States
conclusion
You can now go to the United States for relaxation and get your family members to join you in the vacation and maybe you want to proceed to get a permanent residence, there is a way for that.
