Tag Archives: B1/B2 Visa

The U.S Department of State announced major changes to the Visa interview waiver policy in 2024. If you plan to study or work in the U.S or just visit, you need to hear this.

In this guide, you will learn what the announcement means and how it may affect you. This informative guide simplifies the recent changes to the 2024 Visa Interview Waiver Program, a crucial update for those looking to study, work, or reside in the USA.

This guide breaks down the new eligibility criteria, the application process, and what these changes mean for applicants. Whether renewing your visa or applying for the first time under this program, this comprehensive guide simplifies the process, ensuring you’re fully informed and prepared.

USA Visa Interview Waiver Policy Updates for 2024

After consulting the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State has determined that select categories of interview waivers are in the national interest. The policy applies to U.S non-immigrant visas.

These are visas issued to temporary visitors to the USA. The most common non-immigrant visas are:

• B1 and V2 visas for business, visitors, and tourists,
• F and M visas for students, and
• H visas for various workers.

There are many non-immigrant categories, but it won’t be listed to keep this guide short. Remember, the policy applies to all non-immigrant categories, unless noted.

Let’s review the rules quickly and break them down for different visa categories.

The changes are implemented by the consular officers, who now have the authority and discretion to waive the in-person interview. This means that the visa officers are deciding whether to waive your visa interview based on the guidelines we’re about to review.

However, the key takeaway is that they can still request an applicant who meets the visa waiver category to come in for an in-person interview.

• Criteria 1: Apply in your country of nationality or residence.

This means you’re applying in your country of citizenship or where you currently reside. For example, someone could be a citizen of India but work and live in Frankfurt, Germany. They can apply in India or Germany to qualify.

• Criteria 2: You’ve never been refused a visa unless such refusal was overcome or waived.

This means you’ve never been refused a visa or were initially rejected, but then approved later. For example, someone may have been denied on their first attempt, but have got their visa on their second attempt.

• Criteria 3: You have no apparent or potential eligibility.

This sounds vague, but what it really means is you don’t fall into select categories for which the U.S government doesn’t issue visas. These include individuals who may have criminal charges and may be a security risk or have violated immigration policies previously amongst others. This doesn’t apply to most cases.

On top of these three criteria, there are additional ones. Let’s review those in detail.

Remaining Criteria

• H-2 visa applicants.

You’re eligible for a visa waiver as long as you meet the first three criteria. For all other non-immigrant visa applicants, you must meet two additional criteria. They are:

You must have any U.S non-immigrant visa except a B visa. For example, you’ll qualify if you’re applying for an H-1B and have an F visa.

On the other hand, if you just have a B visa, you won’t qualify. For example, if you’re applying for an F1 visa and have a previous B1/B2 visa, you won’t be eligible for the interview waiver.

There is one slight nuance to it. Your last non-immigrant visa should be current or have expired no more than four years ago. This can get confusing, let’s take a look at three scenarios:

• If your last non-immigrant visa is active or has expired in 2021 or later, great news, you qualify.
• If your last non-immigrant visa has expired in 2019 or before, you don’t qualify.
• If your last non-immigrant visa expired in 2020, your expiration date should be after your potential visa appointment date.

For example, if your potential visa appointment date is on July first, 2024, your previous visa should not have expired before July first, 2020.

This cut-off date can get tricky, so if you fall into this category, you should put in your application immediately to improve your chances of qualifying for the interview waiver.

Also, it’s important to remember that the visa officers can still require you to come in. Finally, the US government can change this policy at any time. It’s likely to stick through the end of 2024.

That wraps up about the updates on the U.S visa interview waiver policy changes for 2024.

Some frequently asked questions about Visa Interview Waiver Policy Updates for 2024 and answers.

Question: Do you know if L1B (blanket petition) is also eligible for visa interview waiver in 2024?

Answer: It is a non-immigrant visa, so as long as applicants meet the criteria, they should qualify for an interview waiver.

Question: Is 352 days ban news true for refused f1 candidates?

Answer: This news is not official, check official website.

Disclaimer: This site is not owned by any U.S Government Agency or an Immigration attorney. The contents in the site is for informational purpose only, collected from various public domains. You may need to contact an Immigration Attorney for your specific immigration needs.

I hope this guide has been helpful to you. Thanks.

How can someone traveling to the United States of America through visiting (tourist) visa can change from visiting visa to another type of visa (Student Visa)? Let learn How to change tourist visa to student visa in USA.

