US B-2 Tourist Visitor Visa

USA Holiday Visa

If you are in need of an American Holiday Visa and are a citizen of one of the visa waiver countries, you should apply under the ESTA Visa Waiver program. However, if you are looking for a short-term visa to America and are a not a citizen of one of the ESTA countries, you should instead apply for a B2 Tourist Visa.

Additionally, if your visit the to the United States will be lasting over 90 days then you must apply for a non-immigrant visa such as the B1/B2 visa.

USA Tourist Visa

If you are looking for a longer term visa please select the relevant option on the form or call us for advice.

B2 Visa

The B2 Visa is designed for individuals who plan to visit the United States temporarily for tourism, leisure, visiting family and friends, or medical treatment purposes. This non-immigrant visa grants authorized entry strictly for non-business-related activities.

Who is this visa for?

• Tourists and holidaymakers sightseeing across the United States
• People visiting family members, relatives or friends
• Patients travelling for private medical treatment at a US hospital or clinic
• People attending social, cultural or recreational events, festivals or reunions
• Amateur enthusiasts taking a short recreational course that earns no academic credit

What you can do with a B-2 visa

• Take a holiday, go sightseeing and travel for tourism
• Visit family members, relatives or friends who live in the United States
• Receive private medical treatment, and travel with a patient as a companion where appropriate
• Attend social events hosted by fraternal, social or service organisations
• Take part in music, sports or similar events or contests as an amateur, provided you are not paid
• Enrol in a short recreational course of study that is not for credit toward a degree (for example a short cookery or craft class taken while on holiday)

Requirements

A consular officer must be satisfied that your trip is genuine, temporary and for tourism, family or medical reasons. You will generally need to show:

Under U.S. immigration law, visa applicants must meet the following criteria to qualify for a B2 visa:

If you are applying for the ESTA visa waiver you simply need your passport details on hand to complete the online application.

For non-immigrant tourist visas you must attend an interview via appointment and you will require the following:

If you wish to apply for an American Holiday Visa, you should apply for an ESTA Visa Waiver in most cases.

The requirements to apply for an ESTA are as follows:

• Your visit is temporary and for tourism, visiting family, or medical treatment
• You intend to leave the United States at the end of your stay
• You have funds to cover your trip, or a host or family member who will support you
• For medical travel, a diagnosis and a US provider willing to treat you, plus how the costs will be paid
• You have strong family, social or economic ties to your home country that will draw you back
• You do not intend to work, study for credit, or settle in the United States

• You must be able to show that the reason for your journey is to temporarily enter the United States for medical treatment or for enjoyment.
• Show that you have sufficient funds to cover your travel expenses during your stay in the United States.
• Demonstrate that you intend to visit the United States for a limited amount of time.
• Show that you have binding ties and a domicile outside the United States, to which you will return after completing your travels.
• Valid passport
• Processed documentation
• Criminal records
• Must have obeyed the terms of all previous U.S. entries and not been found ineligible for a visa in the U.S.
• You must plan a vacation, business travel, or transit trip to the United States.
• Must never have been convicted or arrested for a crime or offence involving moral turpitude.
• Valid passport for entry into the United States.
• Every applicant for a visa must submit a separate application.
• Receipt of application fee payment, if payment is required prior to the interview.
• Your plan to depart the United States at the conclusion of your trip.
• Your ability to cover all trip expenses.

How to apply

Follow these official steps to apply for a B2 Visa:

Citizens from countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program are able to apply for an ESTA Holiday Visa to the USA. These countries include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Complete the online DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application form and print the confirmation page
• Pay the MRV visa application fee (currently around US$185 for a B visa — confirm the latest amount)
• Schedule and attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate (required for most applicants aged 14–79)
• Bring your passport, DS-160 confirmation, a compliant photo and evidence of your trip and ties home
• For medical trips, bring letters from your local doctor and the US provider, and proof you can pay for treatment and living costs
• Complete the Online Application Form Submit the DS-160 online Form, ensuring all provided details are accurate and truthful.
• Payment of MRV Fee Pay the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee to the U.S. Department of State. Retain your payment receipt.
• Document Preparation and Caseworker Guidance Collect required supporting documents as guided by your assigned caseworker.
• Scheduling Your Visa Interview Schedule an interview with your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Prompt scheduling is recommended.
• Attend Your Visa Interview Applicants aged between 14 and 79 must attend an in-person visa interview.
• . Individuals aged 80 or older and those renewing recently expired B2 visas may qualify for an interview waiver.
• Issuance of B2 Visa Following a successful interview, your passport will receive a stamped B2 Visa, permitting travel to the United States.
• United Kingdom

B-2 vs B-1: which do you need?

