Business/Tourist Visa

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FAQ

Overview

The B-1/B-2 visitor visa is for people traveling to the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2). Generally, the B-1 visa is for travelers consulting with business associates, attending scientific, educational, professional or business conventions/conferences, settling an estate or negotiating contracts. The B-2 visa is for travel that is recreational in nature, including tourism, visits with friends or relatives, medical treatment and activities of a fraternal, social or service nature. Often, the B-1 and B-2 visas are combined and issued as one visa: the B-1/B-2.

Qualifications

If you apply for a B-1/B-2 visa, you must demonstrate to a consular officer that you qualify for a U.S. visa in accordance with the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 214(b) of the INA presumes that every B-1/B-2 applicant is an intending immigrant. You must overcome this legal presumption by showing:

  • That the purpose of your trip to the United States is for a temporary visit, such as business, pleasure, or medical treatment
  • That you plan to remain in the United States for a specific, limited period of time
  • Evidence of funds to cover your expenses while in the United States
  • That you have a residence outside the United States, as well as other binding social or economic ties, that will ensure your return abroad at the end of your visit

Personal or domestic employees and crew members working aboard vessels within the Outer Continental Shelf may qualify for B-1 visas under certain circumstances.

Some foreign nationals may be ineligible for visas according to The Immigration and Nationality Act. You can read more about The Immigration and Nationality Act and visa ineligibility here.

Application Items

If you apply for a business/tourist visa, you must submit the following:

  • An Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-160). Visit the DS-160 web page for more information about the DS-160.
  • A passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person desiring a visa must submit an application.

In addition to these items, you must present an interview appointment letter confirming that you booked an appointment through this service. You may also bring documents pertinent to your non-immigrant visa interview. However, please note that the consular officer may not ask for any supporting documents.

How to Apply

Step 1

Determine your visa type by reading Common Nonimmigrant Visas. Each visa type explains the qualifications and application items. Choose the visa type that applies to your situation.

Be sure to also review the Visa Waiver Program. If your country participates in the Visa Waiver Program, you do not need to apply for a visa if you are traveling for business or pleasure and will only be staying in the Unites States for 90 days or less.

Step 2

The next step is to complete the DS-160 Form. Be sure to read the Guidelines for Completing the DS-160 Form carefully. All information must be correct and accurate. Once the form is submitted, you cannot make any changes. If you need assistance, please consult an immigration lawyer or translator. The call center cannot help you complete your DS-160. You will need your DS-160 number in step 5 to book your appointment.

Step 3

Visit www.ustraveldocs.com/do to create a profile with your biographical data and information relevant to the visa class for which you are applying. As you go through the process you will be able to select your visa type, enter personal data, add dependents, and select your document delivery location. After completing your profile, you will be directed to a confirmation page that lists the visa fee amount due. If you are applying with family members, you will be able to group your profiles and see the total amount due for the family. Please print the confirmation page and take it to Banco Popular in order to pay the application fee.

Step 4

Now that you have completed the DS-160 and your online profile, you must pay the application fee. The visa fee page lists the visa types and correlating fee in U.S. dollars and local currency. Payments can only be made in local currency (Dominican pesos) at the current rate of exchange. You can pay the fee at any Banco Popular Dominicano location. More information about payment options is here. To find a Banco Popular Dominicano branch, click here.

Step 5

After paying the application fee at the bank, return to www.ustraveldocs.com/do and sign in to your profile. Navigate to Schedule Appointment and answer the questions regarding your previous visa, if any. It is important to answer the questions carefully and truthfully; these questions will determine whether you need appointments at both the Embassy and Visa Application Center (VAC), an appointment at the VAC only, or if you qualify for mail-in service in lieu of an appointment.

The majority of applicants must program two appointments: one at the Visa Application Center (VAC) and another at the Embassy.

  • First, schedule your appointment at the Embassy.
  • Second, schedule your appointment at the Visa Application Center to take your photograph and fingerprints. This appointment should be completed at least one day before your interview at the Embassy, although same-day appointments may be available for applicants from remote areas.

Once you are in the system, you will see your dashboard.

Click on Schedule Appointment on the left-hand side menu.

