US B1/B2 Visa Application: $185 & Interview Guide

Understanding the B1/B2 Visa

The B1/B2 visa is the most common US visa for temporary visitors:

B1: Business purposes (meetings, conferences)
B2: Tourism, visiting family, medical treatment

Most applicants receive a combined B1/B2 visa covering both purposes. It is typically issued for up to 10 years with multiple entries, but each visit is limited to the period the CBP officer grants at entry, usually up to 6 months. Neither B1 nor B2 permits any paid employment in the US.

B1/B2 or ESTA? Check This First

Citizens of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries (including the UK, most EU countries, Japan, Australia, and South Korea) may not need a B1/B2 visa at all. ESTA costs $40.27 (since 1 January 2026), is applied for online, is usually approved within 72 hours, allows stays of up to 90 days, and is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires. Apply for a B1/B2 instead if you are not from a VWP country, have had an ESTA denied, or need more than 90 days — ESTA stays can never be extended.

The US Visa Interview

Unlike most visas, the B1/B2 requires an in-person interview with a consular officer.

Interview waivers are now rare. Since October 2025, the "dropbox" facility is limited to B1/B2 renewals within 12 months of the prior visa's expiry — the prior visa must have been full-validity, you must be 18 or older, applying in your country of nationality or residence, with no prior refusals. Everyone else attends in person, and officers can still call waiver-eligible applicants in for an interview anyway.

The interview itself is short — typically 2-5 minutes — because most of the decision-making happens before you reach the window. The officer has already reviewed your DS-160, run security checks, and seen every previous US visa application you have made; the interview mainly confirms your verbal answers match your written application.

Application Process

Step 1: Complete DS-160

Fill out the online nonimmigrant visa application form. The DS-160 is arguably the most important part of your application: errors or inconsistencies can predispose the officer toward refusal, and contradicting it at the window is one of the fastest routes to a denial.

Step 2: Pay MRV Fee

Pay the $185 visa application fee. It is non-refundable regardless of the outcome, and the receipt is valid for one year — attend your interview within that period or pay again. Note: The $250 Visa Integrity Fee was signed into law in July 2025 but is not yet being collected — as of July 2026 no implementation date has been announced. Budget for it as a possible future cost; today's applicants pay the standard fees only. Check the State Department website for current implementation status.

A reciprocity-based "issuance fee" can apply for some nationalities if approved, but for B1/B2 most pay nothing — the reciprocity schedule lists "None" for Brazilians, Indians, and Nigerians, for example. Check the State Department's reciprocity schedule for your nationality.

Step 3: Schedule Interview

Book appointment at the US Embassy or Consulate. Wait times vary sharply by location and season — from weeks to several months — so apply at least 3-6 months ahead and avoid booking non-refundable flights until the visa is in hand.

Step 4: Prepare Documents

Passport (bring old passports showing travel history)
DS-160 confirmation
Photo
Financial documents (6 months of bank statements recommended)
Employment proof (letter with salary and approved leave)
Travel plans

Bring originals, organised so you can hand over any requested document quickly.

Step 5: Attend Interview

Keep answers to a few sentences, do not volunteer information beyond what is asked, and never say anything suggesting you want to work or explore opportunities in the US — that is an immediate refusal risk.

Common Interview Questions

What is the purpose of your visit?
How long will you stay?
Where will you stay?
Who is paying for your trip?
What do you do for work?
Do you have family in the US?

Every question ultimately probes one of three things: your purpose, your ability to fund the trip, and whether you will return home. Specific, time-bound answers read far better than open-ended ones.

If You Are Refused: 214(b) and What Comes Next

The most common refusal is under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which presumes every applicant intends to immigrate until they prove otherwise. A 214(b) refusal means the officer was not convinced of your ties to home — it is not a permanent ban.

There is no appeal for 214(b) refusals. Your option is to reapply with a new DS-160 and a new $185 fee. There is no mandatory waiting period, but reapplying with identical circumstances rarely produces a different result — wait until something has materially changed (a promotion, property purchase, new family obligations, additional travel history).

If the officer instead says your case needs "administrative processing" (Section 221(g)), that is not a refusal: your application is pending additional review, which can take weeks to months. Do not submit a new application while it is pending; track your status at ceac.state.gov.