The B-2 and B-1 are the two halves of the US visitor visa, and the difference is the purpose of your trip.

Choose B-2 if your visit is entirely for tourism, family or medical reasons. Choose B-1 if you are travelling for business activities such as meetings, conferences or negotiations. If your single trip mixes both, most applicants are issued the combined B-1/B-2 rather than a pure B-2. Neither visa allows paid employment or study that earns academic credit.

When does the B2 visa expire?

The validity period of a B2 visa depends on the issuing country and can range from one month to ten years, with possibilities for single, double, or triple entries.

The visa may be valid for ten years, but each stay is limited to six months.

On the visitor’s I-94 form, the Customs and Border Protection officer at the U.S. port of entry will record the length of stay.

Can you extend a B2 visa?

B2 visas are extendable for an additional six months. You are allowed a maximum stay of one year in the United States. B2 visa holders who wish to petition for an extension must submit their request at least 42 days before their I-94's expiration date. The I-94 is the paperwork attached to the B2 visitor's passport upon entry into the United States by a Customs and Border Protection official.

In the first three months of your stay in the United States, you are ineligible to request a B2 visa extension.

B2 Tourist Visa Purposes

The B2 Visa is mostly for tourism purposes, making it one of the most common U.S. visas. This Visa can be used for recreational activities, including:

• Tourism
• Vacation (holiday)
• Meeting with friends, relatives, or family members
• Medical treatment
• Participation in social or organization-hosted social events
• Taking part in musical, sporting, or similar events or competitions, if they are not being paid for doing so
• Enrolment in a brief course of study

Preparing for the Visa Interview

At your scheduled interview, the Consular Officer will review your eligibility criteria and supporting documentation. Attendance with complete and organized documentation is mandatory; incomplete applications may result in denial.

Required documents include:

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended U.S. stay.
• Recent passport-sized photograph compliant with U.S. visa photo requirements.
• DS-160 application confirmation page.
• Interview confirmation letter.
• MRV fee payment receipt.
• A formal letter clearly stating the purpose of your visit.
• Financial statements proving adequate funds for your travel duration.
• Documents confirming your ties and obligations to your home country, ensuring your return.
• Optional invitation letter from relatives or friends residing in the United States, including copies of their U.S. immigration status, if applicable.
• Document or official statement confirming no prior criminal record.
• Specific medical documentation, if traveling for medical treatment purposes.

Documents Needed For a B2 Visa

You must bring several supporting documents to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for your tourist visa interview, including your DS-160 non-immigrant petition.

The specific documentation you will be required to give will depend on your situation. For instance, if you are traveling to the United States for medical treatment, you must present pertinent medical documentation. However, if you are traveling for tourist reasons you will need the documents supporting this such as accomodation bookings & travel itineraries.

The following supporting documentation must accompany an application for a basic B2 tourist visa:

• A passport valid for at least six months beyond the desired period of stay.
• A photograph compliant with U.S. visa regulations.
• Page of interview confirmation.
• Receipt of the visa fees paid.
• A letter describing the reason for your trip to the United States.
• Financial or bank statements demonstrate that you have the funds to fund your journey to the United States.
• Documents demonstrating your need to return home by demonstrating your ties to your native nation.
• Photocopies of the relative's U.S. immigration status (if applicable).
• A paper or letter indicates that you have no prior criminal convictions.

What documentation must I present to receive medical care in the United States on a visitor visa?

If you meet the requirements, you may use your B-2 visa to undergo medical treatment in the United States. To do so, you must demonstrate that your treatment or medication is unavailable in your own country. Moreover, you must supply bank records or certified copies of your income tax returns. This will be used as evidence that you can afford to pay for U.S. healthcare.

In addition, the American Center for Disease Control will only accept your stay if your illness is not deemed “significant to public health.”

