B1/B2 Tourist Visa: Types, Reasons for Issuance, and Application Process
The most common type of US visa—and the one most often underestimated in terms of complexity. We break down the different categories, eligibility criteria, the application process, costs, and the factors that actually influence the officer's decision.
Technically, there is no separate "tourist visa" category in the United States; instead, there is the non-immigrant B visa category. This visa does not grant the right to work in the U.S.—employment is strictly prohibited, and this is one of the first things a border officer checks.
Below is a detailed breakdown: the different types available, the grounds on which a tourist visa may be approved, the application and interview process, the cost, and the factors that actually influence the officer's decision.
Tourist visa: types
Business visa
Negotiations, conference participation, consultations with partners, and the resolution of inheritance and legal matters. It does not allow you to work or earn an income in the USA.
Tourist visa
Leisure, travel, visiting relatives and friends, short-term medical treatment, participation in amateur competitions and events.
Combined visa
Consulates most frequently issue this specific type—it covers both purposes at once—which is why this combination is commonly referred to as a "tourist visa."
Visa validity and the duration of stay are different things.
Visa validity period
A tourist visa grants the right to apply for entry throughout its validity period (usually allowing multiple entries). Validity is determined based on reciprocity between countries and is subject to change: Russian citizens are frequently issued visas valid for up to three years, whereas citizens of Belarus are typically issued visas valid for one year.
Tourist visa: duration of stay
The specific duration of stay for each visit is determined by the border control officer upon entry—typically up to six months per trip—regardless of the visa's overall validity period.
The consul must see a clear and plausible purpose.
A "nice-sounding" purpose of travel does not in itself guarantee approval; the officer evaluates it in conjunction with the applicant's financial standing and ties to their home country.
Leisure and sightseeing.
A visit to relatives or friends living in the USA.
A wedding, an anniversary, or the birth of a child to relatives.
Short-term treatment or medical consultation.
Conferences, business meetings, negotiations.
Non-commercial cultural, sports, and public events.
Tourist visa: application and issuance process
The process is linear and consists of three sequential stages.
A tourist visa requires filling out Form DS-160.
Mandatory electronic application form: personal details, passport information, visa history, purpose of travel, address of stay, employment and family information, and a photo meeting the requirements. Upon completion, a confirmation page with a barcode is generated.
Fee payment and appointment booking
After completing the DS-160, the consular fee is paid and an appointment is scheduled at the chosen consulate—the slot is selected from the dates available in the system.
Interview
The personal interview with the consular officer is usually brief—lasting two to five minutes—and covers the purpose of the trip, employment, income, relatives in the U.S., and plans to return. The decision is typically announced on the same day.
Tourist visa: cost
| Payment | Сумма |
|---|---|
| Consular fee (MRV fee) | $185 |
| Visa Integrity Fee (starting October 2025) | от $250 |
| Total | от $435 |
Where can I have an interview?
The tourist visa process entails a rule: you may submit your documents and undergo an interview only in the country of your citizenship or permanent legal residence.
An exception applies if the applicant holds citizenship of another country or a residence permit entitling them to legal stay there at the time of application: in that case, they may attempt to undergo the interview at the consulate in that country of residence.
Astana (Kazakhstan) and Warsaw (Poland).
Warsaw (Poland) and Vilnius (Lithuania).
Tourist visa via an invitation from relatives
Relatives who are U.S. citizens can provide an invitation and a financial guarantee (an Affidavit of Support, Form I-134). While this can strengthen your application package, it does not guarantee a visa; the consular officer’s primary assessment remains whether you will return to your home country.
Travel experience as an argument
It is not officially mandatory, but in practice, it facilitates the visa application process. Ideally, the applicant has made at least three trips in recent years, including to countries with developed economies (such as the UK, Canada, Japan, or Schengen Area countries). However, a lack of such travel history does not result in an automatic refusal.
Connection to the homeland
Under Section 214(b) of U.S. immigration law, every non-immigrant visa applicant is presumed to be a potential immigrant until proven otherwise. The decisive factor is not so much the purpose of the trip itself, but rather convincing evidence that you will return to your home country.
The more such factors there are and the more convincingly they are documented, the higher the chances of approval—regardless of relatives in the U.S. or visa history.
- Permanent employment with a stable income (proof of employment, employment contract).
- One's own home or real estate.
- The family remaining at home (spouse, children, dependent parents).
- Active business or professional activity.
- Training to be continued after the trip.