Visitor Visas (B1/B2)
IMPORTANT: For a step-by-step guide for applying for B1/B2 visas please click here. Frequently asked questions about the visa application process can be found here.
Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for a temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence.
Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (visa category B-1), for tourism (visa category B-2), or for a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2).
Here are some examples of activities permitted with a visitor visa:
Business (B-1)
- Consult with business associates
- Attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference
- Settle an estate
- Negotiate a contract
Tourism (B-2)
- Tourism
- Vacation (holiday)
- Visit with friends or relatives
- 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)
Travel Purposes Not Permitted on Visitor Visas
These are some examples of activities that require different categories of visas and cannot be done while on a visitor visa:
- 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
- Permanent residence in the United States
- Birth tourism (travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States to obtain U.S. citizenship for their child).
IMPORTANT: For a step-by-step guide for applying for B1/B2 visas please click here. Frequently asked questions about the visa application process can be found here.
1. Am I eligible for the Visa Waiver Program?
You may use the VWP if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You are a citizen or national of one of the Visa Waiver Program countries listed here
- Plan to travel to the U.S. for 90 days or less;
- Starting January 12, 2009, have an approved Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA). ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP); note that multiple ESTA applications can be submitted at the same time for persons traveling in groups.
- Are traveling for tourism or business;
- Carry a machine-readable passport which, in most cases, must be valid for at least six months after your expected departure from the U.S.;
- Have a return ticket or onward ticket to most non U.S. destinations;
You will need a visa, and may not use the VWP, if any of these criteria apply to you:
- You are NOT a citizen or national of one of the Visa Waiver Program countries listed here
- Want to remain in the United States for longer than 90 days;
- Have a criminal record; NOTE for drink driving convictions, according to USCBP applicants with a single DIC/DUI conviction is NOT grounds to deny entry into the U.S; however, multiple DIC/DUI convictions or a DIC/DUI conviction in combination with other misdemeanor offenses can make a person inadmissible and require a waiver prior to entering the United States.
- Intend to travel by private/charter aircraft or sea carriers;
- Want to work or study in the United States, including working as a foreign journalist. This includes attending secondary or tertiary school, and paid or unpaid employment (including au-pairs, interns, working journalists, and government representatives on official business.) For more on the appropriate visa classifications for these activities, please see travel.state.gov;
- Have been deported or refused admission to the U.S. before, or failed to comply with a previous VWP admission or visa. This includes overstaying a previous admission by even one day.
2. Travelers with Criminal Records
Convictions for certain crimes may make you ineligible to travel to the U.S. The only way to know for sure if your criminal record makes you ineligible is to apply for a visa. Only a consular officer can determine your visa eligibility.
You need to bring a copy of your Criminal History Report with you to the visa interview.
Even if your conviction makes you ineligible to travel to the U.S., you may be able to obtain a temporary waiver of this ineligibility. You should discuss this with the consular officer at the time of the interview. Waiver processing can take 6 – 8 months, so if you think you may require a waiver, please apply early. We always recommend you do not make any financial commitments for travel until you have received a visa.
A special note about applicants with DRUNK DRIVING convictions: According to USCBP applicants with a single DIC/DUI conviction is NOT grounds to deny entry into the U.S; however, multiple DIC/DUI convictions or a DIC/DUI conviction in combination with other misdemeanor offenses can make a person inadmissible and require a waiver prior to entering the United States.
If you have had any minor traffic offenses which did not result in an arrest or conviction, you may use the VWP, provided you are otherwise qualified. If the traffic offense occurred while you were in the United States, and you have an outstanding fine against you or you did not attend your court hearing, it is possible there may be a warrant out for your arrest. You should resolve these issues before traveling by contacting the court where you were to appear. If you do not know the address of the court, information is available on the U.S. Courts website.
