This is a step by step guide on how to apply for a USA Visitor visa. There are various types of visas that you can apply for depending on what you want to achieve. To be able to visit or live in the U.S, many residents of different countries need a visa.
What Is a Visa?
Visas are stamps in your passport that give you the right to travel to various countries.
When You Apply for USA Visitor Visa
- Fill out your application
- Verify your application information
- Pay for the services and fees
- Schedule your visa appointment
- Go for your visa interview
There Are Two Types of American Visas
- Nonimmigrant Visas
- Immigrant Visas
U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa Categories
The United States legal system defines a non-immigrant USA visa as a temporary stay in the country.
This means that you will visit the U.S for a short time, for reasons such as tourism, business, and others, but will not stay there permanently. You should go back to your country before the expiry.
- (B) Visitor: Business, Tourism, Medical Treatment. The Visitor Visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B1), including attending professional meetings or conferences; for pleasure, including vacation or visiting family or medical treatment (B2), or a combination of both (B1/B2) purposes for up to six months.
- (C) Transiting in the U.S.
- Study Visa Categories – (F/M) Academic or Language Student / Vocational or Nonacademic Student, and (J) Exchange Visitor.
- Work Visa Categories – (D) Crew Member, (I) Media and Journalists, among others
Immigrant Visas to the United States of America
These are Visas for immigration and long stays in the US. Immigrant visas give their holder the right to stay in the U.S permanently. This visa does not expire. It allows you to live, work, and study in the U.S or engage in any activity you like.
A good example is the Electronic Diversity Visa Program (green card lottery). This is a United States government lottery program for receiving the United States Permanent Resident Card.
You can travel in and out of the U.S anytime you want and not have your visa in danger of being revoked or cancelled as long as you have a valid Re-entry Permit.
If you live in the U.S for a specified period without any violations, you can apply for citizenship and if approved, you will become a U.S citizen. There are various immigrant visa categories.
Step by Step Guide on How to Apply for USA Visitor Visa
The first step when you want to apply for USA Visitor Visa is to fill out the DS 160 application form. The form is found online on the website of the US consulate from which you are applying.
What You Require to Apply for Us Visitor Visa B1/B2
- Your passport travel document. It must be valid for 6 months and must have some empty pages. If you are a Kenyan and do not have one, you can learn how to apply for an ePassport here.
- A recent 2 x 2 passport photo with a clear background and you should not wear glasses. You can check for photo specifications or visit a photo studio. Most of them are aware of the photo requirements for various embassies.
- Money to pay for the visa.
- Invitation letter from the person or organization you are visiting or;
- Hotel booking details.
- Proof of financial capability. This is a current bank statement from your bank or;
- Financial documents from the person or entity inviting you, if they are the ones covering the cost.
- Other personal documents such as logbook, and title deed if you have a property in your country of residence.
- Plan ahead (a month or more) to ensure there is enough time before your expected travel date to allow for scheduling interviews and visa processing.
How to Fill the Ds 160 Visa Application Form
- Access the Consular Electronic Application Center website.
- Click on the DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application link.
- To get started, select the location you will be
applying for your visa and type the given code. - Click start application and create your online nonimmigrant visa application account.
- Record your application ID in a safe and secure place. You will require it to retrieve your application if need be. This could be because of power failure or session time out.
- Select a security question and provide the answer and click continue.
Ds-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application Sections
Personal Information 1
The information you fill in here is your personal information. This is information such as your names, gender, marital status, date and place of birth, city,
Personal Information 2
Fill in your nationality and national identification number.
Travel Information
The data recorded here concerns your travel plans. Select the purpose of the trip. In this article, we are applying for Temp. Business Pleasure Visitor (B), and then select the subcategory.
The ones available are Business and Tourism (Temporary Visitor (B1/B2), Business/Conference (B1), And Tourism/Medical Treatment (B2).
Select one that best fits your travel purpose. Enter the intended date of arrival in the US and where you will stay. Also, indicate who will be paying for your trip.
Travel Companions Information
If persons are travelling with you, indicate their required details.
