Are You Looking to Enter the United States for Tourism or Business? Call Us Today

Anyone wishing to travel to the US for tourism, employment, business, asylum, or pleasure should apply for either a non-immigrant visa or permanent residency. Visa category B-1 and B-2 are non- immigrant visas for temporarily entering the U.S. for tourism or business.

You will need to inquire about your eligibility from a tourist visa lawyer or a Los Angeles visa lawyer for non-immigrants if you are seeking to stay in the city during your visiting days.

Some groups of people are allowed to use the visa waiver program but terms and conditions must apply. Else, B-1 and B-2 visas should be the most reliable and legal way to safely stay in the country for the time stipulated in the visa.
B-1 Category Visa
Those visiting for business are required to apply for a B-1 visa. One may seek the services of a lawyer if you are unfamiliar with the process. Legal counsel can give you clear guidelines and procedures for a more comfortable and quick navigation. The government issues a category B visa, which has a compulsory six-month expiry period.

Therefore, the acceptable activities during this period are limited to conferences, conventions, and other professional activities.
The Application Process
Interested parties should visit the US Embassy in their resident country and complete the Form DS-160 in the online visa application portal for non immigrants. Certified firms that offer legal immigration help are the best go-to help in such an application. Ensure that you answer all questions honestly and accurately.

The following documents are needed when preparing a DS-160.

• The passport expiration date must be six months later than the date of the intended stay.
• Two by two inches of passport-sized photographs of you.
• Letter of Employment – It should describe your job’s nature, what you intend to do as you visit the US, the activities you will be attending, your departure date, and the mandatory date of return.
• Travel itinerary, proof of hotel booking, departure plane tickets, bus tickets.
• The dates of your last five trips to the US and strong evidence proving that you will return to your country of residence.
• Your Resume.
• Proof of financial stability.

As you complete the DS-160, all answers must be in English. Remember to sign the form electronically. The form should be submitted, and a confirmation page print with a barcode brought to the interview.

Afterward, you will be required to pay a nonrefundable visa application fee of $160 to a financial institution before the interview. Note that the consulates will not allow you to pay the cost during the interview. It would be best if you remembered to obtain a visa fee receipt upon payment.

Sometimes you may be required to pay a reciprocity fee or visa issuance fee that varies depending on your country.
The Interview
On the day of the interview, make sure to arrive a few minutes earlier. The questions shall be in English. Sample questions asked could be why you wish to travel to the United States and where you will live. You may need to answer what you hope to attain on the day of your visit and your return date.

You may also need to provide information on what your company does. Furthermore, who will fund your stay, your current job and years of experience, qualifications, and whether you have relatives in the US.

All answers must have the utmost honesty, clarity, and confidence. Further questions may be asked, depending on the interviewer. Visa attorneys have an idea of common interview questions to expect and can help you prep for them.
B-2 Category Visa
Tourists traveling to the US for pleasure and spouses, children, or parents of B-1 visa holders may apply for a B-2 visa. The visit’s purpose must be purely recreational (social visits, international students visiting institutions for a tour before enrollment, medical, vacation, visiting friends, music, sports, domestic partners in a non-marital arrangement, and short recreational courses credit).
The Application
The Embassy in your country of residence or a lawyer well-versed in non-immigrant cases may help you obtain an online Form DS-160. They can advise you on your best options and what you must fill in the form. B-2 Category visa applicants are required to submit:

• Passport-sized photos.
• Fully filled DS-160 Form.
• Application Fees ($160 and any other visa costs depending on your country of residence).
• Documentation stating the purpose of the visit.
• Ability to pay all costs. This may include bank statements.
• Intent to depart the US The stay may be extended but only for not more than six months.
• If the visit is for medical purposes, you need proper documentation showing the ailment and the need for treatment in the US you also need to show the financial capability to pay for the entire treatment.

B-2 visas are valid for six months only. The validity period of the permit depends on the country where you reside. Extension of fewer than six months to the original departure time is granted, depending on the reason.

Visitors must file form I-94 for an extended stay while still in the US. They must ensure that the required documents plus the form get to the USCIS.

Tourists who wish to apply for a change of status may file a Form I-539 to change their non- immigrant status. However, change may only apply if the B-2 visa was lawfully processed if their B-2 is still valid, and they have not taken part in any criminal activities. You should have your legal counsel confirm the details.
Consult a US Tourist Visa Lawyer Los Angeles
While the process of filing B-1 and B-2 forms seems simple enough to do it by yourself, it’s advisable to seek visa immigration help. You’ll be dealing with long documents that require keenness and correct filling. It’s very easy to miss out on a visa if you don’t approach the application process as should.

Would you like to apply for a B-1 or B-2 visitor visa but not sure where to begin, or which one you should apply for? Contact us today, and we’ll have one of our experienced immigration lawyers in Los Angeles walk you through the process. We are ready to help!