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United StatesVisit & tourismLast checked October 16, 2026

B-1/B-2 visitor visa

business and tourism

The B visa is a nonimmigrant visa for temporary visits to the United States for business (B-1), tourism or visiting family (B-2), or both. Most applicants fill in the online DS-160, pay the application fee and attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries can usually visit for up to 90 days with an ESTA instead of a visa, if they are eligible. A visa allows you to seek entry; a CBP officer decides admission and length of stay at the border.

See requirements ↓
3 entry rules for United States based on recent travel

These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.

Entry restrictions apply to 39 passports for United States

The government has suspended some or all visas for holders of these passports. Exceptions exist; see the source.

  • Afghanistan
  • Angola
  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Chad
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Cuba
  • Dominica
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Haiti
  • Iran
  • Laos
  • Libya
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Myanmar (Burma)
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Palestinian Territories
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Venezuela
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Source: Proclamation 10949 - Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats (Federal Register, 10 Jun 2025)Source: Proclamation 10998 - Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the Security of the United States (Federal Register, 19 Dec 2025)Source: Proclamation 10998 full text (GovInfo)Source: U.S. Department of State - Suspension of Visa Issuance to Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United StatesSource: Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for FY2027 (Federal Register, 2 Oct 2026) - cites Proclamation 10998 as in force

Visiting United States

Add your passport to your profile, or check it here, to see exactly what you need to visit.

Ways to save in United States

Free passes, discounts and programmes from official sources. Those you may qualify for come first.

  • Smithsonian museums free admission

    Admission is free for everyone at all Smithsonian museums except Cooper Hewitt in New York City. A few popular museums need a free timed-entry pass or ticket, so check each museum's page before you go.

    Everyone
  • National Park Service entrance fee-free days 2026

    The remaining 2026 fee-free days are Oct. 27 (Theodore Roosevelt's birthday) and Nov. 11 (Veterans Day). They waive entrance fees at NPS sites that charge them, but only for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Non-U.S. residents still pay regular and nonresident fees, and reservation or timed-entry fees may still apply.

    ResidentsNew permanent residentsNew citizensFamilies
  • America the Beautiful Senior Pass

    U.S. citizens and permanent residents aged 62 or older can buy an annual or lifetime pass covering entrance and standard day-use fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites. You need proof of age and of citizenship or residency, and prices are on the official page.

    SeniorsResidentsNew permanent residentsNew citizens
  • Every Kid Outdoors 4th Grade Pass

    U.S. fourth graders, including home-schooled 10-year-olds, get a free pass for 2026–2027 that covers entrance and standard day-use fees at federal recreation sites. The pass covers the child and passengers in one vehicle, or up to three accompanying adults at per-person sites. Get a voucher from the Every Kid Outdoors website first, then use it on Recreation.gov for the digital pass. It is valid September 2026 to August 2027.

    StudentsYouthFamiliesResidentsNew permanent residentsNew citizens

Offers and conditions change; check the official page before you go.

Life in United States

Money

3

Currency

US Dollar

USD

US Dollar

Cost of living

100

Price level · US = 100

World Bank price levels, 2025

Tax

10–37%

Income tax (national)

social security 7.65%

Federal rates; most states and some cities add their own income tax. 37% starts above USD 626,350 (single, 2025).

Official rates, 2026 · headline only

Living

1

Happiness

6.8

#22 of 145 countries

World Happiness Report 2025

Your edge here Members

What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties

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Who it’s for

People visiting the U.S. briefly for business meetings, conferences, tourism, visiting friends or family, or medical treatment, who are not eligible for or choose not to use the Visa Waiver Program.

Eligibility

  • Permitted purpose

    B-1 covers business activities such as consulting with business associates or attending conferences. B-2 covers tourism, visiting friends or family, social events, amateur unpaid events, and short recreational courses that do not give credit.

  • Temporary visit and ties abroad

    You may be asked to show the purpose of your trip, that you intend to leave the U.S., and that you can pay for the trip. Applicants must qualify based on their own residence and ties abroad, not on assurances from U.S. friends or family.

  • Where to apply

    Applicants should schedule the interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of residence or nationality.

A sneak peek at what's inside

  • Next requirementInterview
  • Document checklistDS-160 confirmation page
  • FeesNonimmigrant visa application (MRV) fee, B-1/B-2

The full requirements are for members

Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.

  • 5 more requirements
  • 10 documents
  • 4 fees
  • 7 steps
  • Processing times and conditions
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Places to visit in United States

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