How to Get a US Visa? B1/B2 Application Guide 2026

The application process for those wishing to travel to the United States proceeds quite differently from the Schengen countries.

In Europe, you often encounter a system where you prepare a long document list and hand it in at an application centre. In a US visa, there is another element alongside your file: you.

Because in US visitor visa applications, the consular officer does not look only at your documents; they assess your purpose of travel, your personal and economic situation, and whether your trip to the United States is temporary.

For this reason, while the question "Which documents should I bring?" is important when preparing for a US visa, it is not sufficient on its own. The real issue is a little different: Why are you going to America, and why will you return?

Understanding the logic of the visitor visa, known as the B1/B2 visa, also makes it easier to understand the entire application process.

In this article, we will look step by step at how a US tourist visa application is made, why the DS-160 form is important, what to pay attention to in the interview, which documents can be prepared, and the most common mistakes applicants make.

What Is a B1/B2 Visa?

The visa category most frequently encountered by people wishing to travel to the US for a short period is the B1/B2.

The B-1 is used mainly for temporary business trips. The B-2 covers visits such as tourism, visiting family and friends, or certain medical trips. The visa granted to many applicants is the combined B1/B2 visitor visa.

For example, spending a few days in New York, touring Los Angeles, holidaying in Miami or visiting a friend living in America can be considered within the tourist/visit B-2 scope. Attending a company meeting, meeting business contacts or travelling briefly for certain commercial activities may fall within the B-1 scope.

There is an important boundary here: the B1/B2 visa is not a work visa.

A visitor visa is not used for purposes such as working in the US, attending a regular education programme or settling permanently. The US Department of State also clearly states that activities such as work, regular study, paid professional performance and permanent residence cannot be carried out on a visitor visa.

For this reason, the purpose of travel must be determined correctly at the very beginning of the visa application.

Is It Difficult to Get a US Tourist Visa?

There is no one-word answer to this question. Saying "a US visa is very hard" is not correct, and neither is "if you prepare the documents you'll definitely get it." Because in US visitor visas, applications are assessed on an individual basis.

The applications of two people working at the same company, two students of the same age, or two people with the same amount of money do not have to produce the same result.

What the consular officer assesses is not merely the figure in the bank account. Elements such as the purpose of travel, the applicant's circumstances, the reason for going to America and the applicant's intention to return to their country after a temporary visit are evaluated together.

For this reason, one should not put too much faith in rigid formulas like "if you have this much salary you'll get it" or "if you have this much money in your account you'll definitely get it."

How Is a US Visa Application Made?

The process consists of several basic steps. In general terms: first the visa category is determined, the DS-160 form is completed, the application fee is paid, an interview appointment is created, the necessary documents are prepared, the consular interview is attended, a decision is made on the application, and in the case of approval the passport and visa delivery process is completed.

At first glance it seems simple. But especially the DS-160 form and the interview are the parts of the application that require the most attention.

What Is the DS-160?

The DS-160 is the online application form used in US non-immigrant visa applications.

The US Department of State states that the DS-160 must be completed electronically in non-immigrant visa applications and that the form is one of the basic pieces of information used in the consular officer's assessment.

In other words, the DS-160 should not be thought of as an ordinary internet form filled in merely to get an appointment. The DS-160 is an important part of your application file that ensures basic information about you reaches the consular officer before the interview begins.

That is why the information given in the form must be prepared with great care.

What Is Asked in the DS-160 Form?

The form is quite detailed. Information may be requested on various subjects, from your personal details to your passport, and from your travel plan to your education and work history.

For example, having your passport, travel plan, dates of previous trips to the US, international travel information from recent years, education history, current and past employment information, and other relevant information to hand while completing the form can make your task easier.

The US Department of State states that particular attention must be paid to completing the DS-160 accurately and fully. False or misleading information in the form can have serious consequences.

For this reason, the approach of "let's just submit it somehow and fix it in the interview" is not correct when completing the DS-160.

