By Marissa Willman
To visit the
United States as a tourist, most travelers must obtain a U.S. tourist visa from a consulate or embassy in their home country. The U.S. tourist visa is also referred to as the B-1, B-2 or visitor visa. All applicants must personally interview with a U.S. Consulate or Embassy as part of the application process. Tourist visa applicants must also demonstrate proof of their intentions in the U.S. and proof they will leave the country before the tourist visa expires.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You'll Need:
- Valid passport
1 passport photo
- Valid passport
- 1 passport photo
Step 1
Locate the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy in your country using the U.S. Embassy website (see "Resources"). Visit the website of the local U.S. Embassy and click on the visa section. Review the visa application procedure as it applies to the embassy to which you will be submitting your application. The required documents and submission procedure may vary among embassies.
Step 2
Obtain electronic form DS-156 from the U.S. Department of State website (see "Resources"). Type your answers directly into the fields provided. Click "Continue" to generate a PDF version of your application. Print a hard copy of this application.
Step 3
Obtain form DS-157 (see "Resources") if you are a male applicant between the ages of 16 and 45. This supplemental application form requires information about the applicant's educational background, military service and weapons training.
Step 4
Gather the required supporting documents for nonimmigrant visa applications. You will need to submit one 2-inch-by-2-inch color passport photo and your valid passport. Provide copies of your flight details, itinerary, hotel reservations and any other documents that demonstrate your intended tourism purposes in the U.S. Provide proof of your intentions to leave the U.S. before your visa expiration, such as a return flight ticket, family in the home country or employment obligations. Also, provide a bank statement or other documentation that demonstrates your ability to finance your stay in the U.S. Contact the embassy to inquire if the office requires additional documentation or paperwork for visa applicants. Embassies may have unique requirements for visa applications.
Step 5
Determine the fee you will need to pay by calculating the applicable application and issuance fee (see "Resources"). Application fees are standard for all visa applications and cover the U.S. government's cost to issue visas. Issuance fees apply only to citizens of countries that charge visa issuance fees to U.S. citizens. As of 2009, the application fee was $131. Issuance fees vary by country. Pay the fee according to your embassy's regulations.
Step 6
Contact the U.S. Embassy to schedule an appointment to interview for your visa. All applicants between age 14 and 79 must interview with a U.S. Embassy as part of the application process. Bring your application, passport, fee payment and supporting documents to your visa appointment. After the interview, the embassy may inform you that additional paperwork is needed. Submit any additional documents in a timely manner. Your visa will be issued after all requirements have been satisfied.
Resources
About the Author:
Based in Southern California, Marissa Willman has been writing professionally since 2007. Her work has been featured in "The Desert Sun," a daily newspaper serving the Coachella Valley. Willman has also written for TheCelebrityCafe.com and The Frisky. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from California State University, Fullerton.