This guide will focus on being a student, two types of students in this particular case.

How to change Tourist Visa to Student Visa in USA

It is one of the most frequently asked question that is, “if I come to the United States through visiting, can I find a way to change it from one visa type to another visa type?”

The answer is yes. There are legal procedures someone can be able to do that and it will explain in this guide.

If you are going to U.S on a visit via B1, B2 visa, when you go there, it depends on the duration given to stay in the United States, the visa duration. While you are there, you can apply to become a student, and being a student, there are two types of students.

There are Students who are seeking degree and students who are going to do what is called non-degree program. These two categories also determine two different types of visas or categories of students. They are as below:

• F1

F1 visa, which people talk about every time, because this is for people who are seeking degree.

When you travel to U.S, maybe you want to do bachelor’s degree or you go to community college, then bachelor’s degree, then you are going to do masters, doctorate, that is F1 student.

F1 student is an international student visa, which allows you to go to a university or college for a degree seeking program.

But what if you don’t want to get a degree? You are going to the vocational school. You are going to get what is called non-degree program.

Remember, in the United States, they don’t have something called diploma as a level of education like in other country. In U.S, diploma or certificate is called non-degree program.

So if you want to pursue what is called non-degree program, you are going to apply for M-visa, not F-1 visa, M1 visa.

• M-1

M-1 visa is a visa for a student or a person who wants to travel to U.S to pursue non-degree program or rather going to study what is called the vocational schools.

You attend flight school, cooking school (culinary school), study Cosmetology (the study and application of beauty treatment), etc. There are certain programs you are allowed to go and take those one. If you want to take the English-speaking one, even if it’s non-degree program, is not part of the M1, is going to be part of the F1, that is one of the categories which is different.

Note: Not all institutions are allowed to give you M1 visa because you can apply for non-degree program for this certificate, e.g cosmetology, but just going out there and just get admitted doesn’t give you the documentations, which you can be allowed to enroll to those particular schools.

Remember, there are some schools that are not allowed to have international students. So in order to avoid that, there is a list of vocational and non-degree institutions which is called M1 students, are allowed to go.

There is something called a student exchange visitor program. In that particular category, there is a website, which is the website of the Department of Homeland Security, which has the list of all institutions which are allowed to enroll people to get these programs and the universities or institutions in general.

Some might be community colleges. They can allow to take M1 and F1 non-degree and degree seeking students, and some can be independent institutions, not directed to be the college in particular.

To see the institutions which are allowed, proceed here.

If you go to apply to an institution which is not allowed, then you are not going to be allowed to be given the visa.

Note: On that particular case, there are no scholarships in most cases when we talk about the non-degree programs. You are going on your own to learn any of your desired skill (e.g cooking, culinary speciality school, chef school, study about photography, videography, filming, etc).

Most of those one are not having scholarships. What does that mean? It means if you want to go to study for non-degree program, you have to prove that you are able to pay for tuition fees, and to be able to cater your own living expenses.

People who are in M1, are they allowed also to work like F1 student?

Remember, if you are a degree seeking student, F1, you are allowed to work 20 hours per week. Yes, M1 also are allowed to work 20 hours per week. Also, they’re allowed to work on campus.

What does that mean? If it’s a school year, you work on campus, when it is out of school, the holiday, you can work off campus, you are allowed to do that. But when you are looking for institutions, is better to look for bigger institution. Because if you look like a smaller institution, maybe they might not have works opportunities on campus for international students or rather M1 students, so better to look for the institution like community colleges.

Below is a website that has the name of states, name of the programs. You can select a state and you can choose all the programs you want in that particular state you want to apply.

Even if where you are outside the United States or you are inside the United States, that is one of the way you can be able to change, is to apply to do every single procedures and you’ll be given I-20, the same I-20 like someone is international student, M1 student will be given the same I-20 and you can be able to convert from one visa to become a student, either non-degree seeking or degree seeking student.

This is very important thing you need to understand about M1 visa.

Disclaimer: This site is not owned by any U.S Government Agency or an Immigration attorney. The contents in the site is for informational purpose only, collected from various public domains. You may need to contact an Immigration Attorney for your specific immigration needs.

I hope this guide has been helpful to you. Thanks.

Do you want to make sure that your U.S visa application is approved at a U.S consulate abroad? This guide is going to take you through 5 things that you should not be saying or doing at your U.S visa interview, to make sure that you get approved.

