The B-2 visa is a temporary visitor visa for tourism, family visits, and medical treatment

A B-2 visa is a document that allows a foreign national to enter the United States for a short stay — typically up to six months — for reasons that do not involve work or permanent settlement. The most common reasons are tourism, visiting family or friends, attending a wedding or funeral, or receiving medical treatment. The visa itself is a stamp or sticker placed in your passport by a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad; it is not a permit to stay, but rather permission to request entry at a U.S. port of arrival.

The B-2 is part of the B visa category, which also includes the B-1 (business visitor) visa. Many people hold a combined B-1/B-2 visa that covers both purposes. The key distinction is that B-2 holders cannot work for a U.S. employer, earn income in the United States, or engage in any paid activity — even volunteer work that displaces a paid position is typically prohibited.

You do not need a B-2 visa if you are a citizen of one of the countries in the Visa Waiver Program, which includes most of Western Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and others. Citizens of those countries can enter the U.S. for tourism or business for up to 90 days using an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) instead. Everyone else generally needs a B-2 visa to visit the United States for non-work purposes.

Key Takeaways

  • A B-2 visa allows you to visit the United States for tourism, family visits, medical treatment, or similar purposes for up to six months, but you cannot work or earn income.
  • You must obtain the visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country before you travel; you cannot get one upon arrival at a U.S. airport.
  • The visa process requires proof that you have ties to your home country (a job, property, family, or savings) and that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay.
  • A visa officer at the embassy or consulate makes the final decision; approval is not automatic, and officers can deny your process if they believe you intend to stay or work permanently.
  • Once you arrive in the United States with a B-2 visa, a customs and border protection officer decides how long you can stay — typically up to six months, but sometimes less.

How to get a B-2 visa: the steps and timeline

The process begins online at the State Department website, where you fill out Form DS-160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa process). This form asks about your background, your reason for travel, where you will stay, and whether you have ever been denied a visa or had immigration trouble. You submit it electronically and receive a confirmation number.

Next, you pay the visa fee (currently $160 for most nationalities, though some countries pay more or less) and schedule an appointment at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country. Wait times for appointments vary widely — in some places you can get one within days, in others it may take weeks or months. You then attend an in-person interview with a visa officer, who will ask you questions about your trip, your job, your finances, and your ties to your home country.

The officer will ask to see documents: your passport, proof of funds (bank statements, pay stubs, a letter from an employer or sponsor), proof of ties to your home country (a lease, property deed, employment letter, or family documents), and proof of your reason for travel (hotel reservations, an invitation letter from a family member, a medical appointment letter, or an event invitation). The interview typically lasts a few minutes to half an hour.

If approved, the visa is placed in your passport, usually within a few days to a week. If denied, you receive a written reason and may reapply, though you will need to address the officer's concerns. The entire process from form submission to visa in hand typically takes two to four weeks, but can take longer during busy periods or if additional documents are requested.

What documents you need to bring to your visa interview

Bring your valid passport and the DS-160 confirmation page. You will also need proof that you can pay for your trip: recent bank statements (usually the last two or three months), pay stubs from your employer, or a letter from your bank showing your account balance. If someone else is paying for your trip, bring a letter from that person stating they will cover your costs, plus their bank statements and proof of their relationship to you.

Bring proof that you have a reason to return to your home country. This might be an employment letter on company letterhead stating your job title, salary, and how long you have worked there; a lease or property deed in your name; school enrollment documents; or family documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, or custody papers) showing you have dependents at home. The stronger your ties, the more convincing your case.

Bring documents related to your specific trip: hotel reservations or an invitation letter from the person you are visiting (with their contact information and relationship to you), a medical appointment letter if you are traveling for treatment, or an event invitation if you are attending a wedding or conference. If you have traveled to the United States before, bring copies of previous visas and entry stamps to show you have complied with the rules in the past.

Why visa officers deny B-2 applications

The most common reason for denial is that the officer believes you intend to stay permanently or work illegally. This suspicion often arises if you have weak ties to your home country — no job, no family, no property, and little savings. An officer may also deny your process if you cannot clearly explain the purpose of your trip, if your story seems inconsistent, or if you have a history of visa violations or immigration fraud.

Other grounds for denial include criminal history, certain health conditions, prior deportation, or being on a government watchlist. If you have overstayed a previous visa, worked without authorization, or violated the terms of a prior visa, you will likely be denied. Some countries have higher denial rates than others, and some applicants are denied straightforward because the officer is not convinced by the evidence presented.

