All applicants for a B-2 visitor visa will be required to fill out a Form DS-156. Male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45 and any applicant over the age of 16 from state sponsors of terrorism must also complete a Form DS-157. This form provides additional information on your travel plans.
A passport with at least six months of validity past the period of intended stay in the United States is required for each visitor visa application. The passport must be valid for travel to the United States.
Visa applications require an unmounted, full-face photograph cropped to a 2-by-2-inch size. The photo background must be white or off-white, and the applicant should refrain from wearing head coverings or eyeglasses unless required for religious or medical reasons. Each photo must be no older than six months and should be stapled or glued to the Form DS-156.
Applicants must supply documentation showing the purpose of their visit to the United States as well as departure information and proof of adequate funds to cover the cost of the trip. Each U.S. consulate will have particular requirements for these documents.
The B-2 visa application process involves an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The primary purpose of the visa interview is to establish that the applicant has adequate ties to his or her home country to return after a visit to the United States. At the interview, digital fingerprints will be taken and the information on the application verified.
Visa application processing fees should be paid prior to the interview. A receipt of payment will be required as part of the interview process. Applicants from certain countries will need to pay a visa issuance fee upon completion of the application process. The Department of State website maintains a current listing of all required fees.
