B-1 / B-2 · Timeline

How it works, step by step

1. 1

   1. Apply and interview

   ◈High confidence You fill out Form DS-160, the Electronic Nonimmigrant Visa Application, and pay the visa application fee. A consular officer decides whether you qualify, including at a visa interview unless you are eligible for an interview waiver. Consular officers are told to expedite, where appropriate, visitor visa applications for urgent business travel and for emergent or humanitarian purposes, if issuing the visa is consistent with U.S. immigration law and the officer is satisfied that you have overcome the presumption that you are an intending immigrant. The State Department fee schedule lists a $750 per-person fee for expediting a nonimmigrant visa appointment.^[1,2]

2. 2

   2. The visa

   If the visa is issued, its validity (the period and number of times you can use it to apply for entry) follows the State Department's reciprocity schedules for your country, up to 10 years, and an officer can set less in an individual case. The visa only lets you apply for admission: its validity has no relation to how long you may stay. An unexpired visa in an expired passport can still be used together with a valid passport issued by your country of nationality.^[3]

3. 3

   3. At the port of entry

   An immigration officer at the port of entry decides whether to admit you; by law you must satisfy that officer too that you qualify for nonimmigrant status. The date your authorized stay ends is on your Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record.^[4,5,6]