United States Tourist visa
B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism, medical treatment, family visits) form the United States’ main short-stay visa categories, and the published 3–180 day processing range reflects how widely interview-wait times stretch across consular posts. The base MRV fee shown for this category is 185 USD, paid in local currency at the consulate’s posted rate before the interview is booked. The DS-160 application form is completed online; repeat applicants whose previous B-1/B-2 visa has expired within the published look-back window may qualify for the Interview Waiver (dropbox) channel. Section 214(b) — failure to overcome the presumption of immigrant intent — is the most common refusal ground in this category, with ties evidence to the home country the central factor. The actual length of admission is set by CBP at the port of entry on the I-94 record, regardless of the validity period printed on the visa stamp.
| Visa required | Varies — verify on the official source |
|---|---|
| e-Visa available | Yes |
| Processing time | 3–180 days (source) |
| Visa fee | 185 USD (source) |
Official resources
Requirements
Eligibility for B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism) visas
- A purpose of travel that fits the B-1/B-2 categories: tourism, medical treatment, family visits, business meetings, conferences, or short courses not for credit
- Genuine intention to leave the United States at the end of the visit, with ability to overcome the presumption of immigrant intent under section 214(b)
- Strong ties to the home country — employment, property, family obligations, ongoing studies — demonstrated through documentary evidence
- Sufficient funds to cover the cost of the trip without recourse to unauthorized employment, shown through bank statements (last three to six months), salary slips, and employer letter
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended departure date, subject to the six-month-club exception
- No grounds of inadmissibility under section 212(a) and no past breaches of US immigration rules
- Truthful and consistent answers on the DS-160 application form
- Payment of the 185 USD MRV fee in local currency at the consulate’s posted rate
- Attendance at the consular interview unless eligible for the Interview Waiver (dropbox) channel for repeat applicants
Documents checklist
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended departure date from the United States
- DS-160 confirmation page with barcode, printed and signed
- MRV fee payment receipt at the designated bank or online portal
- Recent photograph that meets State Department specifications (50×50 mm, white background)
- Interview appointment confirmation page with the consular post and time
- Round-trip flight reservation or itinerary supporting the stated travel dates
- Hotel booking or invitation letter from a US host, with the host’s status document attached (US passport bio page, green card copy, or visa stamp)
- Bank statements covering the last three to six months showing a settled balance
- Salary slips for the last three months and an employer letter on company letterhead specifying position, start date, salary, and approved leave dates
- Income tax returns or assessment notices for the last two financial years
- Property documents, business registration, or other evidence of ties to the home country
- Travel history: previous passports or copies of pages showing prior international travel, particularly Schengen, the United Kingdom, Canada, or Australia
- Translations into English of any non-English documents
Application steps
- Confirm passport validity covers at least six months beyond the intended departure date from the United States, subject to the six-month-club exception.
- Complete the DS-160 application form online at ceac.state.gov, ensuring every entry is consistent with the supporting documents (employer name, addresses, family-member spellings).
- Pay the 185 USD MRV fee in local currency at the consulate’s posted rate, at a designated bank or through the online consular payment portal.
- Determine whether the case qualifies for the Interview Waiver (dropbox) channel: repeat applicants whose previous B-1/B-2 visa has expired within the published look-back window are typically eligible.
- Book the visa interview (or dropbox slot) at the consular post matching the applicant’s residence.
- Compile the documentary file: passport, DS-160 confirmation, MRV receipt, photograph, bank statements (last three to six months), employer letter, salary slips, income tax returns, property and ties evidence, hotel booking, and round-trip flight reservation.
- Attend the interview at the chosen consular post and answer questions about purpose of travel, ties to the home country, and previous travel history; for dropbox cases, submit documents through VFS Global instead.
- Wait for the decision; the published 3–180 day window reflects how widely interview-wait times stretch across posts.
- If approved, the passport is returned by courier with the visa stamp affixed; the I-94 issued at the port of entry is the controlling document for the actual length of stay.
Processing time
3–180 days (source) (typical). Processing times may vary.
Visa cost
Fee (from our data): 185 USD (source) . Fees are subject to change; check the official source before applying.
For B-1 and B-2 short-stay categories, the 185 USD MRV fee is the consular processing charge that all applicants pay before the interview is booked, and it is non-refundable regardless of outcome.
Optional add-ons that sit outside the base 185 USD include courier delivery of the issued passport, expedited interview-appointment requests at posts that publish a fee for it, and reciprocity issuance fees for the small number of nationalities where the United States levies a separate issuance surcharge after approval. The fee is paid in the applicant’s local currency at the consulate’s posted exchange rate, through the bank or online portal designated by the embassy.
The 185 USD indicator is reviewed periodically and the figure in force at the moment of payment is the one that applies — confirm the current schedule before settling the fee, since refunds are not available once the receipt is generated.
