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United States Visitor Visa Guide

B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa for the USA: Eligibility, Permitted Uses and Qualifications

Updated: 1 September 2026

The B-1/B-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visitor visa for temporary travel to the United States. B-1 covers qualifying temporary business activities, while B-2 covers tourism, visits to family or friends, certain recreational activities and medical treatment. Many applicants receive a combined B-1/B-2 visa.

Legal basis: Visitor classification is governed principally by INA §101(a)(15)(B), INA §214(b), 22 CFR §41.31 and related Department of State guidance. A B visa is for a temporary visit and is not a general work, study or permanent-residence visa.

What Is a B-1/B-2 Visa?

B-1 - Temporary Business Visitor

For qualifying temporary business activities that do not amount to ordinary employment or the performance of skilled or unskilled labor in the United States.

B-2 - Tourist / Visitor

For temporary tourism, vacation, visits with relatives or friends, certain social or recreational activities and qualifying travel for medical treatment.

A combined B-1/B-2 visa permits travel for either qualifying business or pleasure purposes. The visa allows the holder to travel to a U.S. port of entry and request admission. U.S. Customs and Border Protection determines whether the traveler is admitted and, if admitted, the authorized period and classification of stay.

Permitted B-1 Business Activities

Examples of activities that may fit B-1 visitor classification, when all other requirements are met, include:

  • Consulting with business associates.
  • Negotiating contracts.
  • Engaging in qualifying commercial transactions that do not involve gainful employment in the United States.
  • Attending scientific, educational, professional or business conventions, conferences or seminars.
  • Settling an estate.
  • Participating in certain litigation-related activities.

Some narrowly defined professional, domestic-employee, training, religious or other activities may qualify for B-1 classification under specific rules. Because the distinction between legitimate business travel and unauthorized employment can be fact-sensitive, travelers should verify the correct visa category before applying.

Permitted B-2 Tourist and Visitor Activities

B-2 visitor classification commonly covers temporary travel for:

  • Tourism and vacation.
  • Visits with relatives or friends.
  • Medical treatment, subject to additional evidence.
  • Participation in certain social, fraternal or service activities.
  • Participation by amateurs in qualifying musical, sports or similar events when the person is not being paid for performing.
  • Short recreational courses that are not for credit toward a degree or academic certificate, when permitted by applicable rules.

B-1/B-2 Visa Eligibility and INA §214(b)

Under INA §214(b), an applicant for most nonimmigrant visa classifications, including a B visitor visa, is presumed to be an intending immigrant unless the applicant establishes eligibility for the requested nonimmigrant classification.

For temporary visitor classification, the consular officer considers whether the applicant:

  • has a residence in a foreign country that the applicant does not intend to abandon;
  • intends to enter the United States for a specifically limited period;
  • seeks admission solely for legitimate activities relating to business or pleasure; and
  • otherwise qualifies for a visa and is not subject to an applicable ground of inadmissibility.

Depending on the purpose and circumstances of the trip, evidence may include information about employment or business, family and social circumstances, finances, the reason for travel, planned duration, and how travel expenses will be paid. There is no single document that automatically establishes eligibility.

Important: An invitation letter or Affidavit of Support is not, by itself, what determines eligibility for a visitor visa. The applicant must qualify based on the applicant's own circumstances and the requirements of U.S. immigration law.

What Is Not Normally Permitted on a B-1/B-2 Visa?

A visitor visa is not a substitute for a visa category that authorizes employment, long-term study or permanent residence. Activities normally outside B-1/B-2 visitor status include:

  • ordinary employment or performing skilled or unskilled labor in the United States;
  • degree or credit-bearing academic study that requires student classification;
  • permanent residence in the United States;
  • professional performances for compensation except where a narrow B-visa exception applies;
  • arrival as a crewmember when crew classification is required; and
  • travel whose primary purpose is giving birth in the United States to obtain U.S. citizenship for the child.
Employment warning: A B-1 visa permits qualifying business visitor activity, not ordinary U.S. employment. If the planned activity involves productive work or services in the United States, a work-authorized visa classification may be required.

B-2 Visa for Medical Treatment in the United States

A person seeking temporary medical treatment in the United States may qualify for B-2 classification. Consular guidance requires sufficient information to establish that the proposed treatment is legitimate and that the applicant can meet the costs.

Relevant evidence may include:

  • information concerning the medical condition and the treatment sought;
  • confirmation that a U.S. medical practitioner or facility has agreed to provide treatment;
  • the projected cost and expected duration of treatment;
  • estimated transportation, living and other incidental expenses; and
  • evidence showing lawful and adequate means to pay the medical and related expenses, whether personally or through pre-arranged assistance.

How to Apply, Current Fee and Interview Rules

1. Complete Form DS-160

Each applicant must complete the online DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application and retain the confirmation page with the barcode.

2. Pay the B Visa Application Fee

The current non-refundable application processing fee for a B visitor visa is US$185. Depending on nationality, a separate visa issuance or reciprocity fee may apply after approval.

3. Schedule the Visa Appointment

Follow the current instructions of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you will apply. Appointment procedures and wait times vary by location.

4. Attend the Interview, Unless a Current Waiver Applies

In-person interviews are generally required. Under the Department of State policy effective 1 October 2025, applicants under 14 and over 79 are no longer covered by a broad age-based interview exemption. Certain applicants renewing a B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visa within 12 months after expiration may be eligible for an interview waiver if the prior visa was issued for full validity when the applicant was at least 18, the application is made in the country of nationality or usual residence, there has been no unovercome visa refusal, and there is no apparent or potential ineligibility. A consular officer may still require an interview.

5. Prepare the Required Documents

Typical required documents include a passport valid for travel to the United States, DS-160 confirmation page, application-fee receipt when required before interview, and a photograph meeting current specifications if the online photo upload fails. Additional evidence may be requested depending on the applicant and purpose of travel.

Visa validity is not the same as authorized stay. The expiration date printed on a B-1/B-2 visa determines how long the visa may be used to seek entry; it does not determine how long a visitor may remain in the United States on a particular trip. Admission and authorized stay are determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Official U.S. Government Resources

USA Visa Rules and Related B-1/B-2 Topics

Important Note

Visa laws, interview-waiver rules, fees, reciprocity schedules and embassy procedures may change. Always verify current requirements with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. embassy or consulate handling the application before filing or travelling. This page provides general information and is not a substitute for advice on an individual immigration matter.