U.S. Visitor Visa

In the U.S., from science centers to historical monuments, art galleries to war memorials, you will have a lot to explore. The U.S. is a land of more than 35,000 museums. It is an incredibly diverse nation. Every year, people from all over the world immigrate here to enjoy their luxurious lifestyles. In the U.S., the tourism industry is thriving. If you are wondering about visiting the U.S., the first thing you need is to check whether you need to apply for a U.S. visa or not.

Who does not need a U.S. visa?

If you are under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, you do not need a visa to visit the U.S. for tourism or business meetings or conferences for a stay of up to 90-days. You need to get an approved travel authorization before your arrival to the U.S. You also need an e-Passport (electronic passport) and fill out the online application of ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).

It determines whether you are eligible to travel to the U.S. under the VWP or not. It will cost $4.00 of processing fee and some additional authorization charges of about $10.00. Once you completed your application process, you will receive an ESTA application number. Then, this number is used to check the status of your application. The following 39 countries are under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.

• Andorra 
• Australia 
• Austria 
• Belgium 
• Brunei 
• Chile 
• Czech Republic 
• Denmark 
• Estonia 
• Finland 
• France 
• Germany 
• Greece
• Hungary 
• Iceland
• Ireland 
• Italy 
• Japan
• Korea
• Latvia 
• Liechtenstein 
• Lithuania 
• Luxembourg 
• Malta 
• Monaco 
• Netherlands 
• New Zealand 
• Norway 
• Poland
• Portugal 
• San Marino 
• Singapore 
• Slovakia 
• Slovenia 
• Spain
• Sweden 
• Switzerland 
• Taiwan 
• United Kingdom

How to get a U.S. Visitor Visa?

If you are not from any of the countries listed above, you need a U.S. Visitor Visa to visit the U.S. It is a type of U.S. nonimmigrant visa, and it will allow you to enter the U.S. for short term purposes. If you want to enter the U.S. for business-related purposes, i.e., to attend a conference, you need to apply for a B-1 visitor visa. But if you're going to enter the U.S. for tourism, for medical treatment, visit friends and family, or a social event, you need to apply for a B-2 visitor visa. You need to obtain a visitor visa at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. 

Note that: CBP (Customs and Border Protection) officers lead arrival inspections under the same standard for all foreign nationals visiting the U.S. They will decide your entry to the United States, even though all your travel documents, including your visa, are in order.

Requirements for a U.S. Visitor Visa

You must have the following documents to obtain a visitor visa for the U.S.

• Completed U.S. Visitor Visa application form (Form DS-160) 
• Payment of the visa fee
• A cover letter which describes the purpose of your visit
• Proof of enough financial means
• Invitation letter 
• Criminal record from the native state
• Transcripts or diploma (For students)
• A letter from the doctors in the U.S. (If the purpose of your visit is a medical treatment)
• All applicants among 14 and 79 must undergo an interview at the U.S. Embassy they are applying in.

Cost of a U.S. Visitor Visa 

It will cost about $160 for U.S. Visitor Visas (B-1 visa and B-2 visa).

Processing time for a U.S. Visitor Visa

The processing time for a U.S. Visitor Visa differs from country to country.