Written by Eric Chambers from our Las Vegas, NV location. Call us today if you need any guidance with this process.

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If you are thinking of traveling to the United States for tourism, you will need to get a travel visa. The only time this is not necessary is when you are a citizen of a visa waiver member. In these cases, an ESTA visa will be required.

The Travel Visa You Need

Before you can apply for a travel visa, you need to know about the type of visa you are getting. There are 2 visas that you could apply for and they are the B-1 and the B-2. The B-1 visa is a business travel visa and allows you to attend conferences, consult with business associates and settle an estate.

The B-2 visa is the true tourist visa and will be the one you apply for when on vacation. This visa allows you to visit with friends and family, participate in events where you are not paid and receive medical treatment. It is important to note that neither of these visas allows you to study, work or complete any paid performances while in the country.

Complete The Online Visa Application

Once you know which visa you are going to apply for, you need to start the application process. This application process will start online with the completion of the DS-160 form. You will need to complete this form completely online and then submit it. You will then be provided with a confirmation which you need to print. This confirmation will have to be taken with you to the US embassy or consulate where you have an interview for the visa.

While you are completing the Form DS-160, you will also need to provide a photo. The photo must meet the format requirements and be digitally uploaded. If you have problems with the upload, you can take the photo with you to the interview instead.

When you complete the DS-160 form, you will also have to pay a non-refundable application fee. This fee will need to be paid before you proceed to the interview stage of the application as you have to take confirmation of payment with you. It is important to note that if your visa is declined, you will not be able to get this fee back.

Scheduling An Interview

An interview at the US embassy or consulate is generally required when you are applying for a travel visa. There are very few exceptions to this rule and it is unlikely that this will be applied to your visa application. The interview should be scheduled at the embassy or consulate which has jurisdiction over where you live. The waiting time for the interview will vary depending on the location, the season and the visa category.

Gather The Required Documents

When the time for your interview approaches, you need to gather all the documents you are going to need. You will have to have a valid passport which remains valid for a period of 6 months after your visit to the country. You will also need the DS-160 form confirmation that you received when submitting this online. The application fee receipt will also need to be taken with you to the interview.

It is important to note that additional documentation may be required and you should gather this in order to be prepared. The additional documentation will include evidence of the purpose of your visit to the United States along with documents showing that you will leave at the end of the visit. You also have to prove that you will be able to pay for all the costs of the trip and not have to work while in the country.

Evidence of employment and family ties to your home country may also be required. If you do not have the funds to cover all the costs of your trip, you will have to provide documentation showing that someone else is able to. It is important to note that a letter of invitation is not needed for these visas and they will not be taken into account when approving or denying the visa application.

Attend The Interview

You will need to attend the interview on the date provided to you. The interview process will include the officer looking at all your documentation as well as asking you certain questions. During the interview, digital fingerprints might be taken, but this will depend on the location.