Why Does a Mistake in the DS-160 Matter?

Because the information you write in the form may later be compared with the answers you give during the interview.

For example, giving one occupation in the DS-160 and mentioning a different employment situation in the interview may not look like a simple oversight. Similarly, giving incorrect information about the purpose of travel, previous US trips, or education or work history can damage the credibility of the application.

For this reason, accuracy matters more than speed when completing the form. Filling in the DS-160 is not a race. Understanding what a question is asking is more valuable than answering it without fully understanding it.

Should the DS-160 Be Completed in English?

Yes. According to the US Department of State's DS-160 instructions, the answers in the application must be given in English and in English characters; in some specific fields, name information in the native language may be an exception.

At this point, one thing in particular must be distinguished: knowing English and completing the DS-160 correctly are not the same thing.

A person may be able to speak English in daily life but misunderstand the legal or administrative meaning of some of the questions in the form. For this reason, when completing the form, attention should be paid not only to language knowledge but also to what the question is trying to find out.

How Much Is the Fee for a US Visa?

In US non-immigrant visa applications, an application processing fee (MRV) is paid, and this fee is non-refundable regardless of the application result. In addition, there have recently been changes to application fees and additional fee items.

Because US visa fees and country-specific practices change over time, the current fee amount should be confirmed before payment from the US Department of State's official fee page and from the instructions of the US Embassy or Consulate in the country of application.

One detail should not be overlooked here: paying the visa application fee does not mean the visa will be approved. The fee is a processing fee paid for the application to be assessed.

How Is a US Visa Appointment Made?

After the DS-160 form is completed, the next stage of the application process is the appointment. The applicant must create the visa appointment according to the current instructions of the US representation in the relevant country.

There is an important change here. According to the US Department of State's 2026 regulation, non-immigrant visa applications are generally expected to be made through the US Embassy or Consulate in the country of which the applicant is a citizen or resident.

For this reason, applying from another country simply because an earlier appointment is available there may not always be a better option. Especially if the application is made somewhere other than the country of residence, demonstrating the eligibility of the application may become more difficult.

Is a US Visa Interview Mandatory in 2026?

An important change has occurred here in recent years. As of 1 October 2025, the US Department of State made in-person interviews the general rule in non-immigrant visa applications.

There are limited exceptions, such as certain diplomatic/official categories and visa renewal applications meeting certain conditions. For example, certain people who are renewing a full-validity B1, B2 or B1/B2 visa, who apply within 12 months of the previous visa's expiry, and who also meet the other conditions, may be eligible for an interview waiver.

However, this is not automatic. The consular officer may, when necessary, still call the applicant for an in-person interview. Therefore, especially people applying for a US B1/B2 visa for the first time need to prepare for an interview.

What Is Asked in a US Visa Interview?

This is the part of the interview people are most curious about. In fact, the questions are often not as complex as you might think. The consular officer may ask short questions about the purpose of your trip and your personal situation.

For example, you may encounter questions such as: why are you going to America, where will you go, how many days will you stay, what work do you do, have you travelled abroad before, do you know anyone in America, who is covering your travel expenses.

The point to note here is this: the interview is not a memorisation test. Memorising long, pre-prepared sentences and reciting them to the other side often does not look natural. What matters more is knowing the information you gave in the DS-160 and being able to describe your own trip clearly.

"What Should I Say in the Interview?"

The answer to this question is actually quite simple: the truth.

When preparing for a US visa interview, we sometimes see people trying to present themselves as something other than they are. Stating a higher income. Describing a more important occupation. Acting as if they know someone in America whom they have never met. Changing the purpose of travel.

None of this is a good strategy. Rather than trying to guess what the consular officer wants to hear, describing your real situation briefly and clearly is a far healthier approach.

For example, if you are genuinely planning a tourist trip, saying "I want to see New York and Washington. I'll stay about 10 days and return to Türkiye" may be enough. There may be no need to prepare a five-minute speech instead.

