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How to apply for or renew a U.S. tourist visa

If you visit the U.S. for tourism or business, you may need a visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa. Learn how to get and renew this type of nonimmigrant visa.

To enter the U.S., you must bring a passport issued by your country of citizenship along with your visa. Officials at your port of entry into the U.S. will also issue you a Form I-94, which electronically records your arrival and departure dates. Learn more about Form I-94 and how to apply .

Find out if you need a visa to visit the U.S.

Check to see if your country participates in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) . If it does, you can get a waiver and will not need a visa. If you do not see your country listed, you will need a visitor visa.

Visitor (tourist) visa

The visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa, is a type of nonimmigrant visa for people who wish to temporarily enter the U.S. There are two categories:

• B-1 for business travel
• B-2 for tourism and medical treatment

Learn about B-1 and B-2 visas , including:

• Reasons you would need each type of visitor visa
• How to apply
• What documents you will need
• Application fees
• How to prepare for your interview at your U.S. embassy or consulate

How to renew a visitor visa

You must renew your visitor visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Only diplomatic visa holders and their dependents can renew their visas within the U.S.

The process to renew a visitor visa is the same as getting one for the first time. Follow the process to apply for a visitor visa from the Department of State.

Find the contact information for your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and contact them for visa renewal information.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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USA Visitor Visa

If you are coming to the United States as a temporary visitor, you will need to obtain a visitor visa or some form of immigration permission appropriate in your own case. Learn more about the requirements and process of getting a US visitor visa.

Contact us today via  +1 844 290 6312  or  +443334149244  for immediate guidance on your US immigration and citizenship processing. We are here to help you in person, via the phone, or online.

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Benefits of Choosing IAS ‘ USA Immigration Lawyers

When it comes to obtaining a USA visa or permit, IAS USA immigration lawyers are well-equipped to help you.

With IAS’s track record of successfully helping clients visit or immigrate to the United States, we can help businesses and individuals achieve their goals.

Our dedicated immigration lawyers provide our services through a comprehensive and personalised approach. With IAS, you enjoy:

Compassionate support from an experienced immigration lawyer dedicated to your success

Support in gathering supporting documents and completing a high-quality application.

Confidence that your case is being handled by an experienced team.

In-house document checks done by lawyers who are well-versed in US immigration matters.

Services we Provide

Need help with an immigration issue? Book a one-to-one advice session with one of our legal caseworkers.

We can complete your visa application on your behalf, taking the stress and hassle out of the process.

Need to submit an application quickly? We can help you complete and send it off in as little as 24 hours.

Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal with our legal support and guidance.

What is a US Visitor Visa

A visa is a document that allows you to enter a foreign country. Typically, it also contains the date when you’re expected to leave the country.

There are different types of visa categories – immigrant and non-immigrant visas.

If you want to travel to the United States for holiday, business, to see a family member, or any other temporary reason, you’ll need a visitor visa.

A US visitor visa is relatively easy to get. You just need to pass all the requirements, including having complete documents and sufficient funds.

USA Visitor Visa Categories

There are two main categories of USA Visitor Visa. They are:

Business (B1) Visa :  If you’re travelling to the United States for business purposes, a B1 visa is what you should apply for. For example, you might want to attend a conference or seminar, negotiate contracts, or consult.

With a Business B1 Visa, you’re only permitted to:

• Attend business conventions, conferences, and seminars
• Negotiate business contracts
• Undertake short-term business training
• Consult with business associates
• Settling an estate

You can also apply for a Business B1 Visa if you’re travelling to the United States for business reasons.

With a Business B1 Visa, you’re allowed to stay in the United States for up to 6 months. If your visa expires, you can renew if you’re not done with your business matters.

Tourist (B2) Visa :  If you’re traveling to the United States for vacation purposes, a B2 Visa is what you should apply for. The visa category is also for people travelling for medical reasons. A lot of people travel to the US for tourism, which is B2 is a very popular visa.

With a Tourist B2 Visa, you’re only permitted to:

• Attend social events
• Visit family and friends
• Undertake a short-study course
• Participate in sports and music contests without receiving payment.
• Get medical treatment

Like the business visa, you’re allowed to stay in the USA for a maximum of 6 months. However, you can’t engage in any of the activities permitted by a business visa.

It’s important to apply for the right visa to avoid breaking immigration rules. You break the immigration rules when you engage in activities that aren’t permitted by your visa.

How to Apply for a Visitor Visa

As mentioned earlier, applying for a visitor’s visa is relatively easy. Below are simple steps to follow:

• You will start by visiting the official website.
• On the website, you will complete and submit the  DS-160 Form .
• After submitting, print the confirmation page.
• Upload your passport photograph as requested. Your passport photograph must meet specific requirements for it to be approved.
• Pay the visa fee and print your receipt.
• Schedule a date for your visa interview at a US consulate or embassy.
• Attend your interview with all the necessary documents
• At the visa application center, you’ll be asked to provide your biometric information – fingerprint and facial photo
• After completing the above requirements, you will wait to hear from the embassy

After completing the above steps, the embassy will make a decision on your visa application and let you know if it is approved.

