How to Apply for a Business or Tourist Visitor Visa to the United States Online
Please be aware: In March 2020, the State Department temporarily discontinued routine visa services at all US embassies and consulates in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. In February 2021, the process of resuming ordinary visa services began.

Under typical circumstances:
You may need to apply for a visiting or transit visa if you are planning a short stay to the United States for business or vacation. The following are the measures to take:
1. Determine whether you require a visa.
Check to check if your nation is part of the Visa Waiver Program in the United States (VWP). If your country isn’t listed, you’ll require a nonimmigrant visa to enter the United States.

2. Figure out the visa you’ll need for your trip.

• B-1 and B-2 visitor visas are used by the majority of business and vacation travellers.
• The B-1 visa is for business visitors who need to meet with colleagues, attend a conference, settle an estate, or negotiate a contract.
• Tourists on vacation and persons going for medical treatment, a social function, or unpaid participation in amateur events are classified as B-2 visa holders.
• Transit visas are not widely used.
• International citizens transiting through the United States to another country and stopping momentarily in the United States as part of their journey to the next foreign destination are classified as transit C visa holders.

3. Fill out a visa application.

The visa application process varies based on which US Embassy or Consulate you apply to. Follow the guidelines applicable to the country you’re in.
In general, you’ll require:

• To fill out the nonimmigrant visa application form DS-160 online
• A photo
• A visa application cost is required.
• To arrange an interview.
• Tourists and business travellers can benefit from a waiver programme.

A visa waiver is available for international travellers visiting the United States for business or pleasure. You must be a citizen of one of the 39 countries that participate in the US Visa Waiver Program to obtain a visa waiver (VWP).
If you wish to enter the United States under the VWP, you must first obtain an approved travel permission. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization is used to determine authorization approvals (ESTA).

• How to Apply for an ESTA and Get Approval to Visit the United States
• Check out the 39 countries that are part of the VWP.
• To utilise the VWP, you must have an e-Passport. This passport is sometimes known as an electronic passport since it contains an embedded chip.
• Fill up the online (ESTA) application. ESTA decides whether a visitor is eligible to come to the United States under the VWP.
• The processing fee is $4.00, with an extra $10.00 authorization fee if you are authorised. Find out how to pay your ESTA cost.
• You will be given an ESTA application number once you have completed your application. Use this number to see if your application for travel to the United States has been approved.
• Visitors who come to the United States under the VWP for tourism, business meetings, or conferences can stay for up to 90 days without a visa.

Visas for Students and Vocational Training

Eligibility
Only after being accepted by a school certified under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program can an international student apply for a student or exchange visitor visa (SEVP). The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System keeps track of students’ records (SEVIS). Learn more about the SEVP and SEVIS programmes, as well as the SEVIS charge.

Visas for Educational Purposes

• The sort of student visa you’ll need is determined by your course of study, the school you plan to attend, or the exchange programme you’ll be participating in.
• F-1 and M-1 visas are the most frequent student visas.
• A full-time international student pursuing academic pursuits is granted an F-1 visa.
• A full-time overseas student pursuing vocational studies is granted an M-1 visa.
• Check out the differences between F-1 and M-1 visas (PDF, Adobe Reader required) and how to apply.
• The exchange visitor programme is often known as the J-1 visa classification (EVP). It is for foreign nationals who have been granted permission to participate in job or study-based exchange programmes. Visiting scholars, camp counsellors, and research assistants are all examples.

Find out how to get a J-1 visa.
The length of your stay on a J-1 visa is determined by your agreement with your Department of State-approved sponsoring organisation. Find an approved sponsoring organisation or programme through the Department of State.

Find out more about studying in the United States.

Professional Visa under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Please note: In March 2020, the State Department temporarily discontinued routine visa services at all US embassies and consulates in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. In February 2021, the process of resuming ordinary visa services began.
Eligibility
A nonimmigrant North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Professional visa is only available to inhabitants of Canada and Mexico who wish to work in the United States. The TN NAFTA Professional visa classification allows the holder to enter the United States temporarily to engage in professional business activities for up to three years.

How to Get Started

• The application process for Canadian and Mexican residents differs after receiving a letter from your future employer confirming your job offer.
• A NAFTA Professional (TN) visa is normally not required for Canadian citizens. You can travel immediately to a United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) port of entry with your documents for an interview to be admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant who can legally work in the United States.
• A NAFTA Professional (TN) visa is necessary for Mexican citizens. Fill out the DS-160 online visa application, print the confirmation page, and bring it with you to your interview. If you are applying in Mexico, you do not need to submit a photo.
• Learn more about the TN nonimmigrant visa application process.
• Get Ready for the Interview
• Review this list of items to bring to your in-person interview, including what information should be included in your prospective employer’s letter.
• Getting a Job as a Foreign Worker in the United States
• Depending on your abilities, circumstances, and intended career, you may be able to travel to the United States as: a foreign worker, whether temporary or permanent, or a Temporary business visitor
• If you’re a foreign student or an exchange guest, you may be eligible to work in the United States under specific conditions.

Obtain a Work Permit

• To work in the United States as a foreign worker, you will require a visa. Each visa has its own set of requirements, terms, and deadlines.
• For an overview of each worker category and kind of visa, refer to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Working in the US web page.
• Use the visa wizard provided by the Department of State to locate:
• You’ll require a visa.
• The procedure for applying Fees
• Time to expect to wait for a visa interview
• As a temporary foreign worker, you have certain rights and protections.
• Because you exercised your rights under US laws as a temporary foreign worker in the US, you will not be denied a visa or penalised by the US authorities. Discover your legal rights and protections.
• Your work visa may be cancelled if you breach its terms. You could face deportation, arrest, or being denied re-entry into the United States.
• If you believe you or someone you know is being trafficked to the United States, seek help right now.

Immigration Issues

• If you’re in the United States and have visa or immigration questions, go to the USCIS Contact Center. Contact your nearest foreign immigration office if you’re in another country.
• The Fiancé(e) Visa (K-1)
• Your fiancé(e) can petition for a K-1 visa on your behalf if you’re engaged to a US citizen and plan to marry and live in the US. The K-1 visa allows you to marry your fiancé(e) in the United States within 90 days of arrival.
• You can apply for an adjustment of status to obtain a Permanent Resident (Green) Card after you married.
• The K-1 visa is only valid for 90 days and cannot be renewed. If you do not marry within that time, you will be deported if you do not leave the country.
• The Department of State’s K-1 visa page has information for applying for your visa.
• Download the petition for your visa and the work authorization application documents for your fiancé(e). These can be found on the fiancé(e) visas page of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

You can apply for a US visa renewal if your current visa has expired. You will be granted the same type of US visa if you continue to meet the requirements.

Is it Possible for Me to Renew My US Visa?
If you meet the following criteria, you may apply for a visa renewal in the United States:

• You want to extend the validity of a visa you already have. You can only apply for B2 visa renewal if you have a B2 visa.
• Your recent visa application was not denied by the US Embassy. You will not be able to extend your visa if you applied for another US visa after it expired and were denied.
• A US visa with numerous entries and a validity of more than one year will be renewed.
• You still meet the criteria for the visa you’re attempting to renew. See the several types of visas available in the United States, as well as the requirements for each.
• You are applying for a renewal of your US visa from your home country. If you are still in the United States, you will not be able to renew your visa.
• Your visa was valid for fewer than 48 months. Visas that have been expired for longer than 48 months may be eligible.

Documents Required for Visa Renewal in the United States
When renewing your US visa, you’ll need to provide the same documents you did when applying for it the first time:

• This is your passport. It must be valid for at least another six months after you depart the United States.
• Any previous passports with a US visa that has expired.
• Two passport-size photos are required for US visa photo submissions. They aren’t the identical ones you used in your first application.
• The confirmation page of Form DS-160 printed out.
• You must show proof that you have paid the US visa cost (the receipt).
• Any further documentation pertaining to the US visa you wish to renew.

Note: Although travel health insurance is not a visa requirement, it is highly advised for any journeys to the United States due to the high expense of medical care.

