Understanding the B1/B2 temporary travel visa
Reasons for travel under a B1/B2 visa include but are not limited to:
Conducting business, such as negotiating a contract or attending business meetings
Attending a conference relevant to a profession, education, or current business endeavor
Settling a relative’s estate
Engaging in tourist activities or take a vacation
Visiting family
Receiving medical treatment
Attending or taking part in events, such as concerts or classes, as long as there is no payment or credit given to the attendee
You cannot travel under this visa to engage any of the following, per the U.S. Department of State:
Study
Long-term employment by a U.S. firm
Paid performances, or any professional performance 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 But the holder can apply for a green card.
B-1/B-2 Visa Eligibility :
To be eligible for a B-1 or B-2 visa, the applicant must prove that the travel is temporary and they have the ability to self-fund all costs of the trip. Additionally, they must prove that they have no intent of remaining in the United States beyond their stay and abandoning a residence outside of the United States.
Documents needed to apply:
A passport valid for six months past the date of return
A recent digital photograph, which meets these requirements
Documentation of the past five previous trips to the United States, if applicable
Proof of funds to cover the entire cost of the trip, including travel, accommodation, and living expenses
Proof of binding ties to their home country, such as a job, property, or family
B-1/B-2 Visa Cost
The government filing fee for a B visa is $160. Note this does not include the cost of gathering documents and evidence and acquiring passport photos.
How to apply:
Applications can be processed by the United States Embassy or Consulate in your country. You can conduct an interview at an embassy or consulate in a third country .
An interview will need to be conducted before an application is fully accepted.
The Online Non-Immigrant Application, form DS-160, must be completed. File the form online and print the confirmation page as you will need it for your interview.
Upload your digital photo
Of course, there are fees to be paid.
Schedule and then attend an interview at an U.S. Consulate or Embassy in your home country. You will need to provide a receipt for all fees at your interview, as well as the confirmation page for DS-160.
As part of the process, Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans are taken. They will probably be taken during the interview, but not always. After an interview, the consular officer may determine that your application requires additional administrative processing and inform you of this.
How to apply using DS-160 Form
To fill out Form DS-160, you will begin by choosing the location where you’re applying for your visa. Don’t worry too much about this: if you have to travel unexpectedly while your application is pending, you’ll be able to schedule your interview at whatever embassy or consulate is most convenient, even if it’s in a location other than the one you first chose.
On the next page, you will see your Application ID. You will also be asked to provide the answer to a security question. Write these down and keep them safe: together, they will let you access your application again later.
You can also find your Application ID on the top right corner of each page of the DS-160. If you forget your Application ID, you can retrieve it online using your security question.
Remember that your saved Form DS-160 will only remain available for 30 days. If you need more time, you can download your DS-160 to your computer and upload it again later.
Now, let’s go through Form DS-160 section by section.
PART 1: Personal Information
In the first part of Form DS-160, you will provide personal information such as your name, date of birth, and marital status.
You will also be asked for your nationality, your passport or national identification number(s), and your U.S. social security number or taxpayer ID number, if you have them.
PART 2: Travel Information
In this section, you will explain your travel plans, including the purpose of your trip to the United States, your dates of arrival and departure, and the U.S. address at which you will stay. If you don’t have specific plans, you can provide estimated dates.
PART 3: Travel Companions
Here, you can fill in the details of anyone travelling with you. This might include family, friends, or members of an organized tour group. You don’t need to include work colleagues traveling with you. Either way, remember that everyone who travels still needs their own Form DS-160.
PART 4: Previous U.S. Travel
Next, you will be asked if you have ever visited the United States before. If you have, you’ll need to provide dates and details.
You’ll also need to indicate if you’ve ever been denied a U.S. visa, or if you’ve ever filed an immigrant petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
PART 5: Address and Phone Number
This section is straightforward: simply enter your current address, phone number, and email address. You can enter an alternate mailing address if you wish.
You will also be asked to list all the social media accounts you’ve used over the past 5 years. You don’t need to provide passwords, but you should list all the “handles” or user IDs you’ve used on sites like Twitter and Facebook. This is a recent addition to the DS-160, with USCIS officials now required to check your social media activity while reviewing your application.
PART 6: Passport Information
On this page, you will be asked for your passport information. You may be asked for a “Passport Book Number,” sometimes also called an “inventory control number.” Not all passports have this number, so if your country doesn’t use them just check “Does Not Apply.”
You will also be asked if you have ever had a passport lost or stolen. If you have, you’ll have to supply further details.
PART 7: U.S. Point Of Contact
In this section, you’ll list a person in the United States who knows you and can verify your identity. If you don’t yet know anyone in the United States, don’t worry — you can simply submit the name of any business or organization you intend to visit during your trip.
PART 8: Relatives
Next, you will provide basic details about your father and mother. You may also be asked to provide details of any family members currently in the United States.
If you are married, you will also be asked for your spouse’s name, date of birth, nationality, and home address.
PART 9: Work, Education and Training
In this section, you will fill in the details about your occupation, educational background, and employment history going back 5 years.
You will also be asked for your travel history, and for details about any specialist skills you possess, or any military groups, charities, or professional organizations of which you have been a member.
PART 10: Security and Background Information
Here, you will answer “yes” or “no” to 25 questions on security and background issues. Make sure you read these questions carefully and take care when answering, as mistakes here could adversely affect your application.
PART 11: Applicant Photo
You will need to upload a photo of yourself that conforms to U.S. Department of State guidelines. Once you’ve uploaded the photo you’ll be able to adjust the size and crop the image to make sure it fits the requirements.
The photo you submit when you file your DS-160 isn’t a substitute for the passport-style photo required for many visa applications. You will still need to bring a printed photograph to your visa interview.
PART 12: Review, Confirm Location, Sign and Submit
Almost done! You will now be asked to review the entire form. This is the last opportunity to check whether your answers are accurate. You will then be asked to confirm the location from which you are applying, so that your application can be sent to the appropriate U.S. embassy or consulate. Finally, you will be asked to read some terms and conditions, and then submit the form.
After submitting the form, you will click “next” to access your official confirmation page. You must print the confirmation page and present it to consular officials at the time of your interview.
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