Common mistakes to avoid
B-1/B-2 applicants face the steepest 214(b) bar of any non-immigrant category, and the recurring missteps below are responsible for most avoidable refusals.
- Treating the 185 USD MRV fee as a placeholder while the visa interview is booked — the fee receipt is tied to the specific consular post and cannot be transferred or refunded if plans change.
- Walking into the interview without concrete ties evidence: property records, employer letters with leave-approval dates, or enrolment certificates make the difference between a same-day approval and a 214(b) denial.
- Asking for a six-month admission “just in case” when the trip plan covers two weeks; CBP normally grants the period the traveller can document, and overstating intent invites scrutiny.
- Listing every relative living in the United States as the host while leaving the “intended length of stay” field blank — inconsistencies between family ties and stated intent are routinely flagged.
- Carrying gifts or commercial samples through CBP without declaring them, which can convert a tourist admission into a referral to secondary inspection.
- Travelling on a near-expired passport when the home country is not on the six-month-club reciprocity list, an issue that is resolved at the airline counter rather than at the embassy.
- Posting on social media about plans to “stay with family” or “look for work” in the United States; CBP officers do review accessible profiles and inconsistent statements are grounds for refusal of admission even with a valid visa.
Country context & recent trends
Recent rule changes
The State Department has extended the Interview Waiver eligibility window for repeat applicants whose previous B-1/B-2 visa expired within a defined timeframe, allowing renewals via the dropbox channel without an in-person interview at participating posts. The 3–180 day processing range reflects the dispersion across consular posts, with renewals at low-volume posts often clearing in days and first-time applications at high-volume posts running into months during peak windows.
Peak-season patterns
B-1/B-2 caseload typically peaks ahead of European summer travel, the December holiday window, and Lunar New Year, when family-visit and tourism demand is highest. Posts publish appointment-wait time updates daily, and rescheduling-tool refreshes throughout the working day routinely surface newly released slots that did not appear in the morning calendar.
How it compares to nearby destinations
Short-stay tourist regimes across North America and the Caribbean differ in interview burden and processing speed. The table below sets the US figure shown alongside indicative figures for nearby alternatives.
| Destination | Visa required | Typical processing | Indicative fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (B-1/B-2) | Depends on nationality | 3–180 days | 185 USD |
| Canada (eTA or TRV) | Depends on nationality | Minutes (eTA) to weeks (TRV) | 7 CAD (eTA) / 100 CAD (TRV) |
| Mexico (FMM / e-Visa) | Depends on nationality | Same-day to 1–2 weeks | ~50 USD |
| Cuba (Tourist Card) | Yes for most | Same-day issuance | ~25–60 USD |
The US tourist regime is the only one of the four to require an in-person consular interview at most posts, which is the structural reason the 3–180 day window is wider than its peers.
Frequently asked questions
-
How long does a US tourist visa take to process?
The published range for this category is 3–180 days, which reflects the dispersion of interview-wait times across consular posts rather than the consular decision itself. Renewals through the Interview Waiver (dropbox) channel typically clear in days, while first-time interviews at high-demand posts can run into months during peak.
-
How much does the US tourist visa fee cost?
The base MRV fee shown for this category is 185 USD, paid in local currency at a designated bank or online portal before the interview is booked. The fee is non-refundable and tied to the specific consular post selected at the time of payment.
-
Can I apply online for a US tourist visa?
The DS-160 application form is completed online at ceac.state.gov, but B-1 and B-2 categories typically require an in-person interview at the consular post. Repeat applicants whose previous B-1/B-2 visa has expired within the published look-back window may qualify for the Interview Waiver (dropbox) channel.
-
What is the most common reason B-1/B-2 applications are refused?
The most common refusal ground is section 214(b) — failure to overcome the presumption of immigrant intent — which generally turns on the strength of ties evidence (employment, property, family obligations) to the home country. The 185 USD MRV fee is non-refundable regardless of outcome.
-
How long can I stay in the US on a tourist visa?
The visa stamp authorises travel to a port of entry, but CBP issues an I-94 admission record at entry that determines the actual length of stay — typically up to six months for B-1/B-2, but shorter periods are commonly granted. The cbp.gov/i94 record is the authoritative document, not the stamp in the passport.
-
Can I bring my family on the same tourist visa?
Each family member needs their own DS-160, 185 USD MRV fee, photograph, and interview slot — the United States does not issue family tourist visas. Submitting the applications on the same day at the same post is the normal way to keep the family file linked.
-
Is travel insurance required for a US tourist visa?
Travel insurance is not formally required at the visa-application stage, but most consular officers expect to see evidence of funds sufficient for medical care during the trip. Many travellers include a policy because US healthcare costs without insurance are substantial enough to dominate any other trip expense.