Documents You Will Need to Apply

While going for your visa interview, you’re expected to come with the following documents:

• Passport-style photograph
• A valid international passport that’s valid for the next six months at least
• Confirmation page of your DS-160 form application
• Your interview schedule confirmation
• Bank statement to show that you can cover your expenses
• Receipt of your paid visa fees
• Documents showing the purpose of your trip. For instance, you can present your conference or contract letter for a business trip. Also, hotel bookings and transport arrangements can be helpful.
• Proof of home ties, such as properties or close relationships in your home country, to show that you intend to come back
• Proof that you have no previous criminal record or convictions

You may need to provide some other case-specific documents not listed above if the embassy requests them.

Travelling for Medical Treatment

If you’re travelling for medical treatment, you need the following documents for your B-2 visa application:

• Your medical diagnosis from a licensed physician in your home country. The diagnosis must outline why treatment in the US is important.
• Letter from a licensed physician or medical facility in the US showing that they are willing to treat you. The letter must contain the cost and duration of your treatment.
• Evidence that you can take care of your medical, living, and transportation expenses during your stay

Attending Your Visa Interview

You must attend an interview if you’re between 14 and 79 years old. Once you submit your application, you should schedule your interview immediately to have it early. You’ll get an interview confirmation in your email after scheduling. You must print and go with it to your interview.

At the interview, you’re expected to answer all questions you’ll be asked. An official will ask you questions about your application and background. You’ll have to explain why you need a visa and convince the official that you meet all the requirements.

The official will also check the documents you provide to ensure you meet the requirements. In some cases, you may be asked to provide some exclusive information or document.

Get in touch with our expert immigration lawyers to learn how to apply for a US Visitor Visa

ESTA Visitor’s Visa

You can travel to the USA for tourism or business reasons without applying for a B-1 or B-2 visa. Instead, you can apply for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) Visitor’s Visa. While the ESTA Visitor’s Visa is not technically a visa, it allows you to stay in the United States for up to 90 days.

The ESTA Tourist Visa is part of the United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Therefore, you can only apply for the ESTA Visitor’s Visa if you’re a citizen of a participating country. The countries part of the VWP include:

Andorra,  Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark,  France, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg,  Latvia, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino,  Slovenia, South Korea, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

You must have a valid ESTA approval before you can travel to the US. Before you can apply for ESTA approval, you must not have any approved visitor’s B visa. In addition, you’ll need to provide the following:

• A valid international passport from your home country
• Your home address and phone number
• A valid email address
• An emergency phone number and email address

In some cases, you may also need to provide the following:

• Your National ID or Personal ID number
• Your aliases and other names not included in your passport
• Your employer’s address and phone number
• Your point of contact name, email address, and phone number, and in the US
• Your global entry ID number

To apply for ESTA approval, you also need to pay an application fee. The fee costs $14 and is non-refundable. Your ESTA is typically valid for two years. Within that period, you’ll only need to apply for a new ESTA if you change your country, name, or gender.

Cost of Visitor Visa Application

The cost of applying for a visitor visa application is $160 (One Hundred and Sixty Dollars Only).

The fee is the same for both Business and Tourist visas. You’ll have to pay the equivalent fee in your local currency.

Payment of this fee is required for your application to be processed. You can’t get to the next step if you’ve not paid.

And depending on your country and where you’re submitting your application, you may be required to pay additional fees.

This could include the cost of gathering the necessary paperwork and passport images.

You could also pay the cost of scheduling appointments to visit the visa application center and the embassy.

If additional fees are required, you must pay them before your visa can be processed.

It’s important to note that all fees you pay for your visa application are non-refundable.

In other words, even when your visa application is rejected, you won’t get your money back.

If you want to reapply, you’ll have to pay the fees again.

Appointment Waiting Time

The visa appointment waiting time differs depending on your home country and where you submitted your documents.

Factors like how busy the embassy is and the number of appointment slots available affect the waiting time.

You can get an estimate of how long you could wait on the US Department of State’s Website. On the website, simply select your city from the list and click on Go.

The website lists the waiting time for visitor’s visas as well as other types of non-immigrant visas.

However, it’s still important to note that the waiting time you get is an estimate. You can check from time to time because the waiting time changes every week.

Reasons for Visitor Visa Denial

If your visa is approved, congratulations, you can arrange your flight and enter the United States. However, you may also experience denial, and there are several reasons why that could happen.

