The USA Guides

USA Visa & Entry Requirements: ESTA, B-1/B-2 Visa & What to Expect

· 6 min read Practical
US passport control booths at an international airport arrivals hall

Contents

  1. Step 1: Am I Eligible for ESTA?
  2. Applying for ESTA
  3. The B-2 Tourist Visa
  4. Where to Apply
  5. Application Steps
  6. Required Documents
  7. Common Refusal Reasons
  8. At the US Border: What to Expect
  9. Electronic Passports
  10. Duration of Stay
  11. Extending Your Stay

Entering the United States requires either an approved ESTA (for eligible nationalities) or a valid US visa. The system is straightforward once you know which route applies to you—but mistakes, incomplete applications, or criminal history flags can result in denial at the border. This guide covers both routes in full.

Step 1: Am I Eligible for ESTA?

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) lets nationals of 42 countries travel to the USA for up to 90 days without a visa, provided they hold a valid ESTA. As of 2026, VWP countries include the UK, Ireland, most of the EU, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, among others.

You are not eligible for ESTA if you:

  • Hold a passport from a non-VWP country (including India, China, Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, Pakistan, and most of the world)
  • Have previously been denied a US visa or ESTA
  • Have been arrested or convicted of a crime (even minor offences in some cases)
  • Have travelled to Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for diplomatic travel)
  • Have dual nationality with one of those countries

If any of those apply, you need a B-2 tourist visa regardless of your main passport.

Applying for ESTA

Apply at the official US government site: esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Do not use third-party sites—many charge $70+ for a service the government provides for $21.

Cost: $21 (as of 2026), paid by credit/debit card during the application
Validity: 2 years from approval date, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first
Stay limit: 90 days per visit; you cannot extend this or convert to a different status while in the USA
Processing: Most applications are approved instantly or within 72 hours; some are deferred for additional review

Apply at least 72 hours before your flight. Applications submitted at the gate are not guaranteed to process in time. Carriers will not board passengers without ESTA approval.

Information required:

  • Passport details (number, issue date, expiry, issuing country)
  • Travel itinerary (flight number, address of first night’s accommodation)
  • Emergency contact
  • Employment information
  • Background questions (criminal history, health conditions, previous US visa refusals)

Answer every question accurately. CBP cross-references ESTA data against law enforcement and immigration databases. Providing false information is a federal crime and will result in a permanent bar on future US entry.

The B-2 Tourist Visa

If you are not VWP-eligible, you need a B-2 nonimmigrant visa for tourism, visiting family, or receiving medical treatment.

Where to Apply

Apply at the US Embassy or Consulate serving your home country. The full list is at travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html.

Application Steps

  1. Complete DS-160 — the online nonimmigrant visa application at ceac.state.gov/genniv. This is a detailed form covering travel history, family ties, employment, and purpose of visit. Save your application ID—you will need it at the interview.

  2. Pay the MRV fee — $185 as of 2026. This is non-refundable even if your visa is denied. Payment methods vary by country; most use a bank transfer or online payment system specified by the local Embassy.

  3. Schedule your interview — done through the US Embassy website for your country. Wait times vary enormously: some countries have appointments available within days; others (India, Mexico, Brazil) can have wait times of 6–18 months. Check current wait times at travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html.

  4. Attend the interview — bring your passport, DS-160 confirmation, MRV fee receipt, and supporting documents (see below). Interviews are brief—typically 2–5 minutes. The consular officer will ask about your travel plans, ties to your home country, and financial situation.

  5. Visa issuance — if approved, your passport is retained and returned with the visa stamp within 3–10 business days via courier.

Required Documents

The consular officer has discretion, but standard supporting documents include:

  • Valid passport (plus old passports showing travel history)
  • DS-160 confirmation page
  • Passport-size photo meeting US specifications
  • Evidence of financial means: recent bank statements (3–6 months), pay slips, or tax returns
  • Evidence of ties to your home country: property ownership, employment letter, family responsibilities
  • Itinerary: flight bookings (not necessarily purchased), hotel reservations, and a clear travel plan
  • Letter of invitation if staying with a US contact (not required but helpful)

Common Refusal Reasons

B-2 visas are refused under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act when the officer is not convinced you will leave the USA at the end of your visit. Common reasons:

  • No stable employment or income in home country
  • Previous overstays in the USA or other countries
  • Immediate family members already in the USA (immigration intent assumed)
  • Vague travel plans or implausibly cheap itinerary
  • Prior visa refusals not disclosed on DS-160

Refusals are not automatically permanent. You can reapply immediately, but the same officer is likely to refuse again unless you can demonstrate a material change in circumstances.

At the US Border: What to Expect

Whether arriving by air, land, or sea, all visitors clear US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The process at major airports:

  1. Primary inspection — an officer checks your passport and ESTA/visa, scans your biometrics (fingerprints + photo), and asks basic questions about your trip. Common questions:

    • What is the purpose of your visit?
    • Where will you be staying?
    • How long are you planning to stay?
    • Do you have sufficient funds for your trip?
    • Are you travelling alone or with others?

    Answer concisely and truthfully. Do not volunteer information beyond what is asked.

  2. Secondary inspection — a minority of travellers are sent for additional questioning. This is not automatically a problem; it can happen for data mismatches, random selection, or flags from the airline manifest. Secondary can take 30 minutes to several hours. Officers may review your phone and luggage.

  3. Customs declaration — all arrivals complete a customs form (or the CBP One digital equivalent). Declare all food, plant material, agricultural products, and cash/monetary instruments over $10,000. Failure to declare is a civil or criminal offence.

CBP officers have broad authority to deny entry. Even VWP travellers with approved ESTA can be turned away at the border. The most common reasons are officer-level credibility concerns about stated intent, outstanding immigration violations, or criminal record hits.

Electronic Passports

ESTA requires an e-Passport (a passport with a chip symbol on the cover). If your passport does not have the chip, you need a B-2 visa even if your country is on the VWP list.

Duration of Stay

ESTA allows up to 90 days per visit, but the actual permitted duration is set by the CBP officer at entry and stamped in your passport (or recorded electronically). Overstaying—even by one day—triggers a visa ban: a 3-year bar for overstays under 180 days, a 10-year bar for overstays of 180 days or more.

Extending Your Stay

ESTA and B-2 visas cannot be extended inside the USA in most cases. If you need more time, you must leave, wait outside the country, and re-enter on a new authorisation. Attempting to extend by flying to Canada or Mexico and re-entering counts as a new admission, but CBP officers track this and may question repeat entries.