English
English
English
Are you planning a trip to the United States and wondering whether a USA tourist visa is right for you? If you are not allowed to travel to the United States visa-free with ESTA or would like to stay in the USA for longer than 90 days at a time, the B-2 tourist visa could be the solution.
Below you can find out when you need to apply for a tourist visa for the USA, how the application process works, what advantages it offers and the benefits of booking through our US Visa Service.
The Tourist visa for the USA is a non-immigrant visa that is issued to persons for tourist, family or medical purposes entry into the United States for a maximum of 180 days, i.e. for
The official name is B-2 visa (Temporary Visitor for Pleasure). In practice, the US authorities usually issue B-1 / B-2 visas (Temporary Visitor for Business & Pleasure).
You must apply for a B-2 tourist visa if you
Tourist visas and ESTA allow stays in the USA for identical purposes. Which one is right for you?
ESTA (Visa Waiver Program)
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is the fastest and easiest way to travel to the USA visa-free for up to 90 days. It is available for citizens of more than 40 Visa Waiver Program countries (e.g. Germany, Austria, Switzerland).
More about the Visa Waiver Program
Tourist visa (B-2 visa)
If you are not eligible for ESTA due to your (dual) nationality, have traveled to certain countries or want to stay in the USA for longer than 90 days, the tourist visa is the only option. This US visa allows you to stay in the USA for up to 180 days.
Are you wondering how and where you can get a tourist visa for the USA, what you need and what the visa requirements are? The application process for a tourist visa consists of several steps. Follow the instructions below and prepare yourself well for the visa interview!
To apply for a tourist visa for the USA, you will always need a valid biometric passport. If your passport has expired or does not meet the requirements of the US authorities, the first step is to apply for a new passport.
In addition, each applicant will receive two biometric passport photo in US format is required:
To apply for a tourist visa for the USA, you must first complete the standard application form DS-160 on the official application website of the US Department of State and submit it to the US Consulate before the interview appointment.
The web-based visa application asks for personal data, travel plans, job and education details and security questions. In addition, you must submit a digital biometric passport photo in US format (at least 600x600 dpi). At the end of the online form, confirm that all information is correct by re-entering your passport number. Click on "Sign Application" to electronically sign the tourist visa application and send it to the US consulate.
Tip: Have your CV ready for current/former employment and your school career.
This includes
You need a online profile on the platform of an official visa service provider to pay the visa application fee. A tourist visa for the USA currently costs 175,75 € (185 $) per person.
After successful payment, you can book an appointment for the personal interview at the US Consulate in your home country.
Tip: You may be able to use the Interview Waiver Program and apply for your US visa by post (without appearing for an interview at the US consulate). This can be initiated via the visa profile.
You also specify the options for passport delivery in the visa profile.
The majority of applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 must attend an appointment in person. Visa interview at the US consulate appear. The US consular officers will question you about your tourist visa application and your travel plans. Answer the questions honestly and as accurately as possible.
Bring all relevant documents with you on the day of your interview:
Normally, you will find out at the end of the visa appointment whether or not your tourist visa has been approved. If yes, your passport will be retained for visa preparation.
If your B-2 tourist visa has been issued or affixed to your passport, you will receive this by post to pick-up station or desired delivery address from the US consulate.
Use our US Visa Service to simplify the time-consuming application process and ensure that all application steps are completed correctly and on time.
The procedure for applying for a USA tourist visa is as follows partly online-based. The mandatory DS-160 application form for all US non-immigrant visas must be completed online on the US authorities' website.
The payment of the visa application fee, the appointment and the choice of delivery options for the passport mailing are made via an online account or online profile with the respective official visa service provider.
However, according to US visa regulations, all applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 must generally appear in person at a US consulate or embassy in their home country to complete the application process during an interview. Only in certain exceptional cases can the visa application be submitted by post (although the US authorities reserve the right to invite applicants in person).
Would you like to apply for a tourist visa for the USA with our help? Start your visa application online today!
There is no general answer as to how quickly you can obtain a tourist visa for the USA. As a rule, you should plan with 6 to 8 weeks for the entire application process until you receive your tourist visa.
However, the processing time for the tourist visa depends on the workload of the respective US consulates and other factors and can therefore vary.
How long before your planned trip to the USA you should apply for a tourist visa for the USA depends on the time of application. Experience has shown that more US tourist visas are applied for at US consulates during peak travel times. During vacation periods or public holidays, many visa appointments are fully booked and therefore the usual waiting times for an interview appointment can go from 1 to 2 weeks up to 4 weeks or more. At the same time, the US consulates are very busy due to the large number of B-2 visa applications from tourists and vacationers, which can delay the actual processing and issuing of visas.