Your application will be denied if you provided misleading information or any false evidence during the application process. Also, it’ll be denied if you’ve breached immigration rules in the US in the past or you have some criminal record.

Furthermore, your application may be denied if you suffer from any transmissible disease. Past arrest or conviction on cases related to drug abuse or trafficking can also affect you. Finally, if your visa application is incomplete, it will not be approved by the embassy.

If your visa application is denied, you cannot appeal the decision. You can only reapply for a visa if circumstances change. For example, if you were denied on health grounds, you may reapply when you’re well. Also, you may provide more convincing and genuine evidence and information in your next application. In cases of breach of immigration rules or criminal records, reapplying won’t make any difference.

If you wish to find out how you can work in the USA, our team is happy to assist.

Table of Contents

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i get a visa without a bank statement.

The bank statement is a basic requirement. If you don’t have it, you may provide another proof of funds.

How do I know if my visa is approved?

You’ll get a message from the embassy if your application is approved or denied. You can check with the embassy from time to time.

Can a canceled visa be reinstated?

A canceled visa may be reinstated only in certain circumstances. For example, if you win an appeal in a tribunal or court. But when it comes to a visitor visa, there is no room for an appeal. So, your best bet is to reapply later.

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US Work Visas

Looking to work in the United States or obtain a work visa for your employee? We can help. Learn more here.

US Family Visas

IAS USA immigration lawyers can help you reunite with your family in the United States. Contact us today for support.

US Study Visas

If you want to study in the US, you may need to obtain a study visa. Click here to learn more about the study visas.

US Citizenship

There are a few routes to citizenship in the USA. Click here to find out their eligibility requirements and process.

US Visitor Visas

Are you looking to visit the USA for tourism, to see family/friends, for business meetings, or any other reason? Reach out to us to discuss.

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U.S. Travelers Will Soon Have to Pay to Enter the U.K.

By Sarah James

U.S. visitors—as well as visitors from Europe , Australia and Canada —will soon be required to apply for permission to enter the U.K. through a new scheme known as Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

The U.K. government is in the process of fully digitizing U.K. borders by the end of 2025—and the ETA scheme will play its part, allowing “individuals, and carriers, with more assurance at an earlier point in time about their ability to travel to the U.K.,” the government said.

The scheme will be in place by the end of this year (2023), and visitors will be required to fill out an online application granting them permission to travel. There will be a small fee included in the application—similar to how the U.S.'s own ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) system works for U.K. travelers.

Here's everything we know.

Will I need a visa to enter the U.K.?

This isn't technically a visa—the ETA system will grant travelers permission to enter the country. You will need to apply for an ETA prior to arrival. If you haven't received permission to travel before arrival, you may get fined.

Travelers from the U.S. will soon need to apply for permission to enter the U.K.

How long will it take to get an ETA?

Travelers will be advised to apply for an ETA at least a few days before their journey. Approval should be granted within 72 hours of application.

How long will an ETA last?

After your ETA has been approved, visitors will be granted permission to stay in the U.K. for six months, whether for business or tourism reasons.

The U.K. government is yet to confirm how often visitors will need to apply for a new ETA, but it's likely to be valid for two years—meaning there's no need to apply for a new one every time you visit within the valid time period.

Visitors with valid ETAs can stay—and travel—in U.K. for up to six months.

How much will an ETA cost?

We don't know yet—but the government has said that the cost will be small. The EU implemented a similar system in 2022, which costs €7. A U.S. ESTA, meanwhile, costs $21.

Who will need to apply for an ETA?

The full list of nations included hasn't been announced yet. We do know that U.S. citizens who don't hold a visa will need to apply for an ETA, as will other visa-exempt nations such as Canada and Australia. European countries are likely to be included, too.  Those traveling from nationalities without a visa-free agreement with the UK will still need to apply for another applicable type of UK visa.

What will I need to apply for an ETA?

You'll need a valid passport , an email address to register with, and to supply the details of your travel, as well as a valid debit or credit card to pay any fees to apply.

To keep up to date with the latest information on the ETA scheme, check the official website for more details as they become available.

This article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller U.K.  

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Comments: (1)

When Visa abandoned its plan to acquire PLAID, the reason given by pundits was potential antitrust objections. Won't the same antitrust objections be raised about its TINK-powered offering?

Or was antitrust just a smokescreen to avoid paying $5.3B for PLAID when it could get Tink for a substantially lower price ($2B)?

On a side note, by making an explicit pitch for Open Banking technology in its video, Visa has completely undermined the popular misconception that customers don't care about technology.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Visit Nigeria in May for Invictus Games Talks

Prince Harry will be joined by wife Meghan Markle in Nigeria following his return to the U.K. next month.

The couple accepted an invitation from Nigeria’s chief of defense staff, according to reports. The visit will highlight the Invictus Games , which previously welcomed hundreds of athletes from 21 countries in Germany last year, including Nigeria.

