Before you start — check if you need a B-2 visa
Not everyone needs to go through this process. Citizens of 42 countries in the US Visa Waiver Program — including the UK, most of Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Korea — use ESTA instead: a quick $21 online form, no interview. If your country is in the VWP, read the ESTA guide instead.
If your country is not in the VWP — including India, Nigeria, Mexico, Philippines, Brazil, Colombia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, and Ghana — you need the B-2 visa. This guide is for you.
Here is the full process at a glance:
Step 1 — Fill out Form DS-160
Complete Form DS-160 online
ceac.state.gov · takes 30–60 minutes
The DS-160 is the official US nonimmigrant visa application form. Fill it out at ceac.state.gov, upload a photo, and submit electronically. Then print the confirmation page with barcode — you must bring this to your interview.
Plain English — DS-160
A detailed background form asking about your personal details, travel history, employment, family, and purpose of visit. Takes about 45 minutes. The system times out after 20 minutes of inactivity — save your application ID when you start so you can return to it.
The trickiest DS-160 fields — explained
⚠ What can go wrong at Step 1
Session timeout: The DS-160 system times out after 20 minutes of inactivity. Always note your application ID when you start. Inconsistency with interview answers: The officer reads your DS-160 before you speak. Every answer at the interview must match what you wrote. Review it the night before your interview.
✓ Pro tip
Complete the DS-160 in one sitting if possible. After submitting, save or print the confirmation page immediately — the barcode is scanned at your interview. Do not start a new form if you need to return; use your application ID to retrieve the existing one.
Step 2 — Pay the application fee
Pay the MRV fee — $185 USD
Payment method varies by country — check your embassy website
The Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee of $185 USD is paid before you can book your interview. This fee is non-refundable — even if your visa is denied.
How to pay depends on your country. Common methods include bank deposit at a designated local bank (India, Nigeria, Philippines), online payment via the US Travel Docs portal (ustraveldocs.com), or cash at an embassy cashier. After paying you receive a payment receipt or confirmation number — you need this to book your interview slot.
The $250 visa integrity fee — new from FY2025
Starting in fiscal year 2025, most B-1/B-2 visa applicants must also pay a $250 visa integrity fee in addition to the $185 MRV fee. This fee is non-waivable and is paid separately during the application process.
⚠ What can go wrong at Step 2
Losing the receipt: You cannot book an interview without the payment receipt number. Keep it saved in email, screenshot, and printed. Third-party payment sites: Always pay via your country's official US Travel Docs page — third-party payment sites are scams.
Step 3 — Book your interview appointment
Schedule your embassy interview
Book as early as possible — wait times vary from weeks to over a year
After paying the fee, book your interview at the US Embassy or Consulate nearest to you via your country's US Travel Docs portal. You will need your DS-160 confirmation number, payment receipt, and passport details.
Wait times by country — May 2026
- India (Mumbai, New Delhi): 6–9+ months
- Colombia (Bogotá): ~10 months
- Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi): 9–11 months
- Nigeria (Lagos, Abuja): 7–9 months
- Mexico (Mexico City): up to 10 months — Monterrey & Tijuana much shorter
- Brazil (São Paulo): 3–4 months
- China, Vietnam, Turkey: 2–4 months
- South Africa, Kenya: under 1 month
See the full wait times guide for slot-hunting strategies, country-specific tips, and how to get an earlier appointment.
✓ Slot hunting tip
Check the scheduling portal early morning local time — embassies release new slots overnight. In India, large batches of 250,000+ slots are sometimes released at once. Set a daily alarm and check at the same time every morning.
Step 4 — Gather your documents
Prepare your document package
Required + supporting documents — organised before the day
Documents serve two purposes: required ones prove your identity and that you filed correctly; supporting ones are evidence that you will return home. The supporting documents are the ones that actually decide your application.
Required — every applicant
- Valid passportMust be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay in the US.
- DS-160 confirmation pageThe printed page with the barcode from Step 1.
- Interview appointment confirmationPrinted from the scheduling system.
- MRV fee receiptProof you paid the $185 fee.
- Recent photograph2×2 inches, white background, taken within the last 6 months. Bring a printed copy even though you uploaded one for DS-160.
Supporting — employed applicants
- Employer letter on company letterheadShowing your job title, salary, length of employment, and approved leave for the trip.
- Last 3 months payslips
- Bank statements — last 3–6 monthsShowing regular income and enough savings for the trip. Avoid sudden large deposits just before applying.
- Property documentsIf you own a home or land — title deed, sale deed, or property tax receipt.