What not to say at your U.S visa interview, in order to get yourself approved. If you do these 5 things, you might not get approved for your visa.

5 Things NOT to Say at Your U.S. Visa Interview in order to get APPROVED Visa

1. Not having a return ticket back to where you came from

You cannot go to get a non-immigrant visa at a consulate without making sure that you have a return ticket, a round trip ticket back to the country where you came from. Not necessarily has to be back to the country you came from, but it better be back to a country outside the United States.

You will not be issued a US visa to United States with a one-way ticket. If by chance you do get the visa, unlikely you’re going to get through Border Patrol, if you only have a one-way ticket. Because a one-way ticket implies that you are not leaving the United States, you’re going to stay in the United States longer than you should or permanently.

Make sure you have a round trip ticket booked and with you not only at your interview, but make sure when you’re entering the U.S, you have a round trip ticket.

2. Don’t show ties back to your home country

You must show you have ties back to your home country, the country you’re leaving from to go temporarily to the U.S. You must show them and prove to them that you have a reason to return back home, either family, bank accounts, job, property, businesses, something that ties you back home and the reason why you’re only temporarily going to stay in the United States.

If you don’t have ties to your home country, they’re going to make the assumption that you have no reason to come back and you have no reason to leave the U.S.

Therefore, unlikely that they’re going to prove your visa. Make sure you have ties and you bring proof of that to your interview.

3. Don’t mention U.S Citizens

Don’t talk about a U.S citizen, boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, or very immediate relative. If you have a U.S citizen boyfriend or girlfriend or fiancé or spouse or immediate relative in the United States, do not talk about that at your interview. If you’re asked, do not lie, but do not talk about that on purpose.

For example, “I’m going to the United States to visit my US citizen fiancée.”

That’s not a good idea to do. You do not want them to have any reason to believe that you are going to remain in the United States permanently because you have access to a U.S citizen person that could sponsor you for a green card when you arrive.

Therefore, it is not a good idea at a Visa interview to talk about your U.S citizen, spouse, partner, mother, brother, etc, don’t talk about them unless you’re asked. If you’re asked, you do not lie at any interview, you tell them the truth. But there’s no need to bring up that fact when you’re in your interview.

4. Don’t tell them you will be working in the United States

Unless the visa you’re actually applying for requires you to work. But if you are going into the U.S as a student or a visitor or someone who should not be working and is not authorized to work in the United States, you do not go into your visa interview telling them that you’re going to go work in the United States.

Even if you’re going to be working for your company abroad, even if you’re going to just be volunteering, you are not to be working in the United States on a visa that does not authorize you to work.

Do not talk about being in the United States working on any level unless there is a reason that you have to do it, that’s related to the actual visa. If not, and you’re not allowed to work because it is not authorized visa to allow you to work, then do not talk about anything that you’re going to work in the United States while you’re there.

5. Don’t say the word “I Don’t Know”

Uncertainty at a U.S Consulate Visa interview will set off alarm bells for them. Because if you’re not certain where you’re going, where you’re staying, what you’re doing, what you’re allowed to do, where you’re going to work, what your job is going to be, where you’re going to perform, all these things are critical to show that you understand the parameters of the visa that they’re going to be issuing you, and what you can and can’t do.

Also, it shows that you understand why you’re getting the visa, and it shows that their credibility behind the actual application that was filed on your behalf.

If you are a recipient of an “O visa application”, Extraordinary Ability Visa application, and you go in and you have no idea, where you’re performing, what you’re doing, and you say that you’re a guitarist and you’re applied for as a backup singer, that is not going to work. That uncertainty is going to cause you problems at a U.S visa interview.

Make sure you do some homework before you walk into that interview and know the parameters of the type of visa that you’re applying for, and make sure that you know where you’re staying, what you’re doing, what you’re allowed to do, how much money you need, what is your itinerary, what is the name of your employer, the address of your employer and where you’re going to be staying.

All those things you need to know and be very certain of when you walk into that U.S visa interview. The words I don’t know is not a good one to put out there at a U.S consulate interview.

Those are 5 things that you should not do at a U.S visa interview in order to make sure that you get approved.

There’s lots of other things that you shouldn’t be doing or you should be doing, but those are top five. Those are basics that you have to be aware of when you walk into that visa interview. Make sure you don’t do any of those things. You get prepared, you do your homework, you talk to the attorney that helped you, etc.

