Visitor visa – A complete guide | B1/B2 Visa process

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If you have been residing in the USA from a long time having your family member, friends or relative to visit you is on the priority list. To initiate the process you have to apply for Visitor Visa in the USA for the acquaintance you are looking to meet. But the moment you look to apply for visitor visa either you are misguided or the information provided on the internet is half incomplete. So in this blog, I’ll guide you through the entire process to apply for Visitor visa expressing every terms & condition along with all the intricacies involved.

What is a Visitor Visa?

Foreign residents (like from India, China, and so on.) who wish to visit the United States should initially get a visa. Those going to the U.S. as a visitor, to visit friends or family members, for medical treatment or to lead the business, must get a visitor visa (B-1 for business or B-2 for fun/medical treatment). B1 and B2 are non-immigrant visas. Such visas are typically given up to a time of 3 months to 10 years. When the visitor is in the USA, an extra extension of 6 months can be obtained upon the approval by the USCIS.

Candidates for visitor visas must show that they qualify under the arrangements of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The assumption in the law is that each visitor visa candidate is an intending visitor. Accordingly, people applying for visitor visas must fulfil this assumption. Candidates must show that they have a residential accommodation in their nation of origin or home country which they don’t plan to desert, that they wish to enter the United States for an explicitly restricted period and that the reason for the visit is to enter the United States for business, to travel or medical treatment.

Note:- There are many nations whose residents don’t require a visitor visa to enter the United States. The category of countries is explained under the Visa Waiver Program.

Documents required for Visitor Visa

This is the list of documents that should be sent by the person who is sponsoring his/her family, friends, relatives to visit the USA.

Documents required for visitor visa

1. I-134 form

If you are sponsoring different individuals simultaneously, you ought to send separate I-134 form for every individual. In any case, you can simply send one lot of supporting documents for the two.

2.Form I-134, Affidavit of Support Form

You should show that you can monetarily help your family members while they are in the U.S. You have to fill a structure called “Affidavit of Support Form (I-134)” for that reason. One Form ought to be filled for every candidate. Along these lines, although parents are applying together, you have to send two forms. A few offices state that If you are applying for a family, (for example, parents, parents in law, and so on.), you need to submit just a single I-134 and not for every individual. However, there should be no harm in sending one to each of them, rather than taking a risk.

3.Employment Letter

Statement from your boss (1 unique for every candidate) on business stationery, stating:

  • Date and nature of work
  • Salary paid
  • whether a position is permanent or temporary
  • Pay Stubs
  • Last Pay stubs. 3 or 4 ought to be sufficient.

4.Bank Letter

Letter from your Bank (1 unique for every candidate) on their business stationery, giving the following details:

  • Date account opened
  • Aggregate sum stored for as long as a year
  • Present Balance
  • Average Balance in the Last Year.

A few banks may take a long time to give such a letter. Accordingly, it is advisable to plan well progress of time.

5.Bank Statements for Visitor Visa

Send the bank statements for the previous 6 months. It ought to have a good balance in the last 6 months. Try not to add money into your bank account the day before to show more balance. You should have a balance to demonstrate your financial capacity to have the option to help the individuals you are supporting. While there is no particular rule how much cash you ought to have in the bank, it ought to be sufficient to deal with each of their costs. Something like $5,000/individual ought to be adequate.

6.Letter to the Consulate for Visitor visa

Letter from you expressing that you will deal with their costs in the USA. This letter ought to be routed to the U.S. department your family members will visit.

7.Invitation Letter

An individual letter of invitation (free arrangement, yet formal; clarify here how you will have the option to oblige them in your home and take them around for vacationer purposes).

One letter ought to be sufficient for the parents. If your family members don’t get English, it might be useful to send the interpretation of the letter in your local language otherwise the consular official may scrutinize that your parents may have never read the letter.

8.Annual Tax Documents

Copy of most recent 3 years of annual tax returns and W2s. If you don’t have them, you can demand the transcripts from the IRS. Try not to incorporate state income tax returns. If you have not been in the U.S. throughout the previous 3 years, send the expense forms for the years that you have.

