This page has been reviewed and verified by Michael Gibbons, Regulated Immigration Advisor. You can confirm appointment scheduling rules through Our U.S. Visa Guidance.
Tourist & Business Visitor Visa Applications
For Travel To The United States
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Important B1/B2 Information – Please Read
This page provides guidance on the B1/B2 U.S. Visitor Visa, including how to apply, eligibility, required documents, and what to expect during processing. This information is updated under the U.S. Department of State’s visitor visa policy. You can begin your application or find detailed guidance in the related resources below.
The authorized stay is up to 180 days per visit. This page provides applicants with detailed guidance on the B1/B2 Visa, including eligibility criteria, application procedures, supporting documentation, fees, timelines, and legal limitations.
To qualify for a B1/B2 visa, you must demonstrate that:
The B1/B2 visa is a temporary, non-immigrant vistor visa that allows foreign nationals to travel to the United States for a limited period for business, tourism, or medical reasons. It merges two visa types, the B1 (Business) and B2 (Tourist) categories, into one convenient entry document. This combined visa is ideal for travellers who may wish to conduct business activities while also engaging in leisure or personal travel during the same trip.
The B1/B2 visa is one of the most commonly issued U.S. visas and is suitable for visitors who can demonstrate clear travel intent, sufficient financial means, and strong social or economic ties to their home country. It does not permit long-term residence, paid employment, or formal study in the United States, and holders must depart before their authorised stay expires.
The B1 visa is designed for professionals or entrepreneurs who need to visit the U.S. temporarily for legitimate business activities. This may include attending meetings or trade events, negotiating contracts, participating in short-term training, or consulting with clients or partners. The visa enables engagement in commercial or professional functions that do not involve hands-on work, direct employment, or receipt of a salary from a U.S. organisation.
B1 visa holders are often representatives of international companies, independent consultants, or business owners exploring U.S. markets. It provides flexibility for short-term business visits without the administrative burden of applying for a U.S. work visa.
The B2 visa is intended for those travelling to the United States for leisure, family visits, or medical care. Typical uses include holidays, visiting friends or relatives, attending cultural or social events, receiving medical treatment, or participating in short recreational courses not leading to a degree or qualification. It is strictly for temporary stays and must not be used for study or employment.
B2 visa holders often combine tourism with other short-term purposes, such as visiting relatives in the U.S. after attending a business conference on a combined B1/B2 visa. Each visit is reviewed at the border by Customs and Border Protection officers, who determine the permitted length of stay, typically up to six months.
Applicants must provide evidence that meets Department of State standards, including:
The B1 Visa specifically covers visits solely for business activities. Frequently, the B1 Visa is issued in combination with the B2 Visa, allowing holders to travel for both business and tourism purposes. A previously issued B1/B2 Visa obtained for tourism may also be valid for future business visits.
Activities permitted under the B1 Visa include:
The B2 visa is a standard nonimmigrant visa type intended for short-term tourism, leisure activities, or medical treatment in the U.S. If your ESTA application (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is denied, obtaining a B2 Visa is the recommended alternative.
Permitted activities under the B2 Visa include:
Any foreign national wishing to travel to the United States must have a visa. If a B1/B2 visa is not suitable for your travel, there are several options depending on the purpose of your visit:
Processing times for visa interviews vary depending on jurisdiction, season, and the type of visa required. Applicants should schedule visa appointments as early as possible to allow for potential waiting periods.
The B1/B2 Visa authorises entry to a U.S. port of entry, where officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conduct entry assessments.
Visa approval does not guarantee admission; final entry permission is determined solely by CBP officers upon arrival.
Applicants should expect a visa interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate where the application was submitted. Interviewing officers typically ask about travel intentions, immigration history,and ties to the applicant’s home country.
Commonly asked interview questions include:
Interviewers may also ask general questions relating to personal finances, health conditions, or family circumstances. Applicants may bring supporting documentation such as recent bank statements, employment records, or property documents to support their answers.
Applicants aged over 80, or those renewing a recently expired B1/B2 Visa, may be eligible for an interview waiver program..
You do not need to apply for each visa separately. You can apply for the B1/B2 Combination Visitor visa if you intend to travel for both business AND tourism purposes over the next 10 years.
In most cases, you will need an ESTA for any vacations / holidays to America. Every member of your family will require an ESTA, regardless of age. This is valid for 2 years and allows you to visit for as long as 90 days at a time, you can travel to multiple states during this time. Any travel longer than that will require a full visa, such as a B2 Visitor Visa. Additionally, if you are not a national of a visa waiver program country you must apply for a B2 visa.
