If you are a non-American national and want to stay in the United States of America for up to six months, you will need a valid B2 tourist visa. The only problem is that it is not at all an easy task to obtain this visa; it is not even just difficult; it is in fact one of the most challenging tasks. Even if you have reasonable grounds to get the visa, there is no guarantee that your application will get approved. There is an extensive array of factors that are taken into consideration in order to determine whether this type of visa should be issued to you or not. Some important factors include your current status in relation to the US, the length of time you want to stay, and whether you have completed the paperwork properly. Typically, the entire process consists of the following six steps.
Contact The US Embassy
If you are outside the United States of America, you will have to contact the US embassy or consulate in your jurisdiction in order to start the procedure for obtaining B2 tourist visa to the US. If you are in the United States, you will have to contact the US Citizenship and Immigration Service Center.
Interview With The Counselor
If you are someone aged between 13 and 80, you will have to schedule a mandatory interview with the consular as part of the procedure. Those who are below 13 or above 80 are not required to attend any such interview.
Fingerprint Scan
During the interview with the consular, you will be asked to submit to an ink-free digital fingerprint scan. It is administered by a consular officer and takes just a few minutes.
Fill Out The Necessary Forms
The next step is to complete the paperwork. You will have to fill out the Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form DS-156. You can download this form and get the same printed on paper. Alternatively, you also have an option to fill this form at the interview. You may be required to fill up many other forms, depending upon an array of factors that might just be applicable in your case. For example, if you are a male and aged between 16 and 45, you will be asked to complete a Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form DS-157 also. Depending upon the purpose of your US trip and the specific circumstances you are in, you may be asked to provide several other documentations also as part of the application process for B2 tourist visa.
Passport And Photo
Your application must also include a copy of your valid passport and a 2-by-2-inch passport size photo. Make sure you read the instructions thoroughly because there are specific requirements for photographs of non-immigrants. Besides that, the remaining validity on your passport must be at least six months from the time you are supposed to enter the United States of America.
Pay The Fees
The last step is to pay the appropriate visa fees. You can get the exact detail about the fee from the embassy or consulate. The fee requirements also vary depending upon the type of currency applicable in your native country and the length of your proposed stay in the US.
After completing all paperwork and making the fee payment, you just have to submit your application with the US consulate or embassy and then wait to get a response from them if your B2 tourist visa application has got rejected or approved. The waiting period may range from just a couple of weeks to several months. It means you must start the procedure much in advance to avoid hassles.