One of the most exciting countries to explore, the United States of America or USA is full of surprises. Furthermore, it is one of the most technologically advanced nations across the globe. In addition. the cultural diversity this nation holds is something to cherish and admire as it offer mega metropolitan cities along with breathtaking natural small towns.
A US Tourist Visa is what you will require to discover the hidden gems and beyond of the most developed country of the world. This blog will discuss everything that you need to apply for the same. Let's begin.
Documents Required for a U.S. Tourist Visa
A visa is an official and a formal document that requires one to submit essentials to proceed with the application process. However, the United States has different policies for visa extension or application but provides an opportunity to stretch their visa. Yet, if you want an extension in your stay while you are in the United States, you must apply for the same 45 days before it expires. Furthermore, you may use the fee schedule for Form I-539 to understand and learn about how much you have to pay. However, you will be requiring essential documents to apply for it.
1. A copy of passport with at least 6 months of validity.
2. A visa copy(colored) of you first 30 day visit visa (in case of extension)
3. A copy of your return flight tickets
4. Recently clicked passport size photos that are needed for identification process
5. Financial proof of evidence of funds needed to be presented by an individual to showcase the reliability for supporting the stay.
Application Process of a U.S. Tourist Visa
Every task requires one to go through a specific process to accomplish it. However, for this one, you can opt for Visa Service and seek assistance from experts to fill out the application form. Yet, these are some mandatory steps one needs to know before applying for a visa.
Step 1: The first step is to get an invitation to travel to U.S. .Furthermore, it is based on the Visa Application. However, the kind of invitation will depend on the purpose of the visit or travel.
Step 2: Gather all the required documents to proceed further. In addition, you will also need additional documents as per the purpose of your trip such as bleisure or sightseeing.
Step 3: Fill out the application form available on the official website of the U.S. Embassy. Moreover, it comprises various questions about you and your trip.
Step 4: Pay the application fee.
Step 5: Once you have paid the visa fee, you will get a notification after the embassy views your application form.
Processing Time of U.S. Visa
The procedural time for a Sri Lankan visa usually stay around 3-4 working days after one has submitted all the required documents. However, this time duration may vary upon multiple factors such as the volume of applications and specific instance of each case. Furthermore, if you apply through U.S. embassy or consulate in person or online, the time of the process may vary as per that. In addition, it might take several days in some cases. However, you must know that the processing time may get longer in peak seasons of travel due to the high number of applications.
Well, there are several types of U.S visa that you must know about in general and to define your purpose of visit as per the requirement.
Types of U.S. Visa You Can Apply for
Here are 2 major types of U.S. visa you might want to know about. It is to help you identify the purpose of your visit and to opt for as per the requirement.
B1 Visa
It is a non immigrant visa for people visiting the states temporarily for business or work purposes. You can seek assistance from an international visa service regarding its process and everything that follows the same. It does not give visitors the privilege of getting employment but allows one to indulge in business related pursuits. This may involve professionals attending conferences, meetings, and business negotiations. In addition, it is designed for temporary visits that are crucial for the business but does not allow long term stay or residency or employment in the states.
B2 Visa
This type of visa can be applied by one in case of visiting the United States for travel related purposes, or medical treatment, or visiting family members. It is one of the most common types of visa used by people from all across the globe to fly to the U.S. However, to opt for this one, you will still be needing to meet the eligibility criteria and demonstrate financial stability and evidence related to the same.
Recent Changes in U.S. Visa Changes in 2025
1. H-1B Visa Policy Shift
The government of United States has revised the H-1B visa program to keep the American workers on priority. This was done with introducing stricter eligibility criteria for foreign nationals that might overshadow the U.S. locals.
2. New Residency Program
The government of the United States has proposed a new "Gold Card" that offers a pathway to residency and then eventually leading to citizenship for a price of $5 million to the officials. Furthermore, the major reason for implementing this program is to filter out and attract individuals with high net worth.
3. Visa Waiver Program for Foreign Nationals
The department of the United States has recently improved and updated the Visa Waive program for 2025. It includes new eligible countries and foreign nationals to travel to the United States for business and tourism purposes without obtaining a visa. This may have simplified the process but one still needs to meet the eligibility criteria for other documentation processes.
Conclusion
If you are one of the residents of gulf region like many of them who plan to visit the U.S. every year, contact a travel agency in Dubai for better assistance regarding travel essentials. It includes documentation processing of visa, passport, and other financial proofs that might be a mandate for one to carry before beginning the trip. We hope you found the blog interesting and informative.
