Besides being a popular tourist destination and a place where people want to find jobs, the United States is also a great place to do business. The US Embassy issues US visitor visas for business and tourist purposes. Applicants can apply for a B1 visa or the B2 US visa, which allows them to enter the US with the purpose of tourism, pleasure, or visit friends and family.
The B-1 visitor visa is for people traveling to the United States temporarily for business (B-1). Generally, the B-1 visa is for travelers consulting with business associates, attending scientific, educational, professional or business conventions/conferences, settling an estate or negotiating contracts.
When can you apply for US visa?
You can apply for a US visa up to six months prior to your intended date of travel. It is important that you give yourself a lot of time to secure an interview, preparethe documents and attend the interview.
Prepare your documents in right order:
You must provide the commonly required documents for US visa application with you, which support your application. These documents show the U.S Embassy that you qualify to get the B1 visa. Besides the standard required documents, your B1 visa application must contain the following additional documents:
- The Form DS-160 confirmation page and code
- The interview confirmation page
- Letter which describes the purpose of your trip
- Financial or bank statements to prove you have the finances to stay in the U.S
- Ties to your home country such as family, job contract, lease, or property deed, which prove you will return
- Criminal records or letter from authorities stating that you do not have prior convictions
- If you have visited the U.S before, bring documents relevant to your prior visits
- If you work, bring a letter from your employer and pay slips for the last three months
- A letter from the company detailing the purpose of the trip and your job position
Visa Application process:
Step 1:For Nonimmigrant Visa applicants: Determine your visa type by reading Common Nonimmigrant Visas. Each visa type explains the qualifications and application items. Choose the visa type that applies to your situation.
Step 2:The next step is to complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form. Make sure that you read the Guidelines for Completing the DS-160 Form carefully. All information must be correct and accurate.
Note: If denied visa previously please complete a new Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.
Step 3: Once you have determined the correct visa type and completed the DS-160, the next step is to pay the visa fee.
Step 4: You are almost ready to schedule your visa appointment! As part of the US visa application process, all applicants must schedule two appointments, one for the Visa Application Center (VAC) and one for the visa interview at the Embassy or Consulate.
The appointment at a Visa Application Center will allow you to have your fingerprints and photo taken at one of the five Visa Application Center locations. This appointment must be at least 1 day before your visa interview appointment at the Embassy or Consulate.
Second, schedule your visa interview appointment at the Embassy or Consulate. You will need three pieces of information in order to schedule your appointment:
- Your passport number
- The date you paid your fee
- The ten (10)-digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page
Note: As you go through the process, you will be able to select your visa type, enter personal data, add dependents, select your document delivery location, confirm visa payment, and schedule your appointment.
Validity & Stay period:
The B-1/B-2 Visa allows applicants to stay for a maximum period of 10 years, but each stay cannot exceed 6 months, unless asking for an extension of stay, thereby allowing the individual a stay of up to one year, upon demonstration that this period is necessary for pursuing the intended tourism or business. The maximum length of stay in the US on the visitor visa is subject to grant at a US port of entry on arrival.
Processing time:
The processing time for the US visitor visas is not exact. It can take a couple of weeks or a few months for your visa to be processed.
How can Akbar Travels help?
We have been helping our customers with the Visa process, for more than 40 years, and considering the knowledge of our experienced Visa experts, we assure that US Visa process will be more convenient than ever. Our main motto is Customer Satisfaction and hence, we are here to help you throughout the Visa process, while you relax without worries.
To find out more about US visa:
How to apply for a US Visa
Read about Tips to get US visa here
Reasons for US Visa Rejection