If you are denied, you can reapply, but you should address the reason for the denial. If the officer said you lacked ties to your home country, get a job or stronger financial documentation. If the officer doubted your reason for travel, bring more detailed evidence. You can also request a new interview with a different officer, though you will have to pay the fee again.

What happens when you arrive in the United States with a B-2 visa

When you land at a U.S. airport or cross a land border, you go through customs and border protection (CBP). A CBP officer will examine your passport, your visa, and your entry documents. They will ask you questions: where you are going, how long you plan to stay, where you will be staying, and whether you are carrying more than $10,000 in cash. They may also ask about your job, your finances, or your ties to your home country.

The CBP officer has the authority to refuse entry even if you have a valid visa. They can also decide how long you are allowed to stay — the visa does not may provide six months. If the officer believes you are a security risk, have lied on your process, or intend to work, they can turn you away at the border. If admitted, the officer stamps your passport with an arrival date and a departure date (usually six months from arrival, but sometimes less).

You must leave the United States by the date stamped in your passport. If you want to stay longer, you can request an extension from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before your time runs out, though extensions are not always granted. If you overstay your visa, you become deportable and may be barred from returning to the United States for three to ten years, depending on how long you overstayed.

B-2 visa restrictions: what you cannot do

You cannot work for pay in any form — no employment, no self-employment, no freelance work, no gig work, and no paid internships. You cannot earn income from the United States, even if you are paid by a foreign company for work done in the U.S. You cannot attend school full-time (though you may take a limited number of courses as a visitor). You cannot establish a business or sign contracts to provide services.

You cannot volunteer if the volunteer work would displace a paid employee or if it is the primary purpose of your stay. You can do unpaid household work for family members or attend a conference, but the line between permitted activity and prohibited work is sometimes unclear. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, contact USCIS or the U.S. embassy before you do it.

You also cannot change your status to another visa category while in the United States in most cases — if you want to work or study, you must leave and reapply for a different visa. The exception is that you can sometimes change to an H-1B (specialty occupation worker) visa or an F-1 (student) visa if you meet the requirements, but this is complicated and requires legal guidance.

B-2 visa versus other visitor visas and programs

The ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is faster and cheaper than a B-2 visa — it costs $14 and takes minutes to obtain online — but it is only for citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries and allows only 90 days of stay. If you are from a Visa Waiver country and need to stay longer than 90 days, you must get a B-2 visa.

The B-1 visa is for business visitors — people attending meetings, conferences, or negotiations — and is often combined with the B-2 on a single document. The rules are similar, but B-1 holders can be reimbursed for certain business expenses (travel, meals, lodging) without it being considered "work."

The F-1 visa is for full-time students and requires enrollment at an accredited school. The H-1B visa is for specialty occupation workers and requires an employer sponsor. The L-1 visa is for intracompany transferees. If your purpose is tourism or a short family visit, the B-2 is the correct visa. If you plan to work, study full-time, or stay permanently, you need a different category.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a B-2 visa last?

The visa itself is valid for a set period — usually 10 years for U.S. citizens of most countries, though some countries receive shorter validity periods. However, the visa is only a ticket to request entry. Once you arrive in the United States, a customs officer decides how long you can stay, typically up to six months. You must leave by that date or request an extension.

Can I extend my B-2 visa if I want to stay longer?

You can request an extension from USCIS before your authorized stay ends, but extensions are not automatic. You must show that your reason for staying longer is legitimate and that you still have ties to your home country. Extensions are typically granted for medical reasons or family emergencies, but not for tourism or general visits.

What if I get married to a U.S. citizen while on a B-2 visa?

Marriage to a U.S. citizen does not automatically change your status. You can marry while on a B-2 visa, but you will need to leave the United States and explore for an immigrant visa (green card) at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. You cannot change status to an immigrant visa while physically in the United States on a B-2 visa in most cases.

Can I bring my family members on a B-2 visa?

Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can each obtain their own B-2 visas to travel with you. They must each explore separately at the embassy or consulate and meet the same requirements — proof of funds, ties to their home country, and a clear reason for the trip. They are not automatically granted visas just because you are.

What happens if I overstay my B-2 visa?

If you stay past the date stamped in your passport, you are in the United States illegally and become deportable. You may be arrested, detained, and removed. You will also be barred from returning to the United States for three to ten years, depending on how long you overstayed. Overstaying also makes it much harder to obtain any future U.S. visa.