Is Speaking English Required for a US Visa?

No. Being able to speak English in the interview is not a basic requirement of the application. The process is carried out according to the applicant's situation and the circumstances of the interview.

For this reason, it is not correct for people worried about English to think "my English isn't good, so I'll definitely be refused." What the consular officer really assesses is not your level of English, but the nature of your application and whether you meet the visa requirements.

Of course, being able to understand the question and express yourself is important. But preparing for an interview and preparing for an English speaking exam are not the same thing.

Which Documents Are Required for a US Visa?

Among the basic documents in US B1/B2 applications are a valid passport, the DS-160 confirmation page, a record of the application fee, appointment information, a photograph where required, and documents supporting your trip and personal situation.

However, there is an important difference here from Schengen applications. In a US visa, "preparing a 100-page file" does not automatically provide an advantage. The consular officer may request additional documents when necessary.

For this reason, the real aim when preparing documents is not to make a file as thick as possible; it is to be able to support the information in your application when necessary.

How Much Money Should Be in the Bank Account?

This question is also asked quite often for US visas. But here too it would not be correct to give a single figure. There is no universal, official amount for a US visa such as "you must have this much money in your account."

Because the cost of a 7-day New York trip and a 25-day America tour is not the same. In addition, your income, regular expenses, employment situation and who is financing the trip also matter.

For example, the economic profile of a person with a regular income may not be assessed the same way as the profile of a person who has had a large sum of money deposited into their account just before the application. For this reason, thinking "I have money in my account, so my visa is certain" is not correct. The bank account is only one part of the application.

What Should Employees Pay Attention to When Applying for a US Visa?

For a person in regular employment, working life is an important part of the existing order in Türkiye. For this reason, documents showing employment status can support the application when necessary. Documents such as payslips, social security (SGK) records, an employer letter and a leave document can demonstrate a person's employment situation.

However, the documents must not only exist but also be consistent with the information in the application. For example, having a different job description in the DS-160, a different role in the employer letter, and a third explanation in the interview can reduce the credibility of the file.

US Visa for Company Owners

The applications of people who own or run a company are also assessed according to their own economic and professional situation. Documents showing the company's activity and the applicant's position in the company can be prepared.

But here too, the aim is not to take as many company documents as possible to the consulate. The real aim is to show the real situation that supports your existing life in Türkiye and your return after the trip.

For example, the business order that requires the owner of an active company to return to Türkiye after a 10-day tourist trip to America can be meaningful in the assessment of the application file.

Can Students Get a US Visa?

Of course. Being a student is not an obstacle to applying for a US tourist visa.

However, how the student's travel expenses will be covered and what the travel plan is must be set out clearly. The file of a student travelling with family financial support may not be the same as that of a student earning their own income.

Here too, what matters is not trying to present the student as something other than they are, but describing their real situation accurately.

I Have a Relative or Friend in the US. Does This Prevent Me from Getting a Visa?

No. Having a relative or friend living in America does not, on its own, mean you cannot get a visa. However, this must be stated correctly in the application.

Rather than saying "I don't know anyone in America," if you genuinely do, you should state it. The important point here is the purpose of travel. If you are applying for a tourist trip, whether your trip is genuinely touristic and how your connections in America relate to your travel plan can be evaluated.

For this reason, being open rather than hiding information in the application is a healthier approach.

Is an Invitation Required for a US Visa?

For a B1/B2 tourist visa, it is not mandatory to obtain an invitation from America for every application. A tourist's application does not become strong simply because an invitation letter has arrived from a US citizen or a person living in America.

If the purpose of travel is genuinely touristic, you can explain it through your own travel plan. On this point, the claim frequently encountered online that "you can't get a tourist visa without an invitation from America" is not correct.

An invitation can be meaningful in certain visit scenarios; but it is not a universal requirement of the B1/B2 tourist visa.

