NonimmigrantVisitorTourismDS-160Often issued as B-1/B-2Visa bond may apply

B-2 Visitor for Pleasure

For tourism, vacations, visiting friends or relatives, medical treatment and similar short personal trips to the United States.

Last reviewed Oct 1, 2026Sources: Department of State · eCFR · Federal RegisterReport an error

At a glance

Purpose: Tourism, visits, medical treatment, recreational activities
Typical admission: Minimum 6 months when admitted on an I-94; maximum 1 year
Extensions: Up to 6 months at a time on Form I-539
Visa application (MRV) fee: $185
Interview: Required for most applicants
Visa bond: Up to $20,000 for nationals of designated countries

Visa bonds for nationals of designated countries. Since Aug. 20, 2025, consular officers may require B-1/B-2 applicants from designated countries to post a bond. A final rule effective Aug. 3, 2026 made the program permanent with bonds of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 (up to $20,000). Bonded visitors must enter and leave only through commercial airports, including CBP Preclearance. The State Department’s country list (last updated May 13, 2026) names 50 countries; check it before applying.

Overview

The B-2 visa is for temporary travel for pleasure. The State Department’s examples include tourism, vacation, visits with friends or relatives, medical treatment, social events hosted by fraternal or service organizations, unpaid amateur participation in musical or sports events, and short recreational courses not for credit.

B-2 visitors may not work, study for credit, or travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States to obtain citizenship for a child — the State Department states that birth tourism is not permissible on a visitor visa. B-2 is usually issued as a combined B-1/B-2 visa.

Under DHS regulations, a B-2 visitor issued an I-94 is admitted for a minimum of six months unless an exception applies, and for no more than one year. Nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries can often travel with ESTA instead.

Who qualifies

The applicant must show

A temporary trip for pleasure, such as tourism, a family visit or medical treatment
A residence abroad they do not intend to abandon, and plans to depart at the end of the visit
Enough money to cover the trip (or a host’s support), and for medical treatment, arrangements to pay for care
Admissibility under U.S. law

Not permitted on B-2

Employment
Study for credit (only short recreational courses)
Paid performances
Work as foreign media
Birth tourism
Permanent residence

Duration & extensions

Admission at entry	Set by CBP; generally at least six months
Regulatory maximum per admission	Not more than one year
Extensions	Increments of up to six months via Form I-539, filed before the I-94 expires
Enrolling in school	Violates B-2 status — change to F-1 or M-1 first
Interview waiver	Possible for renewals within 12 months of a prior full-validity B visa’s expiration, if issued at 18 or older
Visa bond holders	Must enter and depart through commercial airports only

Fees

Fees for a B-2 (or B-1/B-2) visa applicant.

Fee	Amount	Who pays	Notes
Visa application (MRV) fee	$185	Applicant	Non-petition-based nonimmigrant visa; some nationalities also pay a reciprocity issuance fee
Visa Integrity Fee	$250 (statutory minimum)	Applicant	Created by Pub. L. 119-21, sec. 100007 (8 U.S.C. 1806): at least $250, required by statute at visa issuance, not waivable, possibly reimbursable after the visa expires if all conditions are met. The State Department’s fee page did not list it as of Oct. 1, 2026; follow the embassy’s payment instructions.
Visa bond (designated countries only)	$10,000, $15,000 or $20,000	Applicant or obligor	Only if the consular officer requires it; paid via Pay.gov after interview; returned when bond conditions are met
Expedited interview appointment (pilot)	$750	Applicant	Optional, non-refundable; offered at pilot posts listed by the State Department (Mission Mexico since July 21, 2026 and Mission Canada since Aug. 18, 2026) through Dec. 31, 2026
EVUS enrollment (nationals of China with 10-year B visas)	$30.75	Traveler	Required by Pub. L. 119-21 for PRC nationals holding 10-year B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visas; rises to $31.75 on Oct. 16, 2026
Form I-539 extension or change of status	$420 online / $470 paper	Applicant	Only if extending stay or changing status inside the U.S.

Amounts from the State Department fee page, the Federal Register (visa bond rule; DHS FY 2027 fee notice) and USCIS Form G-1055 (edition 10/01/26) as of Oct. 1, 2026.

Processing time

Expedited appointment pilot: Within 10 business days; $750 optional fee at selected posts, through Dec. 31, 2026

Interview wait times vary by embassy and consulate. Extension (I-539) processing times vary; check USCIS processing times.