In some cases you can get an ESTA for a business visit, providing it is for certain business activities such as meeting an investor, discussing a contract, attending a conference etc.. It is okay for the company to pay for any expenses such as accommodation or flights. If you will be paid for any of your time spent in the US, you will need to apply for either a B1 Business Visitor Visa or another of the many work visas available.
No.
Visas only grant travel to the USA, entry is determined by the customs officers at the border. We can increase the chances of a successful application by avoiding any complications with the application and interview process. We ensure your documentation is completed correctly and provide expert advice. You should have no issues with entry as long as you remain truthful on your application.
You can appeal any rejections at the embassy if you feel you were wrongly rejected for your visa application. You may want to seek legal help / advice in this case.
Visa applications are usually rejected due to incorrect or missing information on your forms, which is not an issue when applying on our website.
After a rejection, you must wait 6 months before re-applying.
Once you have a B1-B2 visa, you will be granted authorization to stay in the USA for a starting period of 6 months, which can be extended with further applications up to 10 years maximum validity. Even with a 10 year validity you are only permitted to remain in the USA for 6 months at a time, you must return to your home country for some time and travel back to the USA afterwards.
It is not acceptable to undertake any work or seek employment in the United States while traveling under a B1 B2 visa. You may however undertake certain business activites such as onducting business-related contractual negotiations, attending specialized business-related meetings or conferences, to participate in trade shows, exhibitions etc. & to complete research, tours, inspections, etc. for business purposes.
If your application is successful, you can expect your visa to be processed by the U.S. embassy within 3-5 working days. Then an extra 2-3 working days should be given for courier return of your documents. The time taken to apply for a visa usually comes from the appointment availability which can be anywhere from 1 month to 2 years waiting time depending on your local U.S. Embassy.
The B1 visa is for business, whereas the B2 visa is for leisure. B2 visas are for visitors who are visiting the United States as tourists, to see friends or relatives, or for medical treatment. These two visas have some similarities, such as term and various paperwork. There are significant distinctions between the B1 and B2 visas, which I have discussed in the sections below. Go over all of the topics to gain a better understanding of the B1 and B2 visas.
You can change your B1 B2 visa into a Green Card only under some circumstances. During your time staying in the USA with a B1 B2 visa, you may be eligible to apply for an EB-1 green card only if you fall under extraordinary ability.
There is no precise limit because your visa specifies M (multiple) entries.
You are allowed to enter, exit, and re-enter the United States as many times as you like, as long as the immigration officer is happy with your reason for entering.
I would advise staying in the United States for no more than 182 days every year. It would be as if you spent half a year in the United States, which is not allowed on a B visa.
Every time you enter the United States, a CBP officer will interrogate you more deeply about your visit. You must persuade him that you are not attempting to settle in the United States.
The initial visa period is 6 months and can usually be extended in increments of 6 months at a time. The amount of times you can extend your visa is down to the descretion of the US government and your reasons for extension of US visa applications. You can extend to a maximum of 10 years.
You may visit other countries if your passport does not offer many visa-free entry options. This is of course once you gained a valid US visa.
With a B1 B2 visa you will be able to enter the United States and their territories. You may also be eligible to enter Canada, Mexico, Central America (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador etc.)
You should always check this information with the embassy before travel.
The fee for supporting submitting your visa through this site is $160. A further $160 is the government filing fee for all non-immigrant visas which must be paid during the appointment booking process. This is separate to the initial fee paid on this website. Additional fees are also required for visa extensions.
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the federal executive agency in charge of public safety in the country, approximately equivalent to other nations’ interior or home ministries. The organization’s claimed missions include counterterrorism, border security, immigrant and customs protection, cyber security, and disaster management.
It was established as a result of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which was passed in reaction to the September 11 attacks, and it started operating in 2003. DHS is the third-largest Cabinet agency, after the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, with more than 240,000 employees[1]. The Homeland Security Council coordinates homeland security policies at the White House. The Departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, and Energy are additional organisations with important roles in homeland security.
The Department of Homeland Security’s largest federal law enforcement body, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), also serves as the nation’s main border control agency. In addition to collecting import taxes and executing American laws governing commerce, customs, and immigration, it is responsible for regulating and facilitating global trade. One of the biggest law enforcement organizations in the US is CBP. More than 45,600 federal agents and policemen work there. Its main office is in Washington, D.C.
This page has been reviewed and verified by Michael Gibbons, Regulated Immigration Advisor. You can confirm appointment scheduling rules through Our U.S. Visa Guidance.