Now that you didn’t file a tax return, a composed clarification depicting why you had no lawful obligation to file the return. Suppose that you recorded a late or altered tax return, you ought to submit proof of this.

In case that you are independently employed, incorporate independent work plans filed with personal tax returns or monetary records, for example, a bank statement for the business accounts.

9.Recognizable proof, Relationship and Legal Status Documents

If you are a non-U.S. resident:

  • Your original birth certificate. If you are supporting your parents in law, your spouse’s unique birth declaration is required.
  • Photocopy all the pages (counting blank pages) of your visa. If the US visa is in your old passport, at that point a photocopy of all pages of the old and new passport is required.

Additionally, verification of Legal status:

  • If you are on an H1 or L1, copy of most recent H1/L1 visa approval notice (I-797 Notice of Action).
  • If you are at an adjustment of status (I-485 phase), send copies of the I-485 receipt, EAD card and Advance Parole. These may not be required, however, it is not any harm to send them.
  • If your US visa has terminated, however, has a renewal appeal, photocopy of the renewal request. In case your US visa status, (for example, H, L) has lapsed, and your employer has petitioned for an extension, send the I-797 receipt notice.
  • Now if you are a lawful permanent resident in the USA, give verification of green card (front and back).

If you are a U.S. resident, give verification of U.S. citizenship.

10.Lawful Status of Siblings

If the parents have more than one kid in the U.S., send the proof of legal status about all of them, along with all the documents mentioned above from the sponsored kid.

11.Spouse Documents

If you are supporting your spouse’s family members, (for example, parents in law), photocopies of all the pages (counting blank pages) of your spouse’s passport and your marriage declaration certificate.

Process for Visitor Visa in the USA

In the previous section, we have given you an overview of what is Visitor Visa and who all can apply for the same.

Now in this section, we will detail you about all the steps involved under a visitor visa in the USA.

Step 1:Decide why you might want to visit the U.S. Ensure that the explanation you need to get the U.S. Visitor visa is one of the permitted exercises.

Step 2:- In case that you can manage your expenses on your own, self-sponsor. Otherwise, get the affidavit of support and important documents from the family member or friend in the U.S. In case you can self-sponsor, it isn’t obligatory to get an affidavit of support from somebody.

Step3:- Accumulate Visitor Documents.

Step 4:-Experience the application procedure.

That incorporates getting your photo taken, filling the application form, paying visa expenses, planning and arrangement, going to fingerprint appointment and going to the interview.

Step 4:- After the interview, you may receive your Visa or you might be refused for a Visa. There are different kinds of ineligibilities for U.S. visas under the U.S. Movement and Nationality Act (INA).

Step 5:- If you have received your visa check visa stamp to ensure that everything is exact.

Step 6:- Make travel arrangements.

These incorporate getting air tickets, foreign currency and arranging a wheelchair, if necessary. Make a point to purchase Visitor medical insurance. It is significant as the medical costs are exceptionally high in the U.S.

Step 7:- Making a trip to the USA:

Step 8:- Once in the USA:

  • Make the most of your stay.
  • In case you have to extend your stay, ensure you have a valid purpose behind it.
  • Try not to attempt to mishandle the visitor visa. Try not to make frequent visits and have over the top stay.

Visitor Visa Application Fee

A Visa fee must be paid before booking the US Visitor visa meet. The fee can be paid either electronically as a bank transfer or in cash at assigned CitiBank or Axis bank offices all through India.

Depending upon the sort of US visa you are applying for, the visa charge might be different.

Following is the expense structure for non-immigrant visas. All expenses are non-refundable.

Visa Type
Visitor Visa (B2 Visa or Tourist Visa)
Fee (USD)
$160
Fee (INR) ₹ 11,040 (approx.)

Your visa application expense is non-refundable and you can’t move it to someone else.

You will get a receipt in the wake of paying the application charge.

This receipt is valid for one year from the date of instalment and permits you to schedule your interview at the U.S. Government office or Consulate.

You should schedule your interview while the receipt is legitimate, which implies your interview must be reserved inside one year of paying your charge. On the off chance that you don’t plan an interview inside a time of instalment, at that point, your receipt will expire.

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