The B-2 visa allows applicants to stay in the USA for private or tourist purposes. In particular, the B-2 visa is suitable for persons who, due to their citizenship, are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (visa-free entry) can use. Often this visa category is called combination visa B-1 / B-2 issued.
Visa category: visitor visa
Target group: tourists, travelers who cannot use ESTA
Validity: generally 10 years
Length of stay: max. 180 days per entry, renewable only once for max. 180 days
Characteristics: working, studying, immigrating etc. not allowed
The B-2 visa is a US non-immigrant visa for private individuals who wish to travel to the USA as visitors, vacationers or tourists for a limited period of time. The official name of the B-2 tourist visa is B-2 Temporary Visitor for Pleasure.
Tourist / private purposes primarily include
B-2 visas are required in particular for
The B-2 visa does not include permission to take up employment, i.e. with a B visa you are not allowed to work in the USA. School or university visits and internships are also excluded.
In order to obtain a B-2 visa, several conditions must be met:
With a B-2 visa, foreign nationals may officially stay in the United States for up to 180 days for multiple entries or consecutive days. The maximum length of stay in the USA does not apply per year but per entry.
Theoretically, you can therefore spend up to six months on vacation in the USA. However, the exact length of stay is determined individually by the US border officers each time you enter the country and can be viewed online in the electronic I-94 or can be seen on the entry stamp in your passport.
The maximum status, e.g. permitted length of stay, of 180 days can be extended in the USA by submitting a status extension application to the US immigration authority USCIS for a further maximum of 180 days (i.e. to a maximum of 365 days).
US travelers must leave the United States no later than the date of departure noted on the entry stamp or electronic I-94 in order to avoid the risk of an overstay.
Each time you travel to the United States, you will receive a new status at the border crossing. As long as the B-2 visa is valid, foreign nationals with the visa may request entry at the border.
As a rule, B-2 visas are issued for ten years. However, the tourist visa can also be limited to a shorter period. This depends in particular on the nationality of the applicant.
The expiration date can be found on the visa in the passport. The B-2 visa is valid until this date expires. After this date, the B-2 visa can be reapplied for through consular procedure if required.
The visa fee for the B-2 visa is 175.75 € (185 $) per applicant. This general application fee of the US consulates or US embassies must be paid by all applicants and is neither refundable nor transferable to other persons.
The processing fee can be paid by online bank transfer, online payment by debit card or cash payment at a bank.
As a rule, this fee can be used to make an appointment within one year of the payment date.
Furthermore, additional costs may be incurred for certain B-2 applicants:
You can find more information about the different visa fees, other possible costs and the current payment methods on our fees page.
B-2 Applicants must generally appear in person at an interview appointment at one of the appropriate U.S. consulates. In principle, the application includes theOnline form DS-160and the proof of intention to return as well as the financial means for the stay in the USA. The application is usually made at the U.S. consulate of the country in which the applicant has his or her center of life.
The following documents should be submitted first to apply for the B2 visa and as a first step to fill in the onlineDS-160 Formshave ready:
The following documents must be prepared for the appointment at the embassy:
In most cases, the processing of a B2 visa with a thorough preparation and subsequent examination takes 8-16 weeks.
After you have selected the DS-160 form submitted, you have the option, online to schedule an embassy appointment. The waiting time for an on-site personal interview depends greatly on the number of applications to be processed at the U.S. Embassy.
After a thorough review of your B2 visa application and, in the best case, approval, your passport will be withheld for about 1-2 weeks. Afterwards, the passport will be sent to you by registered mail together with the visa usually within a week. In rare cases, there may be a so-called administrative procedure (security check), which can take several months.
For international travelers who wish to travel to the United States, both the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and the B visa are important entry options. Both allow residence in the country for specific purposes, but also have significant differences.
Overall, both ESTA and B-Visa provide travelers with the ability to travel to the US and engage in certain activities. The choice between the two options depends on individual travel destinations, planned length of stay, and other specific requirements. Before traveling, it is advisable to thoroughly research the respective requirements and restrictions to ensure a smooth and legally correct trip.
Commonalities:
Differences:
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