Destination guide · United States
Visiting United States
The US runs one of the strictest short-stay visa regimes among rich democracies. Approval hinges on convincing a consular officer under INA §214(b) that you'll leave — not on paperwork alone.
Section 1
Visa policy overview
Non-immigrant entry is either through the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA, 90 days, ~40 eligible countries) or a B1/B2 visitor visa stamped after an in-person interview. There is no formal appeal — refused applicants can only re-apply with new evidence.
ESTA-eligible for 40 Visa Waiver Program countries (most of the EU, UK, Japan, South Korea, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Chile). Everyone else needs a B1/B2 visa via interview at a US embassy.
Section 2
Main visa types
ESTA (VWP)
Nationals of the 40 Visa Waiver countries — 90-day tourism/business stays.
B-1 / B-2 visitor visa
Everyone else — tourism, family visits, short business meetings. Multiple-entry, typically valid 10 years for most nationalities.
C-1 transit
Passing through a US airport to a third country when not eligible for TWOV.
F-1 / M-1 student
Full-time study at a SEVP-certified school after I-20 issuance.
H, L, O, P work visas
Skilled workers, intracompany transfers, extraordinary ability and performers with a US-employer petition.
Section 3
Basic eligibility
- Passport valid 6 months beyond stay (waived for many countries under the six-month club rule).
- Proof of strong ties to your home country — job, property, family, ongoing studies.
- Funds to cover the trip without unauthorised work.
- Clean immigration record — no prior US overstays, deportations or visa fraud.
- For ESTA: a machine-readable e-passport from a VWP country, no recent travel to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Cuba, North Korea, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen (which triggers a full B-visa requirement).
Published statistics
United States approval rates by nationality
Approval-rate lookup
United States corridor statistics
Adjusted refusal rate for B-1/B-2 visitor and F-1 student visas, published annually by the US State Department. Lower is better. Averages across all applicants of that nationality — your individual chance depends on ties, prior travel and consular post.
Algeria · B-1 / B-2 visitor
45% approved
Refusal rate 55% · corridor average refusal 33%
See the full B-1 / B-2 visitor table (38 nationalities)+
Source: US State Department — FY2023 B-Visa refusal rates · Period: Fiscal year 2023 (Oct 2022 – Sep 2023). Rates are population averages rounded to the nearest percent; individual outcomes vary substantially based on applicant profile, prior travel and consular post.
Section 3b
United States visa requirements at a glance
ESTA: up to 90 days per entry, VWP visa valid 2 years. B-1/B-2: up to 6 months per entry (set by CBP), visa typically valid 10 years multiple-entry.
ESTA: minutes to 72 hours. B-1/B-2: interview wait times vary wildly by post — from days (Tokyo, Frankfurt) to 12+ months (Delhi, Bogotá, Mexico City).
- ·ESTA — USD 21 (includes USD 17 VWP travel-promotion fee).
- ·B-1/B-2 MRV fee — USD 185.
- ·Visa issuance reciprocity fee — varies by nationality (USD 0 for most, up to USD 200+).
- Passport valid 6+ months (or per six-month-club rule).
- DS-160 confirmation page with barcode.
- One 5×5 cm white-background photo (last 6 months).
- MRV fee receipt and interview appointment letter.
- Proof of ties: employment letter, payslips (3–6 months), property/lease, family status.
- Bank statements (3–6 months) and tax returns.
- Travel itinerary, hotel bookings, return ticket (optional but recommended).
- Prior US visas and I-94s, plus any prior refusal letters.
At the border
Arriving in United States
CBP officer decides at the port
Your visa or ESTA lets you fly — CBP at the port of entry admits you. Officers can shorten your stay, refer you to secondary inspection or refuse entry outright. Answer questions consistently with your application.
Biometrics & I-94
Fingerprints and photo captured on arrival. Your I-94 admission record (retrievable at i94.cbp.dhs.gov) shows the exact date by which you must leave — this trumps any date stamped in your passport.
Customs declaration
Cash over USD 10,000, agricultural products, and most meat/dairy must be declared. Undeclared items commonly trigger fines and secondary screening on future trips.
Section 4
Common United States refusal reasons
INA §214(b) — failed to prove non-immigrant intent
The single most common refusal. Young, single, unemployed or freelance applicants without visible ties to home get slotted here. There's no appeal — you re-apply with stronger evidence.
Inconsistent answers at interview
Officers cross-check what you wrote on the DS-160 against what you say in the interview. Contradictions on trip purpose, funding source or ties are near-instant refusals.
Weak financials or 'sponsor said he'll pay'
Bank statements showing recent large deposits, or applicants who can't explain who pays for the trip, raise fraud flags. Sponsor letters help only when the sponsor is a close relative with clear funds.
Prior US overstay or visa fraud
Any overstay >180 days triggers a 3-year bar; >1 year triggers a 10-year bar. Undisclosed prior refusals or misrepresentation are lifetime bars under INA §212(a)(6)(C).
Sensitive-country travel or profession
Recent travel to Iran, Syria, etc., or work in nuclear/AI/aerospace fields, often triggers §221(g) administrative processing (weeks to months) rather than an outright refusal.
Section 5
Strategy tips that actually move the needle
Tip 01
Apply at your home consulate whenever possible
Third-country national (TCN) applications abroad have far higher refusal rates. Officers assume you're 'consulate shopping'. Fly home for the interview if it matters.
Tip 02
Bring evidence, don't recite it
Employment letter, payslips, property deeds, family photos, return ticket. You may never be asked — but if you are and don't have them, it's a 214(b).
Tip 03
Answer in one to two sentences
Interviews average 60–120 seconds. Long, rambling answers signal rehearsal or nerves. Keep it factual and specific: dates, cities, people you'll see.
Tip 04
Never lie about a prior refusal
Question 39 of the DS-160 asks. Consulates see every prior application across all US posts. Undisclosed refusals are treated as fraud under INA §212(a)(6)(C) — lifetime ban.
Staying longer
Beyond a short visit in United States
B1/B2 extension (Form I-539)
You can request up to 6 additional months by filing I-539 before your I-94 expires. Approval is discretionary and can take 6–12 months.
Official pageChange of status
If you enrol in study or receive a US-employer petition (H-1B, O-1, L-1), you can adjust from within the US via I-539 or I-129. ESTA/VWP entrants cannot change status.
Official pageGreen card via family or employment
Marriage to a US citizen, employer-sponsored EB-2/EB-3, EB-5 investor route, or the DV lottery for eligible countries. Multi-year process.
Official pageFAQ
United States visa — quick answers
How long is a US B1/B2 visa valid?+
Usually 10 years multiple-entry for most nationalities. Each entry allows up to 6 months (set by CBP). Validity varies by nationality — Chinese and Indian citizens now typically get shorter validity.
Can I work remotely for my foreign employer while in the US on ESTA or B1/B2?+
Grey area. Incidental remote work for a foreign employer paid abroad is generally tolerated for short stays, but you cannot work for or be paid by a US entity, and CBP has denied entry to people whose LinkedIn suggested US-based freelancing.
What happens if I overstay by a few days?+
Any overstay voids your existing visa automatically. Overstays under 180 days don't trigger a re-entry bar but almost always cause a 214(b) refusal on the next application. 180+ days = 3-year bar; 1 year+ = 10-year bar.
How much money do I need to show?+
No fixed threshold. Officers want to see funds proportional to your trip — a 2-week visit needs less than a 3-month one. USD 100–200/day is a reasonable benchmark. Show sustained balances, not sudden deposits.
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