B-2 visas are tourist visas and foreign nationals can get into the United States for tourism or for medical treatment on these visas. Individuals who need to attend family functions or ceremonies, meet their friends or relatives and people who need to undergo medical treatment in the United States, can apply for and obtain these B2 visas. At the same time, nationals of certain foreign countries are also permitted to travel to America without visas, under the visa waiver program, for less than 90 days.
There are several steps in the process and the first thing that you need to do before filing a visa application, is to get yourself photographed according to the specifications. That is because, while electronically filing a petition for a visa, you will have to submit a digital photograph of yourself, along with your visa application. You must then complete and file Form DS-160, Online Non-immigrant Visa Application and remember that you will have to bring with you to the interview, a copy of the application confirmation page and so you will have to print the confirmation page after filing your petition.
You will have to pay the visa application fee prior to the interview and currently the B2 visitor visa fee is $160. After the approval of the application, nationals of certain countries will be required to pay the visa issuance reciprocity fee and this fee may not be applicable to citizens of all the foreign countries. However, you may contact the local embassy or the consulate where you file your visa application, for information on visa issuance reciprocity fee. B2 visa applicants also have an option to pay their visa application fee online.
The next step is the visa interview, but before you appear for the interview, you must collect few documents. You must see to that your passport is valid and you need to take with you to the interview, the application confirmation page, fee payment receipt and your photo. You will also be required to prove that you will depart the United States after your trip and assure that you will not overstay your visa or engage in illegal employment. Similarly, you will have to prove that you have enough financial resources to support yourself.
During the interview, you will be asked few questions about the purpose of your trip and the interviewing officer will determine whether you are eligible for a B2 visa and so it is mandatory to establish your eligibility by providing the required supporting documents. You will be required to submit fingerprints after the interview and you will be required to pay the visa issuance fees, if required, after the approval of your petition. If your visa application is not approved, the consular officer will inform you that your application requires further administrative processing. If your application is approved, your passport with the B2 visa will be sent to you by courier or you can collect it from the consulate.
