Business or Tourist Travelers
The tourist visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B1), pleasure, or medical treatment (B2). If the purpose of travel is to consult with business associates, travel for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention or conference, settle an estate, or negotiate a contract, or if the purpose of travel is recreational in nature, including tourism, amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, and activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature, then travelers must apply for a tourist visa.
B1 or B2 applicants must show that they qualify under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The presumption in the law is that every visitor visa applicant is an intending immigrant. Therefore, applicants must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that:
- The purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S. for business, pleasure, or medical treatment.
- They plan to remain in the U.S. for a limited period of time.
- They have funds to cover expenses in the United States.
- They have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties which will insure their return to their country at the end of the visit. There is no specific list of criteria that constitutes binding ties, and it is up to each applicant to explain those ties. Binding ties generally refer to family, social, economic, and other ties.
After scheduling an appointment with the Call Center, persons traveling on urgent business may request an expedited appointment .