B2 Visa - Tourist Visa USA

Besides working and studying, you can also visit the US on a US visitor visa. The visitor visas allow you to travel to the US for tourism, business, or medical treatment. You can see the most famous sights in the US and even create new contacts who can invest in your business back home.

The B2 visa is a US visitor visa which allows you to enter the US for tourism, pleasure, or visit to friends and family.

US Tourist Visa holders can engage in the following activities:

Have a holiday in the US.
Tour various cities in the US.
Visit friends or family.
Participate in social events hosted by various organizations.
Visit the US for medical treatment.
Participate in events or contests related to music or sports, for which you will not receive payment.
Enroll in short study courses for which you will not receive credit (ex. cooking classes).

If you do not fall into any of the categories above, then you cannot get a B2 visa. You should look into other types of US non-immigrant visas to see for which ones you qualify.

A difference between many other types of USA visas and the B2 visa is that it has no cap. This means that as long as you qualify and meet the requirements, you can get this visa to visit the US.

Different from the B2 visa, the B1 visa allows you to enter the US with the purpose of business, contract negotiation, or attending conferences and other business-related events.

Eligibility Criteria for a Tourist Visa USA

So to be allowed to go to the US with a B2 visa, you have to meet the following eligibility criteria:

That your intent for visiting is compliant with the B2 visa allowed purposes of visit.
Have enough financial means to cover your stay in the US.
You intend to return to your home country as soon as your visa expires and you do not intend to stay in the US.

US Tourist Visa Application

To apply for a Tourist Visa for the USA you have to follow these simple steps:

Submit Form DS-160.
Pay visa fees.
Schedule your US Tourist Visa interview.
Compile your B2 Visa document file.
Attend the visa interview.

Submit Form DS-160

Submit your information as well as details about your purpose of visit. You must fill in the sections for your US Tourist visa and then submit it online. After you submit it, you will get a verification page and code which you need for your documents file.

You can fill the DS-160 form online through the Consular Electronic Application Center.

Pay the US Tourist visa fees

The application fee for the US Tourist Visa is $160. To continue with your application, you must pay this fee. Depending on your country’s relationship with the US, you might have to pay other fees too. These are called visa issuance fees and they vary from country to country. When you pay all the applicable fees, make sure to save the receipts and add them to your B2 visa documents file.

Schedule your US Tourist Visa interview

All applicants between 14 and 79 years old must go through a US Tourist visa interview at the US Embassy they are applying in. To get this interview, you must schedule it through your country’s US Embassy. Due to the high workload that they have, make sure you schedule it as soon as possible. When this procedure is done, you will get an interview confirmation letter which you need to bring to the interview.

Compile your B2 Visa document file

The B2 visa documents file that you have includes all supporting documents to show the US Embassy that it is safe to give you the visa. You must bring all the documents to your visa interview.

Here are the documents required for a B2 US Tourist visa application:

Valid passport.
A US Visa Photo.
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. Financial or bank statements to prove you have the finances to stay in the US of at least $266 for each day of your planned stay.
Ties to your home country. Family, job contract, lease, or property deed, which prove you will return.
Optional US visitor visa invitation letter from friends or family in the US.
Criminal records or letters from authorities stating that you do not have prior convictions.
Documents relevant to your prior visits. This only applies if you visited the US before.
Transcripts or diploma. This only applies to students.
A letter from your employer and payslips for the last three months. If you are a worker
Photocopies of your relative’s status in the US.
Letters from doctors on your diagnosis and treatment. If you are visiting for medical purposes.
Social media details. A list of the social media that you use, and the name
of your account in each.

Attend the visa interview

On the date of your interview, a US Embassy official will ask questions about your background and why you want to go to the US. They will go through your documents to ensure that everything is in order. The interviews do not last long but make sure to disclose all necessary information to avoid problems later on.

How Long is the B2 Visa Processing Time?

The B2 visa may take a few weeks up to a few months to process. Processing times for B2 tourist visas and US visitor visas differ from country to country. It depends on the workload that the US Embassy where you applied has. If you do not hear from the Embassy, be patient and wait for them to inform you of whether you got the visa or not.

B2 Visa Duration

The maximum duration of stay on a B2 visa is 6 months. During that time, you can travel throughout the US or for any other purpose. However, as soon as your visa expires, you must return to your home country.

B2 Visa Extension

If you want to stay longer, you can get a B2 visa extension for an additional 6 months.

You should apply for a B2 visa extension at least 42 days before the expiration of your I-94 card. Yet, you are not allowed to apply within three months of arrival in the US.
Submit the following documents to apply for a B2 visa extension:

Completed form I-539.
Your valid passport.
A written statement on the reason behind the requested extension.
Evidence of financial support.
Payment of B2 visa extension fee, which is $370.
Original or photocopy of I-94 card.

The B2 visa extension processing time varies on the number of applications USCIS is processing at the time of your application.

Do I Get Access to American Healthcare With a B2 Visa?

As a foreigner visiting the United States for tourism purposes you will not receive free healthcare. The American healthcare system is the most expensive in the world with the treatment of a broken leg or broken arm that will cost you $2,500, while staying at a US hospital for one night may cost over $10,000, on average.

Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a health insurance plan to cover these costs.

Where can I get an affordable health insurance plan?

Private companies such as VisitorsCoverage, offer cheap health insurance coverage plans for visitors in the United States.

Why do we advise to purchase a health insurance plan through VisitorsCoverage?

They specialize in offering health insurance plans to international visitors in the United States.
With over 10 years of experience, they are a well-established company in the health insurance industry.
Their dedicated customer service representatives will be available to your assistance seven days a week.
You will get the lowest rates and will get the necessary information on choosing the plan that suits you best.
With over 2 million satisfied customers VisitorsCoverage is highly rated for its outstanding customer service, attention to detail and hassle-free online experience.

Can I Get a Green Card With a US Tourist Visa?

It is very difficult to get permanent residency or a Green Card from a US Tourist Visa. This is because the B2 visa is a temporary US visa.

To get the US Tourist Visa, you must prove that you will return to your home country after it expires. The B2 visa does not allow you to look for a job or start studying, so you cannot stay in the US for more than the allowed time.

Can My Parents Visit Me In the USA With a B2 Visa?

If you are living in the US, working or studying, you can invite your parents to visit you. They can enter the US under a B2 visa. They will need to follow all of the processes explained above in this article. The only thing that may differ a bit, is the required B2 visa documents for parents.

You are responsible for collecting some of the documents for your parents. They will also need to collect some extra in their home country.

The required B2 visa documents for parents are as follows:

Passports. Your parents should have valid passports
Completed DS-160 Form.
Bank Verification Letter. You should present proof you are capable of financially supporting your parents while they are in the US.
Employment Verification You should ask your current employer for this letter.
Invitation Letter. You should write a letter to your parents inviting them to visit you in the US.