I hope this was helpful. Good luck to you all out there.

Source: Szew Law Group

DISCLAIMER: This guide and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. The information in this guide should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. the information presented in this guide does not create an attorney/client relationship nor is it a solicitation to offer legal advice.

This guide will help you with all the tips that you need on how to increase your chance of getting your U.S B1/B2 visa approved. You will also learn three (3) important things you must do to get your visa approved, which no one will tell you.

B1 B2 visas are visas that give you temporary stay in the United States for purposes such as visas for vacation, graduation, funeral, medication, business trips, conferences, etc.

It is a visa category that is easy to get, but it’s not for everybody because of the cost involved. It is not just about the cost involved as in getting the visa, but the cost involving the entire process of getting your B1/B2 visa and traveling.

Whenever you appear for your B1/B2 visa interview, you must really prove to the consular that you really need the visa. There’s a good reason for you to get the visa for whatever purpose, which will be explained in this guide.

How to increase your chance of getting U.S B1/B2 visa approved

• What is your purpose of visit?

The first thing to do to increase your chance of getting your visa is to establish clearly your purpose of travel.

When asked, “Why are you coming to the U.S?” Don’t just say this,

• For a visit.
• I’m come to visit my friend.
• I’m come to visit my auntie.
• I’m come to visit my brother.
• I have a friend I met on Facebook, I have a girlfriend, I have a boyfriend, I’m come to visit.

That is not enough because you cannot just stand up and say I’m come to visit somebody. So the purpose of the visit is key.

Yes, you are coming to visit but what is the purpose of the visit?

So it is not just telling the consular, “I’m going to visit”, visit to do what? That is the question you must ask yourself, what is the purpose of visit?

For example,

(i) You want to visit your friend who is celebrating his birthday. Maybe it’s been a while, you guys have connected and since it is his birthday, he’s doing a birthday party. He has invited you to attend his birthday party. That is the purpose of the visit.

(ii) You are coming to visit your auntie because you have a leave from work and as a result you want to take a vacation, go somewhere to relax and rest your mind before you resume work. So you spoke to your auntie and she is willing to welcome you to visit, to tour some parts in U.S such as Florida, Orlando. That is the reason and purpose of your visit.

So when you go for your U.S interview, it is not enough to say you are coming to visit, add the purpose, the reason for the visit, your brother or your sister may be doing his or her wedding and she has invited you to her wedding.

So in this case the purpose is to attend your sister’s wedding to be the maid of Hannah or the best man or to help your sister in the preparation and also aftermath of the wedding.

You have a leave from work and you have decided to visit your sister and attend his wedding. That is the purpose of the visit.

So you must always be clear, have a purpose, e.g you’re coming for graduation, that is a clear purpose. Even that you must justify that you have a brother, you have a sister, you have a son, you have a daughter who is doing his graduation and he has invited you.

Your son did well in school, he’s going to receive a lot of award and it should be an honor for you to be there to support him and to celebrate with your son. This is a reason, this is a purpose for travel.

You are coming to visit your boyfriend or your girlfriend because you guys are planning to marry but you have not had the opportunity to meet his or her family. Going to use this opportunity to visit him, meet his family and plan your wedding since your wedding will take place in your home country.

So it will be good to meet his or her family before you return and come and prepare for your wedding. This is a purpose, this is a reason for your visitor, make sure you are clear on that.

• Proof of funds

The second thing is to establish that you have enough funds. Stating that you have enough fund is not just what is in your bank statement or who is sponsoring you. It is about who you are, what you do.

Reason:

Usually, when you go for the interview, consular want to know whether you are financially viable, capable to sponsor the trip. There are some people who are being sponsored by their auntie, their uncle, their boyfriend, or their girlfriends, who are already in the U.S.

The consulate concerned is that they don’t care about who is sponsoring you because they know the person might be able to sponsor you.

What they care is that, assuming you get your visa and you get to U.S and something happened, the person you are coming to visit is not there or you come and something happened that you need to go and load in a hotel. You need two or three days to lodge in a hotel to prepare yourself or there’s an emergency.

You need to take care whilst you are in the U.S. What will you do?

So it is not enough to say this person is sponsoring me, or that person is sponsoring me, it is important to also show that even though somebody is sponsoring you, you are also financially viable. Because the consular is not want a situation where you come to the U.S and you become a burden.