On the other hand, security checks and inadequate application preparation and documentation can mean that it takes longer to obtain a tourist visa for the USA.
An additional internal security check (Administrative Processing), often affects applicants of certain nationalities or persons with a criminal record.
If you are not adequately prepared for your visa appointment, the US consular officers may request additional documents to be submitted after the appointment. This subsequent submission can also lead to considerable delays in the visa being issued.
You should start the B-2 visa application process as early as possible during the high season and always be well prepared, as the US consulates cannot take individual requests into consideration unless it is an emergency.
Many applicants also ask themselves whether they can shorten the processing time for their tourist visa for the USA. This is not normally possible. If you apply for your B-2 tourist visa through our agency, we can guarantee you speedy processing and the best possible preparation thanks to our streamlined work processes. This allows us to make the application process as simple, efficient and fast as possible for you.
The costs for a tourist visa for the USA are as follows 175.75 € (185 $) per person. The fee payment is usually processed via the online profile of the official Visa service provider and payment methods include online bank transfers, debit card payments or cash payments at a bank. The proof of payment authorizes the Visa interview agreement and is normally valid for one year from the date of payment.
The general US consular application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
In addition, the following costs may be incurred:
Further information on visa fees and payment methods can be found on our fees page.
The USA tourist visa is valid for a maximum of 10 years. However, US consulates may issue them for a shorter period of time. The expiration date of the B-2 tourist visa is noted on the visa in the passport. After the expiry date, a new tourist visa can be applied for if required.
Holders of a tourist visa may stay in the USA for a maximum of 180 days - several times in a row or in one go. The actual residence status is determined by the US Border Patrol (CBP) upon each entry and can be viewed online at the I-94 status. On site in the USA you can organize your stay in the USA once for a further maximum of 180 days.
We at the US Visa Service are an independent service provider who will take care of your visa application for you for a fee. Our company is not part of the US embassy or other US authorities.
Due to the daily consultations on the subject of tourist visas for the USA and the numerous case processing in specialized teams, our US visa consultants are very experienced and experienced. This enables us to provide you with optimal and fast support when applying for your B-2 tourist visa.
Our US Visa Service ensures that the entire application process runs as smoothly as possible and that all application documents are created and submitted completely and error-free - from the creation of the DS-160 form to the booking of appointments and verification of the issued visa documents.
No, the tourist visa is only intended for tourist stays or vacation trips, visits to family or friends, medical treatment or participation in events. For business activities you may need a B-1 Visa (Business Visitor) or another suitable US visa category.
In the online form DS-160, you must indicate in the security questions whether you have ever been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense. The US authorities require complete and truthful information.
If you answer "Yes" to questions about criminal offenses, an additional field will appear in the DS-160 in which you must briefly explain the situation (in English). The decisive factor is not whether there is a conviction on the criminal record, but whether there has ever been a conviction - deleted entries must also be entered. False information can lead to a long-term entry ban for fraud.
If you have a criminal record, be prepared for questions during the visa interview and bring all relevant documents (court judgments, etc.) with you. A current certificate of good conduct can also be helpful.
A criminal record does not necessarily lead to the rejection of the tourist visa, but usually delays the process. US consular officers have 3 options, depending on the severity of the offense:
Although serious criminal convictions reduce the chances of obtaining a tourist visa, US consular officials decide on a case-by-case basis. Tourist visas are generally subject to less stringent guidelines as long as there is no threat to the public safety of the United States and no suspected intent to immigrate.
Yes, it is possible to enter the USA without a return ticket if you are in possession of a tourist visa.
It is recommended to present a return ticket for the B-2 visa when traveling to the USA, as this facilitates the travel process and clarifies possible questions at the US border. Unlike the ESTA program, however, a return ticket is not a mandatory requirement for the tourist visa, but merely a recommendation to support a smooth entry process.
We and our partners use cookies to store and retrieve personally identifiable information, such as browsing data, to provide and personalize content and advertising, and to analyze website usage and improve the user experience. You can learn more about the purposes for which we and our partners use cookies by clicking on the "Cookie Settings" button below. All settings can also be changed here. Subsequently, you can reconsider your cookie selection or revoke your consent at any time by clicking on the cookie settings link in the footer of our website. Please note that blocking some cookie types may have our ability to provide content tailored to your interests or may limit the availability of some website features.
By clicking "Accept All Cookies" you consent to our use and sharing of your information with our partners.
