Your Ultimate Guide to Applying for a B2 Visa: Steps to Experience America

The B2 visa is a temporary, multiple-entry visa intended for tourism, vacation, or visiting friends or family. If you live in the United States and want friends or family to visit you regularly, it may be easier to help them apply for a B2 visa, or visitor visa. Some people may also use the B2 visa to travel to the United States for medical reasons. Read on to learn more about the requirements for a B2 visa.

What is a B-2 visa?

B-2 visas are for temporary visits. It is a type of visitor visa or tourist visa that allows citizens of foreign countries to enter the United States temporarily. While B1 visas are for business purposes, B2 visas are for recreational or leisure purposes such as tourism. A B2 visa is for citizens of countries that are not part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program ( ESTA).

What can you and cannot do in the USA with a B-2 visa?

If you travel to the United States on a B2 visa, you can participate in unpaid recreational or amateur activities, social events, or sporting events. You can also take courses that do not count toward a college degree. However, you are not permitted to work or engage in employment in the United States on a B2 visa.

Common reasons for applying for the B2 visa are:

• holidays or public holidays
• Visiting friends or relatives
• Medical treatment
• Participation in events such as those organized by fraternal, social or service organizations
• Participation in (free) amateur events or competitions such as music or sporting events
• Participation in short leisure courses that cannot be credited towards a degree (e.g. cooking classes or sports training)

What is the difference between B-1 and B-2 visas?

The B visa is a visa category for temporary visits to the United States. A B1 visa is for short-term or temporary work-related visits to the United States, such as for business conferences, consultations, starting a new business, negotiating contracts, process audits, obtaining business licenses, establishing a property, or visiting foreign partners of an LLC as an entrepreneur .

In contrast, a B2 visa is intended for leisure and non-lucrative activities such as tourism, vacations, or visiting family or friends. You can also get a B1/B2 visa together, which allows you to enter the U.S. for both business and leisure purposes. For more information, see U.S. visa and immigration FAQs or Visa options for international startup founders .

What are the requirements for a B-2 visa?

To apply for the B-2 visa, you need:

• A passport valid for travel to the United States. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay in the United States.
• The confirmation form you receive after completing your nonimmigrant visa application is Form DS-160.
• Proof of payment of the registration fee.
• The photo you uploaded when completing the online form DS-160. If the upload fails, you can bring a printed photo in the required format.

You may be asked to provide additional documentation, such as:

• The purpose of your trip or reason for applying.
• Your intention to leave the United States after your trip or the reason you need to return to your home country.
• Evidence of the need to return to your home country may include family, business, employment, etc.
• Your ability to pay all travel expenses.

As for proving your ability to pay for the trip, there is no minimum balance you need to have in your bank account, but some experts recommend having between $5,000 and $10,000 to secure the visa. If you don’t have sufficient funds, you can also provide proof that someone else will pay for your trip.

How much does it cost to apply for a B-2 visa?

Applying for a B185 visa costs $2. In addition, you will need sufficient funds in your account to pay for the trip and your stay in the United States.

How to Apply for a B-2 Visa in 5 Steps

To apply for a B2 visa, you must follow these steps:

1. Complete the online nonimmigrant visa application form .
2. Upload a photo while completing the online visa application.
3. Schedule an interview at the U.S. consulate or embassy in your country. This is usually only required for applicants between the ages of 14 and 79.
4. Pay the visa application fee.
5. Prepare the necessary documents for the visa interview (see above).

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What happens if a B-2 visa application is denied?

If your B2 visa application is denied, it is usually due to an incomplete application or insufficient supporting documentation. After you understand the reason for the visa denial, you can prepare to reapply, making sure to address the reason for the denial (or provide the missing information).

Obtaining a B2 visa

A B2 visa allows you to travel to the United States comfortably when needed. A commonly offered B1/B2 visa expands the activities you can do during your temporary stay in the United States to include both business and leisure activities.

If you are in the US for business, you may need accounting services, especially if you plan to expand your business to the US.

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