They are also trying to avoid people who are trying to run away from your home country to the U.S, through the B1/B2 visa.

This is where you explain that you are doing something meaningful, something that will bring you money, you have money or you earn money on your own, you don’t need to leave your country to be okay.

Sometimes the consular have that mindset that, as soon as you are leaving, you won’t come back. The consular want to know who you are. Your uncle is sponsoring you, your sister is sponsoring your aunt, your boyfriend is sponsoring you.

But in case you come and something happened, do you have the means to support yourself? Will your financial situation now affect or compel you to overstay, compel you to find your way out when you come to the U.S?

This is what it means to say you are proving you have enough fund. Because it is really expensive to travel to the U.S for a vacation.

This is something people will not tell you because that is the fact.

• Strong Ties To Home Country

The third thing to do to increase your chances of getting your visa is to establish that you have plans to return to your home country. There are so many ways to do that.

Here you explain it to the consular, who you are, what you do and why you will come back.

You are a lecturer, you are a professor, you are doing your business, you have your children in your country, you have your husband in your country, you have your parents in your country, you have a property. There’s something that connects you.

Here you can prove anything, use anything that will connect you to your home country. You can use it to prove, except that sometimes you have to even go beyond reasonable doubt to show that you come. Because if you say you have an asset, you have a car, the consular know that when you travel you can sell your asset, you can sell those things.

So it is not enough to say I have a car, I have a land. They know that it can be converted into cash soon and whenever you want.

It is important to use what you do, whatever you are doing, you are engaging something. You are taking care of your parents, married, your children in your country, there’s something that connects you to your home country.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information and educational purposes only, and is NOT legal advice. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice. If you need legal advice, you may contact a licensed attorney.

In this guide, you we will learn 5 visa application mistakes to avoid. These are the mistakes that may lead to your VISA denial. Avoid these mistakes, and your U.S VISAS (B1/B2, F1) will be approved.

Many people get their visas refused because they make avoidable mistakes. Below are some important things we need to avoid and what we need to do to get our visa approved and overcome multiple visa rejections.

5 visa application mistakes to avoid

1. Information mismatch

Your visa can be rejected because the information you provided on the DS-160 form do not match with what you give as a response in the interview room. For example, on the DS-160 form, there is a question, who is paying for the trip?

If you select self and during the interview you are asked who is sponsoring your trip? And you say your uncle or your sister or your parent or whoever that is not you, it is going to affect your visa approval.

Many people think that on the DS-160 form, when they ask them who is paying for the trip, they are asking of flight tickets. So they put self on the DS-160 form and when they go for the interview they show a different bank statement that is not even for them.

When you do that, your visa can be rejected.

If you are going for B1/B2 visa, make sure that whoever is sponsoring you is what you put on the DS-160. If you are going for F1 visa as a student, make sure that whatever you put on your DS-160 form as your sponsor matches with whoever is your sponsor on your I-20 and the information you give during the interview.

Another mistake with regards to mismatch of information is, on the DS-160 form there is a question about length of stay in the United States. If you choose three weeks, it means that you are going to stay in the United States for three weeks.

You get to the interview room and they ask you how long will you be staying? And you say you’ll be staying for two weeks or two months. That is a mismatch of information and it is going to affect your vessel approval.

Make sure that the information you put on the DS-160 form will match with the responses you gave during the interview. This is a very common mistake that affects a lot of people and affect their visa approval.

2. Lack of strong purpose of Travel

When you appear for the interview, the first question they usually ask is your purpose of traveling to the United States? Mind you, whatever answer you give will determine the follow up questions and the flow of the interview from them.

If you are not able to give a very strong and clear reason for your travel, you won’t get your visa.

It’s not just enough to say I am going to the U.S to visit my friend or family, speak to why you are going to visit them and why you need to visit them.

Maybe you are going because your sister is doing her wedding and it’s been a long time you met your sister and as a family member, you need to be there as part of your tradition. You must be part of your sister’s wedding.

If you are a student, it is not enough to say you are going to U.S or you are going to this school to study, speak to why you need that program and why you even selected that school in U.S.

Speak to the why because why is very important than just giving a flat answer.

If you are going for a conference, speak to why you are going for a conference. It is not just I am going to the U.S to attend a conference, no.

Say: “I am going to the U.S to attend a conference, and this is because, as part of my work requirements, I am required to attend this conference for my promotion, or I am required to attend this conference to learn the skills or to report this or that to the board members of the organization.