Application steps

1
Complete Form DS-160
Fill out the online application and print the confirmation page.
2
Pay the fee and schedule an interview
Pay the $185 MRV fee and book an interview, generally in the country of nationality or residence.
3
Prepare evidence
Bring proof of the trip’s purpose, funds and ties abroad — and for medical treatment, a doctor’s statement and proof of payment arrangements.
4
Attend the interview
Most applicants are interviewed. Nationals of designated countries may be required to post a visa bond before issuance.
5
Travel and enter
CBP sets the I-94 end date. Leave by that date or file Form I-539 for an extension before it expires.

Required documents

For the interview

Valid passport
Form DS-160 confirmation page
MRV fee receipt
Photo meeting State Department requirements
Travel itinerary or invitation from friends or family
Evidence of funds and of ties abroad (job, property, family)
For medical treatment: diagnosis from a local physician, letter from the U.S. provider and proof of payment

Dependents & family

There is no separate dependent classification. Each family member, including children, applies for their own B-2 visa.

Path to a green card

B-2 is a temporary visitor classification. It does not lead to permanent residence, and entering with an undisclosed plan to stay can be treated as misrepresentation.

Family-based immigration (for example through a U.S. citizen spouse or parent) is a separate process — see the family pages.

B-1

Business Visitor

Meetings, conferences and negotiations.

VWP

Visa Waiver Program

ESTA travel for eligible nationals.

F-1

Academic Student

Required for study for credit.

K-1

Fiancé(e) Visa

For marrying a U.S. citizen and staying.

BCC

Border Crossing Card

B-1/B-2 card for Mexican nationals.

Common questions

How long can I stay on a B-2 visa?

CBP sets the date at entry. Under 8 CFR 214.2(b), B-2 visitors issued an I-94 are generally admitted for at least six months and no more than one year; extensions of up to six months may be requested on Form I-539.

Can I take classes on a B-2 visa?

Only a short recreational course not for credit toward a degree. Enrolling in a course of study violates B-2 status; change to F-1 or M-1 first.

What does a B-2 visa cost?

The application fee is $185. A $250 Visa Integrity Fee is required by statute at issuance; the State Department’s fee page did not yet list it on Oct. 1, 2026. Some nationalities pay a reciprocity fee or must post a visa bond.

Which countries are subject to visa bonds?

As listed on the State Department’s Countries Subject to Visa Bonds page (last updated May 13, 2026): Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyz Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Countries can be added with 15 days’ notice and removed immediately.

Can I give birth in the U.S. on a tourist visa?

Travel primarily to give birth in the United States to obtain citizenship for the child is not permissible on a visitor visa.

Official sources

Recent changes

Aug 3, 2026
Visa bond program made permanent. Final rule (effective Aug. 3, 2026) makes the B-1/B-2 visa bond program permanent. Consular officers may require a bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 from nationals of designated countries; bonded travelers must enter and leave through commercial airports. Source ↗
Jul 15, 2026
Apply in country of nationality or residence. Nonimmigrant visa applicants should schedule interviews at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence; fees paid for applications made elsewhere are not refunded or transferred. Source ↗
Jul 1, 2026
$750 expedited B-visa appointment pilot. Temporary final rule (effective July 1, 2026) created an optional, non-refundable $750 fee to book a B-1/B-2 interview within 10 business days at selected posts; the pilot runs through Dec. 31, 2026. The State Department lists Mission Mexico (from July 21, 2026) and Mission Canada (from Aug. 18, 2026) as pilot locations. Source ↗
Jan 1, 2026
Expanded travel restrictions take effect. Proclamation 10998 fully suspends entry for nationals of 19 countries and holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents, and suspends B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas (plus immigrant visas) for nationals of 19 more countries. Visas issued before Jan. 1, 2026 were not revoked. Source ↗
Oct 1, 2025
Interview waivers narrowed. Nearly all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including those under 14 and over 79, now require an in-person interview. Waivers remain mainly for diplomatic/official classes and certain B-1/B-2, BCC and H-2A renewals within 12 months of a prior full-validity visa’s expiration. Source ↗
Aug 20, 2025
Visa bond pilot begins. A 12-month pilot (temporary final rule, 90 FR 37378) allowed consular officers to require $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 bonds from certain B-1/B-2 applicants; Malawi and Zambia were the first covered countries. Source ↗
Jun 9, 2025
Travel restrictions on 19 countries take effect. Proclamation 10949 suspended entry for nationals of 12 countries and suspended B, F, M and J visas (plus immigrant visas) for nationals of 7 more, effective 12:01 a.m. EDT June 9, 2025. Source ↗

This page is general reference material compiled from the official sources above and is not legal advice. Eligibility depends on individual facts; rules and fees change, so confirm with the agency before you file. VisaTypes.com is not affiliated with USCIS, the Department of State or any government agency. Spotted an error? Tell us.