Visitor Visas for U.S.

The United States offer two types of visitor visa: B-1 for business visitors and B-2 for tourists or visitors for pleasure.

Business visitors are people who visit the United States temporarily to look for new business opportunities, to meet with clients, to invest, or to advance existing business relationships. Business visitors from non Visa Waiver countries must apply for a B-1 visa at a U.S. Consulate abroad. Visitors from Visa Waiver countries must state their intentions for entering the United States either on the ESTA prior to travel, or when asked at the port of entry.

Visitors for pleasure or tourists to the United States need to apply for a B-2 visa.

To visit the United States, applicants must satisfy an immigration officer that they will return home at the end of their visit in the United States. For this they should demonstrate that they have sufficient ties to their home countries, such as a job, home and family, to ensure. Applicants must also demonstrate that they have sufficient funds for their stay and return to their home country.

Visa Waiver Countries

Below are countries that are current members of the Visa Waiver Program. If you are not a national holding a passpart (or travel document) of one of the countries below, you need to apply for a U.S. visa in advance.

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

More on the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)

The ESTA program determines a visitor’s eligibility to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. Citizens of Visa Waiver countries wishing to enter the U.S. are now required to provide their personal information via the ESTA automated system. ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel. However, it is recommended that travelers apply as early as possible, such as when they begin preparing travel plans.