The Easy Way to Get an American Visa
If you are a foreign national who wants to enter the United States for an extended period of time, you must apply for a visitor visa. A visa can be obtained for work, tourism or medical reasons. If you are traveling for work, apply for a B-1 business-visitor visa. If you are traveling for pleasure or for medical reasons, apply for a B-2 visitor visa. Due to tighter security and scrutiny over who is entering the United States, there is no easy way to get a U.S. visa except to follow the standard procedures outlined by the U.S. State Department.
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Things You'll Need
- Valid passport
- Form DS-160
- 2-by-2 photograph of applicant
- Application fee
- Reciprocity fee (varies by country)
- Supporting documents
Instructions
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Call the U.S. Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over place home of permanent residence to make your appointment for an interview. Anyone ages 14 to 79 must be interviewed as part of the visa-application process. Contact your local U.S. embassy for the forms and specific procedures for scheduling your interview.
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Gather papers and documentation needed for the interview. Fill out Form DS-160 and bring a passport that is valid for at least six months after your visit. You will also have to supply a 2-by-2 photograph (see Resources for more photograph requirements). At the interview a digital scan of your fingerprint will be taken.
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Pay the processing fee for the visa application. At your interview you must show a receipt to prove you paid the fee.
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Pay the visa-issuance fee, also called a reciprocity fee. The amount of the fee varies by country (see Resources for specific fee amounts).
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State your reason for the trip and the extended visa, such as a business trip, tourism or medical reasons. Provide evidence that you can financially support your stay either by your own means, such a bank account, or through a sponsor who will financially support you. If you are traveling for medical reasons, present a letter from your doctor explaining your condition and why treatment in the United States is necessary. Also obtain a letter from the U.S. physician who has agreed to treat you; this letter should state the expected length of stay and cost of treatment.
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Attend the hearing on your visa application. Explain to the judge why you are requesting a visa. Prove that you are only visiting the United States and do not intend to immigrate. The U.S. State Department recommends that you present a return ticket to your home country as part of this evidence.
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References
Resources
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