Steps in applying for a B2 visa

The B2 visa application process involves a series of steps that are completed online. The process ends with an interview at the American embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country of residence.

How do I apply for a B2 visa?

To apply for a B2 tourist visa for the United States, the applicant must complete the following steps:

1. Complete form DS-160 online ;
2. Pay the visa fee to validate the application;
3. Make an appointment for a visa at an American embassy;
4. Prepare the interview and gather supporting documents;
5. Participate in an interview with a consular officer to finalize the visa process.

If the visa applicant is a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program member country, it is not necessary to obtain a visa for a stay of less than 90 days in the United States. You can simply obtain an ESTA certificate by clicking on the ESTA online form.

Complete visa application form DS-160

The visa application process starts online. Applicants must complete form DS-160 to initiate their application on the U.S. Department of State website. At the start of the online process, candidates receive a file number which they must retain. The file number looks like this:

The candidate must then complete the online form. It is divided into the following sections:

• Candidate’s personal information
• Travel information
• Introducing other travelers
• Description of previous trips to the USA
• Personal address and telephone
• Passport information for the USA
• Contacts in the United States
• Family situation
• Employment, education and training
• Safety and environment

Once the form has been completed, the applicant can submit his or her application. The confirmation page will display the applicant’s personal code for attaching supporting documents.

Pay visa fees to validate visa application

The B2 visa fee is US$185. The amount was increased in 2023. To validate the online visa application, the applicant must pay the fees immediately after registering the visa application.

Visa fees can be paid in different ways:

• Online payment by credit card
• Payment of fees by bank transfer
• Payment by cash deposit slip at a US-accredited bank

The amount is expressed in dollars, but will be converted into the local currency automatically by the candidate’s bank. The proof of payment must be kept and attached to the documents to be presented at the visa appointment at the embassy.

Schedule an interview with an American consular officer

Once the visa fee has been paid, the applicant must make an appointment with the U.S. government office in his or her country of residence. Applicants must undergo an interview with a consular officer at the American embassy or consulate on site.

Appointments are booked online via the USCIS website. Candidates choose from available dates and times posted online. In general, embassies are organized so that interviews take place in the morning from Monday to Friday.

This interview is the final step in obtaining a visa, and we’ll explain how it works in more detail below. Once the visa interview at the embassy has been scheduled, the applicant must prepare the documents to be submitted on the day of the appointment.

Preparing your visa application appointment

Applicants must prepare for the appointment that will finalize their visa application. This preparation includes two main tasks:

• Carry out a medical examination;
• Gather the supporting documents for your visa application.

The file of supporting documents to be prepared for the appointment includes all the original documents justifying the visa application. These documents must be presented at the interview.

Here is the list of documents required for a B2 visa application

• Proof of payment of visa fees;
• The personal identification code obtained when Form DS-160 was started;
• Printed appointment confirmation
• A photo that meets the requirements for a B2 visa;
• A personal letter describing the reason for your stay in the USA ;
• Proof of funding for your stay in the United States ;
• Documents illustrating ties with the country of origin and proving that the candidate will return to his or her country at the end of the stay;
• A clean criminal record or a certificate from the authorities stating that you have no convictions.

Attend interview at U.S. Embassy

The candidate must arrive at the embassy with an extra 15 minutes to allow for security checks before the appointment time. Once they have passed security checks, they are fingerprinted and taken to the appointment waiting room.

The interview lasts around 15 minutes and is usually conducted in English. The exchange can take place in the local language if the embassy official speaks it fluently. During the interview, the following topics are reviewed:

• What is the purpose of your stay in the United States?
• What will be the itinerary and accommodation?
• How will the holiday be financed?

To conclude the interview, the consular officer will indicate whether the visa has been granted. The stamped passport with the B2 visa will be mailed shortly afterwards.