• A letter from you’re the doctor in charge of your treatment describing your medical diagnosis and recommended treatment and why you require medical care in the United States.
• The reason why this treatment is unavailable in your native nation.
• A letter from a U.S. doctor or medical facility stating that they will accept you as a patient.
• Estimate of all medical-related costs (doctor’s fees, hospitalization, etc.).

Tourist Visas For the USA

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization may be referred to as the following by the Airline you are traveling with:

• E-Visa
• ESTA
• Visa Waiver

What Is a USA Tourist Visa?

Travellers who wish to visit the United States for vacations / holidays or to visit friends and family should apply for a non-immigrant USA Tourist Visa.

The most common type of tourist visa is the ESTA visa waiver. Citizens of eligible countries can apply for this online and receive approval without having to attend any kind of in-person appointments.

Alternatively, if you are not eligible for an ESTA, in most cases you should apply for a B1/B2 visa depending on if you are travelling for business or leisure.

What USA visa do I need as a tourist?

This depends on your nationality amongst other things such as any past criminal convictions & travel. Citizens of visa waiver countries can get an ESTA, whereas most other nationalities should apply for the B1/B2 visitor visa.

How can I get a USA Tourist Visa?

You may apply on our website and choose the most suitable visa for you. Contact us for advice if you are unsure.

What Visa Is Best For Me?

The most suitable USA Tourist visa is different depending on each applicants individual case. People who desire to enter the United States briefly for business (visa category B-1), for tourism (visa category B-2), or for a combination of both objectives (B-1/B-2) may apply for visitor visas, which are nonimmigrant visas.

Citizens of the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and several other visa waiver countries should apply for an ESTA if the length of the visit is less than 90 days.

For detailed information on specific parts of the USA tourist visa process, you can refer to the links to the right to find the answer to your query. If you are unable to find any particular information, please contact us via email.

Applications For a USA Tourist Visa

After payment is completed, your details will be reviewed and an agent will be in touch with the next steps. If any additional information is required this will be requested via email.

When all your information has been verified, your documentation will be processed and provided to you via email with the next steps.

If an appointment is required to submit your USA Tourist Visa application, then we will advise accordingly and assist with the booking process.

What is the process for obtaining an American Holiday Visa?

The ESTA Visa Waiver Program is a quick and easy way to receive a United States entry permit. However, obtaining a U.S. visa is lengthy and complicated. It involves an individual interview with a U.S. Embassy employee. The gap between the validity period and the length of stay is also much different.

There are no in-person requirements for applying for a US holiday visa ( ESTA ). Use our online form. We will ensure that your information is checked for mistakes and processed through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security system once you submit it.

The travel authorization is electronically connected to the passport used on the application. The results are usually available within 24 hours of submission. The authorization is valid for two years or until the expiration of the passport, whichever comes first.

You will be required to apply for the B2 Visa if you are not eligible for the visa waiver program, which requires the attendance of an in-person interview with a consular official at the Embassy.

What type of holiday visa do I require?

For any vacations or holidays in America, you will require a USA holiday visa. Regardless of age, every member of your family will require a travel authorization. Nationals of visa waiver countries can apply for the ESTA program. This is valid for 90 days and allows you to travel to multiple states. Any trip that lasts longer than that will necessitate obtaining a complete visa.

What is an American Holiday Visa?

A USA American Holiday Visa would most commonly be known as an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). An ESTA allows you to visit the United States for any length of time shorter than 90 days without requiring a complete visa. This programme is commonly referred to as the visa waiver programme.

If the holiday visa (ESTA) is not an option for you. Instead, you can apply for a B1/B2 visa and go through the entire application procedure.

Will I need an America Holiday Visa?

Nationals of designated visa waiver nations are eligible to apply for an ESTA under this program.

If any of the following apply to you, you will need one:

• You're visiting the United States as a British citizen or a citizen of another visa-exempt nation.
• The trip will be no longer than 90 days long and will be either for business or pleasure.
• You're driving from Mexico or Canada into the United States.

For Business Travel, Using an America Holiday Visa:

The ESTA Visa Waiver Program enables nationals of participating nations to visit the United States without a visa for short business trips. For business travel to the United States, ESTA permission is required. A foreign citizen travelling to the United States for temporary business requires a visiting visa (b1) unless they qualify for entry under the Visa Waiver Program.

Some examples of business travel are as follows:

• Attending business meetings or conversations
• Negotiating a contract during a business convention or conference