Supporting — retired, student, homemaker
- Retired: Pension statements, property documents, proof of dependents at home
- Student: University enrollment letter showing next semester dates, parent financial support letter
- Homemaker: Spouse's employment letter and payslips, joint bank statements, children's school enrollment
See the full strong ties without a job guide for your specific situation.
Supporting — travel documents
- Hotel booking or host invitation letterIncluding their US address if staying with family.
- Return flight bookingOr a flexible itinerary from a travel agent. Do not book non-refundable tickets before visa approval.
- Previous US visas or stampsShows you have complied with US visa terms before — a significant positive.
- UK, Schengen, Canada, or Australia visasShows you have obtained and complied with other strict visa regimes.
⚠ What can go wrong at Step 4
Fake documents: Never submit falsified employer letters, fake bank statements, or fabricated property documents. Officers are trained to spot them. Results in a permanent ban. Staging bank accounts: Depositing a large lump sum just before applying raises red flags. Officers look for consistent income history over months, not sudden spikes.
Step 5 — Attend your visa interview
The embassy interview
3–5 minutes · the most important part of the whole process
The interview itself is short — typically 3–5 minutes — but those minutes matter more than anything else in the process. The officer has one core question in mind throughout: "Will this person come back?"
What to expect on the day
- Arrive 15–20 minutes early. Bring all documents in an organised folder.
- Go through security — no phones or electronics inside most embassies. Check your specific embassy's rules beforehand.
- Submit your documents at a window and provide biometrics (fingerprints). This is not the interview — it is processing.
- Wait to be called to the interview window. You will speak to the consular officer through a glass partition.
- The officer asks 5–8 questions about your purpose, finances, ties to your home country, and travel plans.
- The officer tells you the outcome — approved, pending (221g administrative processing), or denied — at the end of the interview.
What "strong ties" sounds like in the interview
Weak: "I will come back after 2 weeks."
Strong: "I return on the 18th — I have a product launch at work on the 21st, my daughter's school term starts that week, and our mortgage payment is due at month end." Specifics signal truth. Vagueness signals doubt.
For full coaching on all 15 common interview questions — with weak answer examples, strong answer scripts, and the officer psychology behind each — read the complete interview coaching guide.
✓ On the day
Dress neatly — business casual at minimum. Speak clearly and make eye contact. Answer the question asked, then stop. Over-explaining can introduce new concerns the officer wasn't focused on. If you don't understand a question, politely ask the officer to repeat it.
⚠ What can go wrong at Step 5
Answers that contradict your DS-160: The officer reads your form before you arrive. If you said one thing on the form and say something different in the interview, it raises a red flag. Review your DS-160 the night before.
Step 6 — Receive your visa
Passport returned with visa stamp
3–7 business days after approval, by courier or collection
If your visa is approved at the interview, the officer takes your passport. It is returned to you within a few business days with the visa stamp inside.
Three possible outcomes at the interview
- Approved: Passport taken for stamping, returned within 3–7 business days by courier or collection.
- Administrative processing (221g): Not a denial — your application requires further checks. Passport may be held for weeks or months. Check status at ceac.state.gov.
- Denied: You receive a denial letter stating the reason — most commonly 214(b). You can reapply. Read the full denial guide before doing so.
When you receive your passport — check immediately
- Your name — spelled correctly and matching your passport exactly
- Visa validity dates — start and end dates of when you can use it to enter the US
- Number of entries — most B-2 visas are multiple entry (M)
- Visa category — should say B1, B2, or B1/B2
After you arrive in the US — check your I-94
When you enter the US, a CBP officer creates your I-94 record — this is the date you must leave by, usually 6 months from entry but can be less. Always check it at i94.cbp.dhs.gov within a day or two of arriving. Your visa stamp tells you when you can enter — your I-94 tells you when you must leave. These are two different things.
Total cost breakdown — 2026
| Fee | Amount |
| DS-160 form | Free |
| MRV application fee | $185 USD |
| Visa integrity fee (most applicants, FY2025+) | $250 USD |
| Visa issuance fee (if applicable to your nationality) | Varies — check your embassy |
| Typical total | $435–$500+ USD |
Both the $185 MRV fee and $250 integrity fee are non-refundable if your visa is denied.
How long does the whole process take?
The timeline depends almost entirely on how long the interview queue is in your country:
Day 1
Complete DS-160. Pay fee. Book the earliest available interview slot immediately.
Days 2–7
Gather your documents. Prepare your interview answers. Read the interview guide.
Weeks to months later
Your interview date arrives. The interview itself takes 3–5 minutes.
3–7 business days after interview
If approved, your passport is returned with the visa stamp. If in administrative processing, this can take weeks to months.
Visa in hand
Now you can book flights and accommodation. Not before.