American Travel Visa Requirements and Process

Issuance of  B-1 (Business) and B-2 (Tourism) visas generally require that every applicant present specific documents, complete the prescribed application process and meet a certain legal standard. As a matter of practice, the B-1 and B-2 visas are almost always issued together. Procedures may vary somewhat between consular posts.

Please note that this post is a general overview of the requirements and process. Those seeking admission to the U.S. for purposes permitted under the B-1 and B-2 visa categories may need to provide additional documentation and address varying concerns of the consular officer.

For guidance on your individual legal situation, contact The Immigration Law Office of L. Ford Banister, II today for complete American travel visa review and preparation.

Step One

Gather Required Documentation

Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview:

• You will need a Passport valid for travel to the United States. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States. For example, if you plan to stay in the U.S. for 90 days, you passport must be valid for at least six months past the final day of your planned visit.  If more than one person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.

• Print out the Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page. You should save this page when you complete the Form DS-160 online.

• Application fee payment receipt. If you are required to pay before your interview, you should bring the original payment receipt. If your assigned consular post processes payments on site, verify the amount and be prepared to pay the fee prior to the interview.

• Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. In the event that the photo upload fails, you must bring one properly printed and formatted photo.

Step Two

The Interview

• Scheduling and Wait Times: Most visa applicants are required to attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Wait times for interviews and processing vary by post.

• Understand: Section 214(b) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act requires that Consular Officers must assume that every visa applicant intends to leave his or her home country and immigrate to the United States.  The applicant must convey during the interview that this presumption of immigrant intent is not true. The Consular Officer must be convinced that the applicant:

1. Has a home outside the United States that they will not abandon;