Who should apply for a tourist or visitor visa

The visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa, is a type of visa classified as “nonimmigrant”; that is, for people who wish to enter the U.S. temporarily. The categories of this visa are:​

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• B-1 visa for business and conferences.

• B-2 visa for tourism, visiting family, and obtaining medical treatment.

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Only citizens of countries included in the Visa Waiver Program do not need a tourist visa to visit the U.S. But they must obtain travel authorization from ESTA or Electronic System for Travel Authorization.​​

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Before starting your trip to the USA, check your documents

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Please note that:​

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• If you wish to travel to the U.S. for reasons other than business or tourism, you must apply for a visa of the appropriate category.

• You must have a valid passport. If your passport has expired, but your visa is still valid, travel with both your new passport and the expired one containing your visa.

• Upon entering the U.S., a port of entry officer will issue you an electronic Form I-94 to record your entry and exit dates.

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How long can you stay in the United States on a tourist visa?

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Form I-94 indicates the date until which you can remain in the U.S. as a tourist or visitor. This date is set by the Customs and Border Protection officer who receives you at your port of entry.

The expiration date of your tourist visa (B1/B2) does not indicate the day you must leave the U.S. or the length of your stay.

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How to apply for a B1/B2 tourist visa

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To apply for a tourist visa for the first time, you should find the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate (in English). There you will find information on how to schedule an appointment to obtain your tourist visa, the steps to follow, and the required documentation.

For reference, some of the documents you will need are:

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• Valid passport.

• Photograph that meets the requirements (in English).

• DS-160 form, which you can complete online. To review the DS-160 form instructions in Spanish:

• select Spanish in the upper right corner,

• hover your cursor over the English text,

• wait until the translation appears.

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How to get help completing the DS-160 form

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If an applicant is illiterate or unable to complete the application, the applicant must have the assistance of a third party. The third party must be identified on the "Sign and Submit" page of the application. While the third party may help the applicant complete the application, they must instruct the applicant on how to endorse the application on their own behalf by clicking the "Sign Application" button. If the applicant is under 16 years of age or physically unable to complete an application, the applicant's parent or legal guardian may complete and click the "Sign Application" button on their behalf. If the applicant has no parent or legal guardian, then the application may be completed by any person who has legal custody of or a legitimate interest in the applicant.​

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Start Apply Here​​​​

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How to renew a B1/B2 tourist visa​

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A tourist or visitor visa must be renewed at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Only holders of diplomatic visas and their dependents can renew their visas within the U.S.

The tourist visa renewal process is the same as the initial application process.

If you need to begin the renewal of your B1/B2 tourist or business visa, do the following: