How to Apply for a US Visitor Visa (B1/B2)

To apply for a US visitor visa (B1/B2), you complete the DS-160 form online for free, pay the visa application fee (currently 185 USD), schedule an interview at the US embassy or consulate where you live, and attend that interview in person. Confirm all fees and rules at travel.state.gov.

What the B1/B2 visa is

The B1/B2 is a nonimmigrant visa for temporary visits to the United States. The B1 covers business trips like meetings and conferences. The B2 covers tourism, visiting family, and medical treatment. Most people get them together as a single B1/B2 visa. It’s for short stays, not for living, studying, or working in the US.

The whole process happens at a US embassy or consulate abroad, so the exact steps and wait times depend on the post where you apply.

Step by step

Here’s the order to follow. Don’t skip ahead, because each step depends on the one before it.

• Complete the DS-160 form online and save the confirmation page with the barcode.
• Pay the visa application (MRV) fee.
• Schedule your interview at the embassy or consulate where you live.
• Attend the interview, where staff take a ten-fingerprint scan (biometrics).

Most applicants need an in-person interview. Under a policy effective 1 October 2025, even most applicants under 14 and over 79 are generally interviewed, so plan on attending in person.

The DS-160

The DS-160 is the online nonimmigrant visa application. You fill it out for free on the official government site at ceac.state.gov/genniv. Nobody else can sign it for you: you must review, sign, and submit it yourself.

When you finish, print the confirmation page with the barcode. You need to bring it to your interview. If the barcode page is missing, you can be turned away.

You’ll also upload a photo as part of the form. The requirements are strict:

• Size: 2 x 2 inches (600 to 1200 pixels square).
• Background: plain white.
• No glasses.
• Taken within the last 6 months.

We can prepare and check your DS-160 answers and get your photo to the right spec before you sign and submit. You stay in control of the submission.

Fees

The visa application fee, also called the MRV fee, is 185 USD right now. It’s scheduled to rise to 205 USD on 30 May 2026. This fee is non-refundable, whether or not your visa is approved.

You pay it through the official visa services site for your country, which you’ll reach via ustraveldocs.com. Fees change over time, so always confirm the current amount and payment method at travel.state.gov before you pay.

Your interview

At the interview, a consular officer decides whether to issue your visa. The key rule to understand is section 214(b). The officer assumes you might intend to stay in the US, and the burden is on you to show otherwise.

That means you have to show strong ties to your home country: reasons you’ll return after your trip. Three things carry a lot of weight:

• Ties: a job, a business, family, property, or studies that keep you rooted at home.
• Funds: enough money to cover your trip.
• Purpose: a clear, honest reason for the visit and a plan to come back.

Answer questions directly and honestly. The interview is usually short, so being clear and prepared matters.

Documents that help

You don’t hand over a giant stack of paper, but having the right documents ready supports your case. Useful items often include:

• A valid passport.
• Your DS-160 confirmation page with the barcode.
• Your MRV fee payment receipt.
• Your interview appointment confirmation.
• Proof of ties: employment letter, business records, property papers, or school enrollment.
• Proof of funds: bank statements or pay records.
• Anything that explains your trip, like an invitation, itinerary, or conference details.

This is the part where a document-preparation service saves you time. We help you organize and format these documents so they’re clean and easy to present.

How long it takes

Processing time varies a lot by post. Two things drive it: how far out the next interview appointment is, and how fast the visa is processed after the interview. You can check current interview wait times with the visa wait-times tool at travel.state.gov.

Some cases go to administrative processing, which adds extra time after the interview. There’s no fixed deadline for it, so apply well before any planned travel and don’t book non-refundable flights until you have the visa in hand.

FAQ

Do I have to fill out the DS-160 myself?
You must review, sign, and submit it yourself. We can prepare and check your answers first, but the final signature and submission are yours.

Is the visa fee refundable if I’m denied?
No. The MRV fee is non-refundable, whether your visa is approved or not.

What’s the most common reason people get refused?
Section 214(b): not showing enough ties to your home country. Officers need to be satisfied you’ll return, so strong ties, funds, and a clear purpose matter.

Ready to start?

Code X Elite prepares your documents and fills your forms so your application is clean and complete. You can learn more on our US visitor visa service page, or start your application here. Applying for Canada instead? See our guides hub.

Code X Elite is a document-preparation service. We prepare documents and fill forms; you submit your own application. We are not a law firm and we don’t give legal advice. Always confirm current fees and requirements at travel.state.gov.