I am required to attend this conference in order to acquire the knowledge, skills and bring it back for the organization.”

It is not just enough to say I am going for a conference, speak to the why.

There are a lot of people who want to go to the United States, so your raising must be unique, your raising must be different, your raising must come out and it must show to the consular that you really need to come to the United States for your studies, for your visit or for your conference.

It is very important get a clear purpose and a strong reason for your travel.

3. Incomplete details and errors on DS-160 form.

The DS-160 form is your visa application form that has all your details for your visa approval. It is a very important document in the application process.

You must always make sure that you respond to all the questions on the DS-160 form correctly, and you must avoid any error, be it spelling or typo errors on the DS-160 form.

Also, information you put on the DS-160 form must agree with the story you tell at the embassy. You must always make sure you can defend any information that you put on the DS-160 form.

If someone fills your DS-160 form for you, make sure you go through every bit of it yourself been submitted.

When you make errors or when you don’t complete the DS-160 form in the way that you should, it leaves a red flag even on your profile and the visa’s officers do not have time to spend and ask you why this or why that. Because a lot of people are in the queue and they may flag you out and they give you the denial.

All the time they will give you the 214(b) paper telling you that you did not prove your ties back home. No, there are sometimes the reason does not have to do with ties back home, it has to do with your DS-160 form.

You must always correct it. Always make sure you know what is being put there. You know why you are putting this there. You can defend it. You avoid errors in your name, you avoid typing mistakes, you avoid spelling error and you write good and clear English.

4. Lack of ties to home country

This is one of the popular reasons for visa rejection. You must always, all the time make the consular believe that you will come back after your trip to the U.S or after your studies. Do not expect the consular to ask you if you will come back or not.

So make sure that in every question that they ask you, you connected to your ties back home. It is always important to get a good reason to convince the consular that you will come back after your trip or after your studies.

Mind you, they will not ask you. It is not all the time that they will ask whether you come back or not. Don’t expect them to ask you before you say it. Show it, prove it. Let them move through your response.

5. Don’t prepare with internet questions and answers by copying them

It is always good to prepare before you go for your interview. For example, watching videos on youtube and reading around to get a general overview about how some questions are being asked and how people answer them.

But let these always guide you. Always let your unique self and story show in the responses you give to the consular. So do not copy answers that people give for yourself.

However, speak to your own story and uniqueness. When you copy answers given by others, it may not speak to your story and make you unique and that will affect your visa approval.

The consular hear a lot of these responses. What is unique about yours?

Don’t just copy answers people give on the internet. Copy suggested answers for yourself. Let it guide you and help you to form and shape your own answers that meets your unique situations and stories for your visa interview.

Thank you so much for reading this guide (5 visa application mistakes to avoid).

In this guide we will learn those documents required for B1/B2 U.S Visa Interview. All the B1/B2 documents checklist for U.S Visa Interview, that will make you successful.

B1/B2 visas are temporary visits that allow you to travel to the United States for visit, for tourism, for conference, for funerals, for graduation, for medication, for business meetings and so on. If you are applying to travel to U.S for any of these categories, you will need B1/B2 Visa.

Documents Required for B1/B2 U.S Visa Interview

If you are preparing for your U.S Visa Interview, make sure to check these B1/B2 documents checklist which have grouped this into two-part, primary documents and secondary documents checklist for B1/B2 visa applications.

Primary documents checklist for B1/B2 visa applications

Below are the primary document that you will need for B1/B2 visa.

1. Passport

You will need a passport that is valid for at least six months.

2. DS160 Confirmation Page

When you filled out and submitted your visa application form, you receive a confirmation of submission. You must always print this page and add it to your documents.

3. Visa Fee Receipt

You should always go with your visa application fee payment receipt.

4. Photo

You must upload this photo during your application, but if you are unable to do so, you must get copies or hard copies of these photos with you when you are going for your interview.

Even if you were able to upload your photo during your application form, make sure you take some photos with you when you are going for your interview.

Secondary documents checklist for B1/B2 visa applications

Supporting documents are documents that you will need to prove your purpose of travel to the United States, your financial support, and your ties back home. Below are this document:

1. Documents for purpose of traveling

(i) Invitation Letter: For purpose of travel, we are talking about invitation letters from the person you are going to visit. If it is a conference, you will still need an invitation letter from the organizers of the conference.

