How to Apply for a U.S. Tourist Visa
Visits to the U.S. for tourism and pleasure, often require a tourist visa. The B-2 visa is a U.S. visa for tourism. This visa is also applies to visit to the U.S. to receive medical treatment.
Steps to Apply for U.S. Tourist Visa
1. Ensure passport is valid.
Passports are required for travel to the U.S. and must be valid for the entirety of the traveles’s stay
2. Completes the application for a tourist visa, Form DS-160.
This is an online form available through the U.S. Department of State.
3. Print the DS-160 confirmation page.
After successfully completing the application, the applicant will receive a confirmation with a 10-digit barcode. Take a printout of this page. This page is required to schedule a visa interview.
4. Upload a digital photograph.
The DS-160 application requires the applicant to upload a digital photograph that meets the following requirements:
- The digital photograph must be a square
- Minimum dimensions must be 600 pixels by 600 pixels
- Maximum dimensions must be 1200 pixels by 1200 pixels
- Image must be in color (24 bits per pixel)
- Image must be in the JPEG format (.jpg or .jpeg file extension)
- File size of the image must be less than or equal to 240 kilobytes
5. Pay the application fee for the B-2 tourist visa.
The fee can be paid electronically as a bank transfer or in cash at designated bank branches and is good for a year from the date of payment. In order to ensure the proper amount is paid and the application is activated in a timely manner, the applicant should:
- Create a profile at U.S. visa service website
- Choose the Schedule Appointment option
- Arrive at the Payment Confirmation Screen where the applicant will be presented with payment options and further details of how to initiate payment.
6. Make an appointment for the visa interview.
After paying the application fee, the applicant will have to schedule two appointments as part of the tourist visa process:
- The first appointment is at the Offsite Facilitation Center (OFC) to provide biometrics information, which includes fingerprinting and photograph.
- The second appointment is with the consulate or embassy for a personal visa interview.
7. Complete the visa fingerprinting at an OFC.
This appointment should be scheduled at least a day or two before the interview at the consulate. As part of this appointment, the applicant’s digital photograph and fingerprints will be taken. The applicant should bring their DS-160 confirmation printout for the OFC appointment and get it stamped. This is mandatory for the visa interview.
8. Attend the visa interview at the designated U.S. consulate or embassy on the day and time the appointment.
The applicant brings the following to the visa interview:
- Passport (and old passports if any)
- Passport-style photograph
- The DS-160 confirmation page
- Visa application fee receipts (if applying at a U.S. consulate in India)
- Interview appointment letter
- Supporting documents
9. Receive a B-2 visa and travel to the U.S.
If the interview goes well, the consular officer will approve the visa application and give the applicant a B-2 visa.
