B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa

You must apply for a B-1/B-2 visa through the U.S. Consulate. To file a B-1/B-2 application, you must file an electronic nonimmigrant visa application (DS-160) online, pay the visa application fee, schedule a consular appointment, and bring a packet of documents with you to the consulate. You will need to bring personal documents - such as your passport and a US passport photo - but also documentation proving your ability to support yourself financially during your US travels, as well as evidence of your ties to your home country, as it is critical to prove that you do not wish to remain in the US long-term.

This depends on your personal background and relationship to the United States. Applicants with a criminal background who have overstayed their visa before or have strong ties to the United States may have a harder time obtaining a tourist visa.

For European nationals, B-1/B-2 visa applications may be subject to very close scrutiny due to the availability of ESTA. In these cases, applicants must remove all doubt as to why a B-1/B-2 visa is necessary for their travel.

B-1 business travelers may engage in certain business activities but may not perform work while in the United States. Permitted activities include meeting and consulting with business partners, attending conventions or conferences, settling an estate, negotiating contracts, or attending training.

B-2 travelers can use their visa for tourism or family visits, for medical reasons, to attend social events and for short or part-time study programs.

The Visa Waiver Program is a program that allows nationals of the following countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes for stays of 90 days or less without first applying for a visa: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom.

ESTA is the online application used to determine whether a person is eligible under the Visa Waiver Program. To submit an ESTA application, please visit this website: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta. This is the official website of the ESTA program.

A B-1/B-2 is a US visa for tourism and business purposes. Individuals who are not eligible to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for a B-1/B-2 visa at the consulate prior to any U.S. travel. Individuals may stay in the U.S. for 6 months at a time on a B-1/B-2 visa.

For citizens of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, B-1/B-2 visas are issued for 10 years.

Up to 6 months at a time.

If you need or want to extend your stay, you can apply for an Extension/Change of Nonimmigrant Status (I-539) to stay in the United States for up to 6 additional months.

Yes, before submitting a new B-1/B-2 application, it is best to wait some time and prepare new documents that prove your qualifications for the visa. If you submit a new application shortly after receiving a visa refusal, this may have a negative impact on your new application.