A visitor visa is for nonimmigrants who want to enter the United States for business (B-1 visa), tourism (B-2 visa), or for a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2 visa).
Do you want to know your eligibility for a Visitor Visa to the US?
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A visitor visa is for nonimmigrants who want to enter the United States for business (B-1 visa), tourism (B-2 visa), or for a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2 visa).
Do you want to know your eligibility for a Visitor Visa to the US?
Call us toll-free or take less than a minute to fill our Online Assessment for Your Visa Options.
Do you want to visit the United States to connect with family and friends, do business or even just for tourism? There are a couple of options for visitors coming to the US for different purposes.
The number of visitors traveling to the United States for business or pleasure reasons has increased exponentially in the last few years.
The United States offers the B-1 and B-2 visas for non-immigrants, entailing a stay for a temporary basis. These visas allow visitors to stay in the country for a maximum period of 6 months.
However, if you are traveling for immigration purposes, such as getting married, you can apply for the K-1 visa.
The K-1 visa, or the fiancé(e) visa, is for the non-immigrant fiance of the US citizen or lawful permanent resident. This visa allows you to travel to the United States to marry a US citizen within 90 days of arrival.
You can also apply for permanent residency to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after getting married.
Fiance or fiancee are the general terms used for a man and woman who are engaged partners.
Generally, you have to have met the US citizen in person in the last 2 years to be eligible. However, an exception may be granted by the USCIS if you couldn't meet in person due to reasons such as restrictions in the culture of your home country.
However, the USCIS will verify the validity of your relationship to confirm that the marriage is not for the sole purpose of obtaining permanent residency in the United States.
To apply for the K-1 Visa, your first step is for your fiance, a US citizen, to submit the 1-129F form to a USCIS located near their residence.
If this petition is approved by the USCIS, it will then be forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC will inform you of your case number and the petition will be sent to the US Embassy or consulate near your residence in your home country.
The next step is the application for the visa. If your children will accompany you, you must apply for a K-2 visa. The NVC will mail you a letter when the petition is sent to the US Embassy or consulate to inform you to attend an interview with the following prepared documents:
The US Embassy or consulate may ask for additional documents for your K visa interview.
To prove financial support, you may have to submit an Affidavit of Support (Form 1-134) to affirm that you will not require federal assistance.
You must also provide a medical examination report signed by an authorized panel physician.
It is advised that you undertake the vaccinations required by the US immigration law for immigrant visa applicants. This is not necessary for the K visas, however, it will be useful when applying for legal permanent resident status after your marriage.
You qualify for the K-1 Fiance Visa (which is a temporary non-immigrant visa) if you are an individual or family member who wishes to enter the US with the intent of marrying a US citizen.
To be eligible for the K-1 visa, applicants should intend on being married within 90 days of the applicant’s arrival into the United States. In addition, the US citizen must have been legally free to marry prior to applying and must continue to remain so thereafter.
The US Citizen must have met in person with the person they wish to sponsor within the past two years. An exemption can be granted based on extreme hardship for the US citizen sponsor to personally have met the foreign-citizen fiance(e).
An exemption may also be available if it is against the applicant or US citizen’s culture for the two individuals to meet before the marriage takes place.
You qualify for the B-1 or B-1 Visa if you are an applicant who plans to remain in the US for a limited and specified period of time, have sufficient funds to support their stay, and demonstrates sufficient ties to their home country.
B-1 visa holders must also ensure that they will not be paid by a US company during their visit.
The B-1 Visa is for individuals to engage in one of the following allowed activities:
The B2 visa is for individuals who wish to travel in the US or for personal reasons, such as tourism, pleasure, or to receive medical treatment. It is primarily for tourists from a foreign country who wish to enter the US temporarily.
Both the duration of the B-1 and the B-2 visas allows for stays of up to a maximum of 180 days (six months) per entry.
Processing times for US visas vary depending on several factors:
While there are many reasons why your B-1 or B-2 visa application could be refused, we have listed the ten most common here:
Up to six months initially and possibly longer if the visa holder obtains an extension.
There are no defined limits; however, the duration of stay and time spent outside of the US between visits can play a factor.
Visitors should not be seen as living in the US while on a B-1 or B-2 visa.
Visitors may be required to demonstrate sufficient ties to their home countries.
B-1 and B-2 visa holders cannot work in the USA.
Yes, you can travel for pleasure with a B-1 Visa under certain circumstances. A combination of a B-1 and B-2 visa can facilitate travel to the US for business and pleasure.
ESTA means Electronic System for Travel Authorization and is an automated system to determine eligibility to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
The Visa Waiver Program is for citizens of participating countries only and it permits travelers to enter the United States without obtaining a B-1 or a B-2 visa.
Yes, you can get married to a US citizen while on a B-2 Visa provided you apply for an adjustment of status once you are married in the US.
Yes, you can purchase a home as a B-1 or a B-2 visa holder.
Congratulations on taking your first step towards obtaining your United States Visa!
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