This will start the process for scheduling your appointment. You will need three items to schedule your appointment:

  1. Your passport number.
  2. The receipt number from your Visa Fee receipt. Click here if you need help finding this number.
  3. The ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page.
Step 6

On the date of your appointment at the Visa Application Center (VAC) you will need:

  • A passport with validity at least six months beyond the time you will stay in United States (unless other agreements establish exceptions to this policy). If more than one person is included in the passport, each person who needs a visa must submit an application.
  • Confirmation sheet from the DS-160.
  • If the applicant is younger than 14 years and is not attending the interview, a photograph meeting the Department of State´s requirements must also be submitted. See Photographs and Digital Fingerprints for more information.
Step 7

After your appointment at the VAC to take your fingerprints and photograph, you will need to attend an interview at the U.S. Embassy. Visit the U.S. Embassy on the date and time of your visa interview, arriving no more than 15 minutes before your scheduled interview time. You should bring:

  • Confirmation sheet for the appointment
  • Confirmation sheet for the DS-160
  • Your current passport with a barcode added at the VAC and previous passports
  • Any documents that support you application, depending on the type of visa solicited

The U.S. Embassy will not receive incomplete applications.

ATTENTION! Applicants ages 13, and younger do not need to attend the VAC and Embassy appointments. Only the parents or legal guardians of these applicants are required to be present for the VAC and Embassy appointments.

If your visa is approved, your visa will be ready for pick-up at the Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) location you selected.

Supporting Documents

Supporting documents are only one of many factors a consular officer may consider in your interview. Consular officers look at each application individually and consider professional, social, cultural and other factors during adjudication. Consular officers may look at your specific intentions, family situation, and your long-range plans and prospects within your country of residence. Each case is examined individually and is accorded every consideration under the law.

Caution: Do not present false documents. Fraud or misrepresentation can result in permanent visa ineligibility. If confidentiality is of concern, the applicant should bring the documents to the U.S. Embassy in a sealed envelope. Applicants should unseal the envelope at the interview window and hand the document to the consular officer. The U.S. Embassy will not make this information available to anyone and will respect the confidentiality of the information.

You are not required to bring any documents to your B1/B2 tourist visa interview other than a copy of DS-160 confirmation page and your passport.

You are welcome to bring other documents that are pertinent to your case, but please note that the consular officer may not request them.

Supporting Documents for Applicants Seeking Medical Care

If you wish to travel to the United States for medical treatment, then you should be prepared to present the following documentation: 

  • A medical diagnosis from a local physician explaining the nature of your ailment and the reason you require treatment in the United States.
  • A letter from a physician or medical facility in the United States expressing a willingness to treat this specific ailment and detailing the projected length and cost of treatment (including doctors' fees, hospitalization fees, and all medical-related expenses).
  • A statement of financial responsibility from the individuals or organization paying for your transportation, medical and living expenses. The individuals guaranteeing payment of these expenses must provide proof of their ability to do so, often in the form of bank or other statements of income/savings or certified copies of income tax returns.
  • Alternatively, you can present proof that you hold international medical insurance that covers these costs.

Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS)

In accordance with the agreement signed between the United States and China to extend visa validity, beginning on November 29, 2016, Chinese citizens with 10-year B1, B2 or B1/B2 visas in Peoples’ Republic of China passports will be required to update their biographical and other information from their visa application via a website every two years, or upon getting a new passport or B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa, whichever occurs first. This mechanism is called EVUS - Electronic Visa Update System.


The EVUS website is now open to the public for enrollments at www.EVUS.gov. CBP will not collect a fee for EVUS enrollment at this time. CBP anticipates the eventual implementation of an EVUS enrollment fee, but does not have a time frame. Until the implementation of a fee, travelers can enroll in EVUS without charge. The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will keep visa holders informed of new information throughout the year. For further information, please visit www.cbp.gov/EVUS.‎

根据美中双方签署的延长签证有效期的协议，自2016年11月29日起，凡持有10 年 期B1，B2 或 B1/B2签证的中华人民共和国护照持有人需要每两年或在获取新护照或最长有效期的B1、B2或B1/B2签证时时（以先到者为准），通过网站更新他们签证申请上的个人资料及其它信息。这个机制我们称之为EVUS –签证更新电子系统。

EVUS的登记网站www.EVUS.gov 现已开放接受登记。美国海关和边境保护局（CBP）目前不会收取登记费用。美国海关和边境保护局预期EVUS登记收费最终会实施，但目前尚未落实执行时间。在收费实施前，旅客可以免费完成EVUS登记。美国国土安全部海关和边境保护局将在今年及时向签证持有人公布最新的信息。获取更多的信息，请访问www.cbp.gov/EVUS。

More Information

For more information about business and tourist visas, visit the Department of State's website.