(ii) You will need an itinerary: This is a list of your activities in the United States. If you are going for a visit, you can type and print all the places you would want to visit and add it to your documents. If you are going for a conference, you will need a brochure or the program outline of the conference.

(iii) Accommodation reservation: This details where you will stay while in the United States. Usually this should be part of your invitation letter. But if you are going for your own tourists, assuming no one is inviting or you are not going for a conference and you are going for your own vacation and tourist, you will need a hotel reservation.

(iv) Photo I.D of Invitee: The next document is photo ID of the person you are visiting. If the person you are visiting is a U.S Citizen, you will need his/her ID page of his/her passport.

If the person is a green card holder, you need a photocopy or scanned copy of his green card front and back. Or if the person is in U.S on a visa, like an F1 visa, you are coming for graduation, you will need a passport ID page and the visa page of the person you are visiting.

2. Financial Support Documents

Financial support documents are documents that prove your ability to support your trip. These documents are:

• Bank statements, if you are sponsoring yourself
• An affidavit of support, if your sponsor is in the U.S.
• Letters of sponsorship, if you are going for a conference and any means of proof of funds that you have document to prove.

3. Documents to prove home ties

These are documents that will show that you will come back after your visit or your conference in the United States. Below are the documents:

• Employment letters, if you are employed, you need your employment letter.
• Leave letter i.e a letter from your employer or organization stating that you are on leave and you are using that leave for your visit in the U.S or you are going for a conference.
• School letter: You will also need letters from schools or school registration documents, if you are a student.
• Business or financial documents: You will need businesses and financial documents to prove your asset and your ties back home.

Sometimes you also need some family documents such as marriage certificates and pictures. Also, remember to include any other documents you believe can help your case.

This guide has answered the question, what document should I bring to a US B1 B2 visa interview? Because this is all the documents you need for your B1/B2 visa application. Always remember to prepare well to go for your interview.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information and educational purposes only, and is NOT legal advice. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice. If you need legal advice, you may contact a licensed attorney.

Tourist visa is a visa that allows you to visit a country for a short time on holiday. If you have a valid U.S tourist visa or one that expired within the last four years, you may be able to renew it by mail.

Tourism is an integral part of economic development across the world. However, most people traveling to foreign countries need to apply for a tourist visa.

What Is a Tourist Visa?

Tourist visas are official travel documents issued to foreign visitors for leisure purposes. For example, if you are from Ghana and want to visit the U.S, you need to apply for a tourist visa. Every country regulates its visa policy for tourists, and their corresponding embassies and consulates will help you obtain a visa for short-term visits.

B2 visitor visa can also be referred to as Tourist visa. B-2 visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons traveling to United States temporarily for tourism, pleasure or visiting.

A foreign national traveling to the United States for tourism needs a visitor visa (B-2) unless qualifying for entry under the Visa Waiver Program. Tourism is a short visit for vacation, for visiting family and friends, or for medical treatment.

How to renew tourist visa by mail

According to U.S Embassy Ghana verified twitter account:

“More good visa news! If you have a valid tourist visa or one that expired within the last four years, you may be able to renew it by mail. That takes less than a month. To see if you qualify, visit: https://bit.ly/InterviewWaiver”

The above information was published at the U.S Embassy Ghana verified twitter account on October 28, 2022.

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Accra is responsible for providing visa services to those seeking to enter the United States for a temporary period and for those wishing to take up indefinite or permanent residence in the United States.

Eventually immigrant visa applicants can share in this exciting visa updates. Until then fingers crossed.

Tourist Visa Guidelines

While you are visiting a foreign country under a tourist visa, you must keep in mind the following rules:

• You cannot work with a tourist visa.
• You cannot do business under a tourist visa.
• You cannot study while you have a tourist visa.
• You cannot become a permanent resident with a tourist visa.

How to Apply for a Tourist Visa?

To apply for a tourist visa, you need to follow these steps:

• Locate an embassy/consulate in your country of residence.
• Assemble the documents required.
• Pay the required tourist visa fee to the embassy/consulate.
• Attend the visa interview.

Some embassies require you to pay the fee before attending the visa interview, while others may ask to pay the same day. Don’t pay money or make any payment to any person, unless the embassy/consulate.

Is it possible to renew a tourist visa?

You must renew your visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Only diplomatic visa holders and their dependents may renew them in the United States.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice. If you need legal advice, you may contact a licensed attorney.