“The visit is to consolidate Nigeria’s strong hold at the game and the possibility of hosting the event in later years,” Nigeria’s acting director of defense information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau , noted in a statement.

Minister of Defense Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Badaru attended the 2023 games in Germany, where Nigeria competed as a new entrant, and has expressed interest in hosting the tournament someday.

Related: Prince Harry’s Military Career: From Enlistment to Invictus Games

Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, spent time with Nigerian athletes at last year’s event. “Now, I’m not saying we play favorites in our home, but since my wife discovered she’s of Nigerian descent, it’s likely to get a little bit more competitive this year,” the duke teased in his opening speech.

The Invictus Games were first held in 2014 for wounded, sick or injured servicemen and women and veterans. Harry and Meghan’s trip to Nigeria comes shortly after he’s set to mark an important milestone for the organization in London.

“The Invictus Games Foundation will celebrate 10 years of changing lives and saving lives with a ‘Service of Thanksgiving’ at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8th,” read a social media message shared by the official Invictus Games account on Sunday, April 28, confirming Harry’s attendance.

Along with the prince, Billions alum Damian Lewis will be on hand at the service to read the Invictus poem. Representatives from participating countries are expected to attend, with other supporters, beneficiaries and members of the community taking part in the service.

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Related: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Charitable Work Throughout the Years

Harry has made a handful of visits across the pond since he and Meghan relocated to California in the wake of their 2020 exits as senior working royals. He traveled for the funeral of his grandfather Prince Philip in April 2021 and was joined by Meghan in September 2022 for the late Queen Elizabeth II ‘s memorial. Earlier this year, Harry flew to the U.K. after news broke that his father, King Charles III , was diagnosed with a form of cancer.

“I love my family,” Harry said on Good Morning America in February. “The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.”

Harry did not provide specifics about the king’s condition, but at the time, he hinted that he’d hopefully have time to see his father again in the near future. “I’ve got other trip plans that will take me through the U.K., or back to the U.K.,” he said. “So, I’ll stop in and see my family as much as I can.”

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UK policy denying visas to children of care workers faces legal challenge

Exclusive: Action by organisation supporting migrants argues new rules are discriminatory

An organisation that supports migrant workers has launched a legal challenge against the government’s new policy to bar care workers from bringing children and partners to the UK, warning that it is “tearing families apart”.

According to Migrants at Work, care workers have to choose between family life with their children and partners or getting a job as a health or social carer in the UK – they can no longer do both.

The controversial policy , which took effect last month, has been introduced at a time when the vacancy rate in the adult social care workforce is at almost 10%.

The home secretary, James Cleverly, said the changes had been made to tighten up high levels of non-compliance as well as exploitation and abuse in the care sector.

A report from the Migration Advisory Committee estimated that 236,000 full-time care staff would be needed across the UK in the next 11 years.

A report to the Commons public accounts committee last month found there were 152,000 vacancies in the care sector – a 9.9% vacancy rate. The report said changes had been introduced at a time when “social care workforce shortages are of profound concern”.

The legal action argues that the policy is discriminatory on various grounds including sex, race and is in breach of the public sector equality duty. It claims the home secretary has failed to take into account the needs of care sector workers.

Aké Achi, the founding chief executive of Migrants at Work, said: “The Home Office’s changes to the health and social care visa will further exacerbate the staff shortages in the adult social care workforce.

“On top of this, carers who want to come to the UK are now facing an invidious choice: either they take up a job that will contribute to the delivery of social care at a time of crisis in the UK, or they continue living with their children and partners.

“The new rules will not allow them to do both. We have also seen cases where prospective care workers have been told they have to leave the UK since the new rules have come in, on the basis that their children are not permitted to stay in the UK as their dependants. The new rules are already tearing families apart and the impact on the wider care sector will be disastrous.”

Jeremy Bloom, a solicitor at Duncan Lewis, representing Migrants at Work, said the Home Office still had an opportunity to ditch the new rules and save on the expense of litigation.

He added: “We haven’t seen any evidence that the Home Office has properly considered the impact that this will have on people coming to the UK on health and social care visas, on the vulnerable individuals who need access to social care, or on the wider system of social care.”

He accused the home secretary of ignoring the impact this would have on staff shortages in the social care sector.

“The secretary of state is clear that a full impact assessment was not carried out prior to the introduction of the policy, which raises very serious concerns about whether he has complied with the public sector equality duty.”

A government spokesperson said: “Care workers make a vital contribution to society, but immigration is not the long-term answer to our social care needs. An estimated 120,000 dependants accompanied 100,000 care workers in the year ending September 2023. These numbers are unsustainable, which is why reforms are now in place restricting care workers from bringing dependants with them”.

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• James Cleverly
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