Travel guides / Passports, visas and ID

US visitor visa (B-1/B-2): steps, fees and the interview

If your country is not in the Visa Waiver Program, you need a B-1/B-2 visitor visa for tourism, family visits or short business trips to the US.

The steps

1. Fill in the online DS-160 application and save the confirmation page.
2. Pay the visa application fee (the MRV fee, $185 for a visitor visa).
3. Book your appointments through the official visa appointment site for your country: usually a biometrics (fingerprint) visit and an interview at the US embassy or consulate.
4. Attend the interview with your passport, DS-160 confirmation and fee receipt.

Interview waivers are now limited

Since September 2, 2025, most applicants, including many renewing a visa, must attend an in-person interview. Waivers remain only in narrow cases. Check your embassy's website for what applies to you.

The new $250 visa integrity fee

A 2025 US law added a $250 visa integrity fee for many visas, including visitor visas, charged when a visa is issued. Reports in 2026 said some posts had begun collecting it while others had not. Check the State Department or your embassy's website for the current position before you apply.

What the officer looks for

The main question is whether you will return home after a temporary visit. Officers consider your ties to home, such as work, studies, family and property, the purpose of your trip, and whether you can pay for it. Answer simply and honestly. Bring documents that support what you say, but the officer may not ask to see them.

Wait times

Appointment waiting times vary widely by city and season. The State Department publishes estimated wait times for each embassy and consulate. Apply well before your trip.

A visa is not a guarantee of entry

A visa lets you travel to a US port of entry. A CBP officer decides on arrival how long you may stay; your I-94 record shows it.

Handy tools

• Visa photo maker (US 600 x 600)
• Find your embassy

Keep reading

• REAL ID: do you need one to fly in the US?
• How to renew a US passport (and how long it takes)
• ESTA and the Visa Waiver Program: who needs it and what it costs

Sources

• U.S. State Department: Visitor visas, fees and wait times (travel.state.gov)

Rules, fees and processing times change. Check the official sources above before you travel. Last checked October 2026.