Information regarding the B2 tourism category of a US visa:
The length of stay granted with a B2 visa is Up To Six months [could be shorter, at the discretion of the issuing officer]. That is called the Expiry Date. If you wish to stay longer than one needs to pursue an extended stay visa.
The validity of a B1 / B2 visa is typically issued for 10 years.
Validity and Expiry are different time periods. Expiry relates to the length of time allowed for the specific purpose of the visitation and that is not longer than 6 months.
What Is a B2 Visa?
The B2 visa (also referred to as a tourist visa) allows you to get into the U.S. for pleasure purposes, tourism, or
medical treatment. You may see the U.S. famous sights, as well as create new contacts that you may use back home.
A holder of a U.S. tourist visa may engage in the following activities while in the United States:
Go on a holiday in the United States
Visit your friends and
family that are residing in the U.S.
Tour different cities and attractions of the United States
Visit the U.S. in order to receive
medical treatment
Participate in contests and/or
events that are related to sports or
music, but for which you won’t be paid
Take part in social
events held by different organizations
Enroll in short-term courses for which you won’t be receiving any credit (for example, a
cooking class)
If you do not find yourself in any of the above-mentioned categories, then you might not be able to get a B2 visa.
Who Is Eligible for a B2 Visa?
For you to be allowed in the U.S. under the B2 visa, you will need to meet the following criteria that make you eligible:
Your intention for visiting the U.S. is in compliance with the purposes of the visit allowed by the B2 visa.
Your financial means are high enough to cover your entire stay in the United States.
You have the intention of returning to your own country and have no intention of staying permanently or for a longer time than the expiry period of the entry visa.
If you meet the criteria above, then you should be eligible for obtaining a B2 visa.
B2 Visa Processing Time
In ordinary, non-pandemic times, the processing time will depend on person to person. For some, it will only take a few weeks – whereas for others it might take up to a few months. It will all depend on the workload at your U.S. Embassy.
B2 Visa Extension
If you wish to stay for longer, you might go for an extension to your visa that will give you up to an additional 6 months. The documents required will be the same as for your visa application (passport, statement behind the extension, evidence of financial support, etc.), as well as a completed Form I-539 and a photocopy of the I-94 card.
Differences between B1 and B2 Visa
Both B1 and B2 visas are generally used as a joint “B1/B2 Visitor’s Visa,” as many people tend to mix business with pleasure (e.g. a business meeting that gives you time to visit the surroundings).
Still, the main difference between the two is that while the B1 visa is used for business purposes, the B2 visa is used for pleasure. You use the B1 visa to attend a business conference in the U.S., for example, whereas the B2 visa is used when you want to spend a holiday at a friend – or anything else that says “leisure.”
The period for which your B visa will be valid will depend on the facts of your application. Usually, the B1/B2 visa is valid for 10 to 15 years.
If you’ve already received your B1/B2 visa, you can check the dates printed on your visa. Make sure what the validity period is and when your visa will expire.
Is There a Maximum Number of Trips You Can Make on a B Visa?
If you have a B1/B2 visa, you can visit the United States whenever you want to – as long as your passport is valid. The B visa is a multiple entry visa, which means you can use it to enter the United States more than once.
There is no limit on the number of times you can enter the U.S. on your B visa, as long as you keep the information we discuss below in mind.
How Long Can You Stay in the U.S. on a Visitor Visa?
Because the B1/B2 visa is intended for short visits to the United States, you have to be mindful of how long you stay. You don’t want to overstay your welcome.
Every time you want to enter the U.S., the immigration officer at the port of entry (like the airport) will do a short interview (known as an immigration inspection) to establish the purpose of your visit to the United States. The immigration officer will then approve your stay for a specific period, based on the purpose of your visit.
6-Month B Visas
Usually, the period granted is for about 6 months. It could vary depending on the purpose of your visit, though.
The date you are required to leave the United States will be stamped on your passport or on your Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record). You have to leave the United States on or before this date. Otherwise, you could get yourself into trouble.
How Soon Can You Visit the U.S. Again on a B Visa?
Technically you can visit the United States whenever you want to if you have a B1/B2 visa and a valid passport. There aren’t any rules or laws requiring you to wait a specific time before you are allowed to return.
What you must remember is staying the maximum time during your previous visit and then wanting to return soon after that might raise suspicion with the immigration officer. The immigration officer will check all the dates of your last visits during the short interview before you enter the U.S. The B1/B2 visa’s purpose is to only travel to the U.S. for business or pleasure for short periods. It isn’t intended for extended stays in the U.S. If you are returning quite soon after your initial visit, the immigration officer might suspect you are visiting the U.S. for purposes other than business or pleasure.
The immigration officer will ask you for the purpose of your visit every time before you enter. If they aren’t happy with the reasons you provide, they can immediately send you back to your home country.
Having a Valid issued B1 B2 visa does not mean that a short stay non-immigrant, visitor entry visa will be issued, it just means that you have been processed and approved to request a business or tourism visa at the time of your entry to the USA. The immigration officer that is processing the issuance of the entry
permit determines if a visa is issued and for how long it will be valid before expiry. Think of the B1 B2 visa as a pre-check for validity and approval for entry not the final check for validity and approval at each time you enter.