Previous U.S. Travel Information
In this section, record any previous US travel information you might have. Remember to provide complete and accurate information.
Address and Phone Information
Enter your home address which includes the street address, city, state or province, postal code, country, phone, and email. If you are on any social media, provide it too.
Passport Information
This stage includes your travel document type, passport number, country and the city where it was issued and then the issuance and expiry date. If you have ever lost a passport, indicate it.
U.S. Point of Contact Information
In this section, you enter the information of the person or organization in the USA where you are visiting.
Family Information
This section requires your parent’s details and also relatives you might be having in the USA. In the next section, you enter your spouse’s data.
Present Work/Education/Training Information
Enter your present and previous work situation; provide your education and training details available.
Security and Background
Reply to all security and background questions in the five sections that follow.
Upload Photo
Have your photo ready by scanning and saving it on your computer. You can also save it directly from a camera, USB Flash Drive, smartphone, or any other source.
Click browse and select your photo. Click on continue if your photo meets the required standards. Proceed to review the information you have provided.
Sign and Submit Your DS 160 Form
The final stage when applying for USA V
You will get a confirmation page which you will print and present during the interview day. It is also important to print the application form as it contains all the information you have filed.
Use the form to prepare yourself for the interview. Note that you should fill out the DS 160 form for each individual you are travelling with.
How to Pay for the US Visa Fees
1. To pay the visa fees, access the Official U.S. VISA information and appointment services website. Click on the link for Global Support Services (GSS) to access your country-specific website. Click on the nonimmigrant visa option. Find the location you are applying from then choose your language.
2. Once the country-specific website opens, click on apply to create an account. This account will enable you to pay for your visa and schedule an interview.
3. Select the option ‘I have completed the U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) form and I need to apply for a visa’.
4. Fill in all the required information to create an account. Note down the password you use because you will access this account from time to time. To activate your account, follow the instructions provided in your email.
5. From your email, click on the provided link to activate your account.
6. After activation, enter all the required information including the DS number. This is the number you obtained when filing the DS 160 form.
7. Finish creating your account and if there are other applicants, click on the add option.
8. Next is to select a Document Delivery Location. The courier service is used to send and receive documents to and from the U.S. Consular Section. It is the location you will get your passport together with the visa if it is approved.
9. Pay for your visa fee by selecting the appropriate method for you. In Kenya, it is much faster and more convenient to use Mpesa services.
10. Wait for your payment to be approved, it may take a day or two. You will get an email once your transaction has been approved.
How to Schedule US Visa Appointment
The US visa appointment available dates vary from country to country and location to location. What is important is to make early preparations whenever possible.
You can schedule a US visa appointment anywhere in the world. In most
- Access the Official U.S. Department of State Visa Appointment Service. Click on the link for Global Support Services (GSS) to access your country-specific website.
- On the top right-hand side, click on the sign-in option. Log in using the email and password you created.
- Your form will be reading, ‘schedule appointment’ click on continue.
- Select the schedule appointment option.
- Open the calendar which is under the ‘Date of Appointment’.
- Select the appropriate date and time for your interview.
- Proceed and print the interview form. You will present this form and the DS 160 at the consular during your interview.
Note that you can reschedule your interview up to a maximum of three times. Remember to carry all your necessary documents during interview time.
Well, that is the step by step guide on how to apply for a USA visitor visa. All the best as you seek for US visa. Check here below for questions you might expect on your interview day.
What Questions Do They Ask In US Visa Interview?
- Where are you going?
- Why are you going there? Or why do you want to go to the USA?
- How many years has the person you are visiting stayed in the USA?
- When did the person go there?
- How did that person end up in the USA?
- Where do you work?
- How many years have you worked in this company?
- When did you join this company?
- What is your role in that company?
- How much do you earn per month?
- Where does your spouse work?
- How much does your spouse earn per month?
- When are you planning to travel?
- Do you have another relative in the USA?
- How long are you going for?
- Who is paying for your Air ticket?
- How much are you planning to spend on your trip?
- Where are your parents?
- Who takes care of your parents?
- Is it your first time applying for a USA Visa?
- Where do your kids go to school?
- What does the person in the USA do?
