US Visa

United States of America — Visa Overview

About the United States

The United States of America is a vast and diverse nation spanning the breadth of North America, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. It is a country of remarkable contrasts — from the iconic skylines of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C., to the breathtaking natural landscapes of the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Niagara Falls, and the Florida Everglades. A global centre of commerce, culture, education, and innovation, the United States remains one of the most visited and sought-after destinations in the world for tourism, business, family visits, and academic pursuits.

What is a US Visa?

A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to travel to the United States generally must first obtain a US visa. There are two main categories of US visas — nonimmigrant visas for travel to the United States on a temporary basis, and immigrant visas for travel to live permanently in the United States.

Having a US visa allows you to travel to a port of entry and request permission from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to enter the United States. While having a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States, it indicates that a consular officer at a US Embassy or Consulate abroad has determined you are eligible to seek entry for that specific purpose.

US Visa Categories

Non-Immigrant Visas — Temporary Stay

Immigrant Visas — Permanent Residence

B-1 / B-2 Visitor Visa — In Focus

The B-1/B-2 visitor visa is the primary US non-immigrant visa and the most widely applied-for category globally. In most cases, both categories are combined and issued as a single B-1/B-2 visa, permitting the holder to travel for business or tourism purposes within the same validity period.

B-1 — Business Visitor

Activities permitted on a B-1 visa include consulting with business associates, attending a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference, settling an estate, and negotiating a contract. The B-1 visa does not permit the holder to engage in employment or receive any salary or compensation from a US-based source.

B-2 — Tourism & Visit

Activities permitted on a B-2 visa include tourism, vacation, visiting with friends or relatives, medical treatment, participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organisations, participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests if not being paid for participating, and enrolment in a short recreational course of study not for credit toward a degree.

Activities NOT permitted on a B-1/B-2 visitor visa

Activities that require different visa categories and cannot be performed on a visitor visa include study, employment, 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, and permanent residence in the United States. Birth tourism — travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States to obtain US citizenship for a child — is also not permissible on a visitor visa.

Visa Validity & Permitted Stay

The validity of a US B-1/B-2 visa is determined solely by the issuing US Embassy or Consulate based on the applicant's nationality, travel history, and profile — it is not fixed and varies by nationality. As a general reference, the following nationalities are typically granted the validities indicated, though this remains entirely at the discretion of the consulate:

Important: A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a US port of entry and request permission to enter the United States. A visa does not guarantee entry. The Department of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection officials at the port of entry have authority to permit or deny admission. The authorised period of stay per visit is determined at the port of entry by a CBP officer and recorded on the I-94 record — it is separate from and independent of the visa validity period. Both conditions must be strictly respected.

An individual on a B-1/B-2 visitor visa is not permitted to accept employment or work in the United States. There is no guarantee a visa will be issued. Do not make final travel plans or purchase tickets until a visa has been granted.

A valid US visa in an expired passport remains valid. Unless cancelled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date. A valid visa in an expired passport may be used alongside a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States — the visa must not be removed from the expired passport.

Overstaying Your Visa — A Serious Consequence

Failure to depart the United States on time will result in being out of status. Under US law, visas of individuals who are out of status are automatically voided. Any multiple entry visa voided due to being out of status will not be valid for future entries into the United States. Failure to depart on time may also result in ineligibility for visas in the future.

Interview Wait Times — Plan Well in Advance

Interview appointment wait times vary significantly by country, consular post, season, and visa category. In several key markets they extend well beyond six months. The following are approximate current wait times for B-1/B-2 interview appointments:

Applicants are permitted to reschedule to an earlier available slot should one become available. Applicants with documented urgent travel needs may be eligible to request an emergency appointment, subject to qualifying criteria set by the respective embassy or consulate.

Visa Application Fee

The standard MRV (Machine Readable Visa) application fee for a B-1/B-2 US visitor visa is USD 185 per applicant. This fee is strictly non-refundable and non-transferable. Each application requires a fresh fee payment. If a visa is refused and the applicant wishes to reapply, the full USD 185 must be paid again before a new application can be initiated.

The Application Process

1. Complete Form DS-160 — the online Non-Immigrant Visa Application, submitted electronically through the US Department of State portal. Print the confirmation page to bring to your interview.
2. Pay the visa application fee of USD 185 per applicant.
3. Schedule your interview appointment at the US Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence or nationality.
4. Gather required documents — including your valid passport, DS-160 confirmation page, fee payment receipt, and photograph meeting the US visa photo requirements. Additional documents evidencing the purpose of travel, intent to depart, and financial ability to cover the trip may also be required.
5. Attend your visa interview — a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa. Ink-free digital fingerprint scans are taken as part of the process, usually during the interview.
6. Administrative processing — after the interview, the consular officer may determine that your application requires further administrative processing. You will be informed if this is required.
7. Passport collection — if approved, your passport with the visa will be returned to you as per the arrangements at the respective embassy or consulate.

General Disclaimer

All visa decisions — including approval, refusal, validity, number of entries, and the authorised period of stay — rest solely with the issuing US Embassy, Consulate, or US Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry. Rayna Tours acts as a professional visa assistance provider only and has no influence over any consular or border authority decision. Submission of a complete application does not guarantee visa issuance.