Applying for a Renewal of a US Visa

The process of renewing a US visa is essentially identical to that of applying for one in the first place. You must do the following:

• Fill out the online application (Form DS-160).
• Make an appointment for an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate.
• Pay the fee for renewing your US visa.
• Renew your US visa by submitting the needed documentation.
• Now it’s time for the visa renewal interview.

Please note that depending on which nation you are renewing your US visa in, some portions of the application process may follow a different timeline.

To renew your US visa, fill out Form DS-160.

Form DS-160 is the non-immigrant visa application form, and it is the identical online form for all non-immigrant visas and US visa renewals. One of the following approaches can be used to complete Form DS-160:

The Consular Electronic Application Center is where you can apply for a visa. You must complete the application yourself, though if you need assistance with the language, someone may be able to assist you. The application must be written in English and contain only English characters.

By enlisting the help of a third-party provider like Visa Express.

They will walk you through the application process and assist you. If you’re worried about filling out the DS-160, such firms can help because they’re used to working with embassies and consulates and are knowledgeable about the application procedure and essential paperwork.

You will be taken to a confirmation page once you have completed the application. This page should be printed and brought with you to the interview and when submitting the paperwork. Basically, you’ll need the confirmation document at any point during the visa renewal process in the United States.

Make an appointment for an interview.

You must go to their website to make an appointment with the US Embassy or Consulate in your country. They should provide you with their phone number as well as specific directions on how to continue.

In addition, the US Department of State has an online server for interview scheduling (here). You do not need to re-register if you had registered the first time you filed for a visa. Your log-in credentials have been saved.

However, the method for setting an interview appointment varies each nation, so make sure you call the Embassy and obtain all pertinent information before proceeding. A list of US embassies and consulates around the world may be found here.

Pay the Renewal Fee for a US Visa

You must pay the US visa cost before attending the US visa renewal interview and submitting your completed application. Regardless of the outcome of your application, this cost is non-refundable, and you can pay it in one of the following ways:

Using a receipt that you downloaded online, you can make a cash deposit at a bank.

Using a debit card (online)

You pay the money in cash when you go to the Embassy for your interview.

The mode of payment will be determined by the nation from where you are applying. The payment schedule will also be determined by the country you are from. In some circumstances, you must pay the charge first because the fee receipt is required to complete the DS-160 application.

Submit Documents/Schedule an Interview

When it comes to document submission and the US visa renewal interview, there are usually three options:

On different days, you submit the paperwork and attend the interview at the US Embassy.

On the day of your interview, you submit the documents to the US Embassy.

You submit your paperwork at a Visa Application Center and then go to the US Embassy for your visa interview.

This may necessitate two appointments: one for documentation and another for the interview. This information should be available from the US Embassy in your country. When renewing a US visa, you may not be required to attend an interview.

Interview for Visa Renewal in the United States

After submitting your paperwork for visa renewal, you must visit the US embassy and sit for a visa officer interview. They will inquire about your travel, the reason for your visa application, as well as more personal details such as your salary and relationships. They’ll ask you any question that will assist them in making a judgement.

See a list of frequently asked visa interview questions in the United States.

Waiver of the US Visa Renewal Interview

You may be eligible for an interview waiver if you are renewing a B-1/B-2, C-1/D, F, J, M, or O visa. This just entails submitting your paperwork to the Embassy or Visa Application Center and waiting for a response.

Inquire about the possibility of an interview waiver at the Visa Application Center or the US Embassy.

How Long Does It Take to Renew a US Visa?

The length of time it takes to get a US visa is determined by the type of visa you’re seeking for. It could take anywhere from a few days to several months to complete. The time of year you apply (i.e. the Embassy’s workload) and whether or not you undergo an interview are two more factors that affect visa processing time.

When your visa interview is over, the visa authorities may advise you of the outcome of your application. Other times, following the interview, you go home and wait to hear back.

How Long Does a Renewed US Visa Last?

In most situations, you will be issued a new visa with the same validity and terms as your previous one.

What Happens If Your Renewal Application for a US Visa Is Rejected?

If your application for renewal is denied, the US consular services will notify you of the reason for the decision. Most applications for US visas are turned down due to insufficient evidence or suspicions about the applicant’s intentions in the country.