In guide, you will learn five Tips on How To Get Your B1/B2 Visa Approved.

Benefit of the B1/B2 Visa

The B1/B2 Visa is also known as a Visitor Visa, and it can allow you to either enter to Conduct Various Business Activities or To Act as a Tourist in U.S.

Another benefit of the B1/B2 Visa is that it can oftentimes allow you to stay in the United States for Up To Six Months at a Time.

5 Tips to Help You Get Your B1/B2 Visa Approved

Let now look at the five Tips on How to Have Success with Your B1/B2 Visa Application.

• TIP 1: Make Sure That You Have Very Strong Ties To Your Home Country.

For example: When you go in for your B1/B2 Visa Interview, the Immigration Officer is required to presume that you are an Intending Immigrant. What that means is that they are required to initially believe that you are planning to go to The United States and to stay there permanently.

It is your duty to show them that You Do Plan to Return To Your Home Country. The way that you can show that you Plan to Return to Your Home Country is by showing that you Have Strong Ties To Your Home Country.

Some Examples of Strong Ties to Your Home Country include;

• showing that You Have A Home Or An Apartment In Your Home Country,
• showing that You Have A Business In Your Home Country or A Job In Your Home Country,
• showing that You Pay Taxes In Your Home Country,
• that you have Family In Your Home Country,
• that you have a Bank Account in Your Home Country.

All of these different things can help to show that you have strong Ties to Your Home Country. When an Immigration Officer sees that, they’re more likely to believe that you do Truly Believe to Return To Your Home Country and that you’re Not Planning On Staying In The United States Permanently.

• TIP 2: Make Sure That You Have Enough Money In Your Bank Account to Cover The Expenses Of Your Trip

When you’re in the United States on a B1/B2 Visa, you are not allowed to Work. So when you go in for your B1/B2 Visa interview, the Officer is going to want to make sure that you have Enough Money to Cover the Expenses of your Trip.

Otherwise, they’re going to think that you’re going to the United States to Unlawfully Work. So make sure to have Documentation showing that you have Enough Money in your Bank Account to Cover the Expenses of your Trip.

If your trip expenses are going to be very Minimal because. For Example, you’re going to be staying with a Friend or Family Member, then be sure to have Documentation to prove that.

• Tip 3: Make sure to have documentation to prove the reason that you’re coming to the United States.

For example, if you’re coming to the United States to visit Disneyland, it would be great to have an itinerary for what you’re planning on doing in the United States.

Perhaps having tickets purchased for Disneyland or having a hotel booked in Orlando, similar such documents.

If you’re planning on coming to the United States to attend a business conference, you should have an invitation for that conference or tickets booked for that conference.

Those documents are going to be very helpful to prove that the reason that you’re coming to the United States is in fact, to do that activity that you’re letting them know that you plan to do.

• Tip 4: Be prepared to explain your relationships with people in the United States

During your B1/B2 visa interview, they’re going to ask you whether you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend in the United States or whether you have a parent or a sibling or a child that could potentially sponsor you for a green card.

The reason that they’re asking you this question is to determine whether you’re coming to the United States and then that you plan to stay in the United States and have them petition, for you to have a green card.

So it’s up to you to be able to explain to them that although you’re entering the United States and that you have a relationship with somebody that could potentially sponsor you that is not your plan.

Just tell them you’re just planning on coming for that conference or for that tourism purpose, and that you’re going to be leaving after that initial purpose of your trip is accomplished.

• Tip 5: Be very careful about the information and the content that’s on your phone.

Immigration officers, particularly Customs and Border Protection, may check your phones to search for potentially problematic information. Make sure that you have nothing on your phone that could potentially be misconstrued by an immigration officer to think that you’re planning on coming to the United States for some type of an impermissible purpose.

So make sure that your phone doesn’t have any sort of problematic information that could potentially be misconstrued by an immigration officer.

Those are 5 tips to help you have a successful outcome on your B1/B2 visa.

I hope you found this guide extremely helpful. If you know anybody that could benefit from this information, definitely make sure to share this guide with them.

Thank you so much for reading into this guide(How to get your B1/B2 visa approved).

DISCLAIMER: This guide and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. The information presented in this guide should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. The information presented in this guide does not create an attorney-client relationship nor is it a solicitation to offer legal advice. If you need legal advice, you may contact an attorney.