USA Visitor Visa
Over 75 million people visit the USA each year! The USA Visitor visa is a great visa, and it allows you to enter, travel and holiday within the United States of America for a specified period. Please note that each individual who needs a visa must submit a separate application, including any family members listed in your passport.
Overview:
A USA Visitor visa is a type of nonimmigrant visa and is intended for a temporary stay for persons who want to enter the United States for Business (visa category B-1), for Tourism (visa category B-2), or for a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2).
You can use the Tourism category B-2 visa for the following activities:
- Tourism
- Vacation / Holiday
- To visit relatives or friends
- For medical treatment
- Participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
- Participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
- Enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)
You cannot use a USA Visitor visa for the following:
- Study
- Employment
- Paid performances before a paying audience
- Arrival as a crewmember on a ship or aircraft
- Work as foreign press, in radio, film, print journalism, or other information media
- Permanent residence in the United States
USA Visitor Visa Application Process
There are several steps to apply for a USA Visitor visa. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary depending on which country you are in as per the particular U.S. Embassy or Consulate procedures.
The first step is to figure out which visa you want to apply for. If you think that the USA Visitor visa is the correct one for you then just make sure that you are eligible for the visa.
You will need to fill in a detailed application for your Visitor visa. After that you usually need to pay the Government fee, which is currently $160USD (at December 2019) (or equivalent in your country).
Interview:
After you have filled in your application and paid the fee then you will need to schedule your Interview. Interviews are generally required for visa applicants (with certain limited exceptions for applicants aged 13 or younger, or aged 80 or over). Consular officers may require an interview of any visa applicant. Your Interview will usually be at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live.
Wait times for Interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. It can take anywhere from a few days to months to schedule your Interview.
One you have scheduled your Interview you will need to prepare for it. You will have to gather and prepare the required documents, which usually include: your passport, your application confirmation page, your payment receipt, your passport photo, etc… Many applicants will also need to provide additional documentation to establish that you are eligible for the visa. You may be required to explain the purpose of your trip, your intent to depart the United States after your trip, and your ability to pay all costs of your proposed trip. You may also be required to provide evidence of your employment and your family ties to show your intent to return to your home country after your trip. If you cannot cover all the costs for your trip, you may show evidence that another person will cover some or all costs for your trip.
Please also note that your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your period of proposed stay in the United States.
Validity Period:
If your visa is granted, you can arrive in the U.S. at any time during the validity period indicated on the visa. The duration of stay in the US is determined by the Immigration Officer on arrival. The maximum duration of stay on a B1/B2 visa is 6 months. Your visa may be valid for any period from 1 month to 10 years and allow 1, 2 or multiple entries.
Applying for a USA Visitor Visa
The USA Visitor visa visa application can be a complex process. It can take weeks to prepare an application, and the processing time between submitting your application, your Interview and the grant of a visa can be anywhere from weeks to months. If you do not meet all of the eligibility criteria, or fail to provide the Government with all of the required documents, your application will be refused.
Contact Us
At Australian Visa Advice (AVA) we have an exceptionally high success rate. Our detailed knowledge of the law and years of experience preparing literally 100’s of applications can take the stress, confusion and high risk of failure out of the visa process. We have even obtained visas for clients who have had their applications refused because they have either tried to obtain a visa themselves or used unqualified and inexperienced migration agents. We can help you to make sure that you are eligible and provide the correct supporting documents to support your application.
So, if you are thinking of applying for a USA Visitor visa yourself but are finding it difficult, why not get some personalised help from one of our experienced Migration Agents. Feel free to contact us at AVA by clicking the button below or emailing us at info@aussievisas.net Once you contact us we will be happy to provide you with a free assessment to determine your visa needs. You can then decide if you want us to guide you through the process.