The Most Common Mistakes in US Visa Applications

Completing the DS-160 in a hurry: because the form is long, some people try to skip through the questions quickly. But even a small mistake may later require explanation.

Memorising interview answers: the interview is not a theatre stage. Knowing your own situation is more valuable than rehearsed sentences.

Preparing an unnecessary pile of documents: a thick file does not mean a strong application.

Presenting income as something other than it is: the information given in the application must be verifiable and real.

Hiding acquaintances in America: rather than concealing information asked in the application, it should be explained correctly.

Changing the purpose of travel: a person planning a tourist trip who suddenly mentions a business meeting in the interview can damage the credibility of the application.

Creating a contradiction between the DS-160 and the interview: you need to know the information you gave in the form.

Acting with a "it'll definitely come through" mindset: no consultant, no agent and no person can guarantee a US visa. The decision is made by the consular officer.

What Happens If a US Visa Is Refused?

A refusal decision in US visa applications can be based on different legal grounds. One of the concepts frequently encountered in B1/B2 applications is section 214(b).

Under this section, an applicant's application can be refused when they cannot sufficiently demonstrate that they are eligible for a non-immigrant visa and that they have a temporary travel purpose.

What matters here is not to evaluate the refusal decision merely as "America didn't give me a visa." The real question should be: what could not be sufficiently demonstrated in the application?

If a new application is to be made, what has genuinely changed from the previous application, or how it can be explained better, should be assessed. Resubmitting the same form, the same conditions and the same explanations is not always meaningful.

Is Travel History Required to Get a US Visa?

No. Not having been to Europe before, or not having many visas in your passport, does not automatically mean you cannot get a US visa.

Travel history can be one of the elements considered in assessing an application; but it is not a criterion that determines the visa decision on its own. The file of a person going abroad for the first time and that of a person who has been travelling for years may naturally look different. However, both people can apply according to their own circumstances.

Is It Necessary to Buy a Flight Ticket for a US Visa?

Buying a non-refundable flight ticket before the visa application is generally not a sensible approach. Because buying definite travel before the visa application has been decided can create financial risk.

Showing your travel plan is one thing; buying a non-refundable ticket before the visa comes through is another. For this reason, it may be healthier to determine your travel dates and plan realistically, and to make definite bookings taking the result of the application into account.

How Many Years Is a US Visa Granted For?

There is a common misunderstanding here too. The validity period of a US visa and the length of time you can stay in America on a single entry are not the same thing.

Your visa may have a certain validity date on it. But the decision on how long you can stay when you enter the US is made by the authorised US officials at the border.

Therefore, saying "I have a 10-year US visa" does not mean "I can stay in America for 10 years." A 10-year visa relates to being able to travel using the visa during that period as long as you remain eligible; the length of stay permitted at each entry is a separate matter.

How Long Is the Appointment Waiting Time for a US Visa?

It would not be correct to give a fixed time on this. The US Department of State updates appointment waiting times according to location, seasonal demand and visa category. Consulates can also regularly open new appointment slots.

For this reason, a waiting time that appears to be one month may later change. The US Department of State's global visa waiting-time system is regularly updated and provides applicants with information about current estimated waiting times.

The most important conclusion to draw from this is: on the day you see the appointment time, you cannot predict the result of the application. The appointment, the interview and the visa decision are separate stages.

Another Notable Matter for US Visas in 2026

In 2026, the US Department of State launched a limited fast-appointment pilot programme for non-immigrant visa applications at certain locations. This programme does not mean a general system for all applicants or all representations.

At certain locations within the scope of the pilot, eligible people applying for B visas may, after paying the standard application fee and obtaining an appointment in the normal process, be offered an additional paid expedited appointment option if eligibility and slots are available.

Because the conditions of this programme and the representations where it is available may change over time, it is important for those planning a trip to follow the current announcements of the US Department of State and the relevant representation.

So What Should a Good US Visa Application Look Like?

To put it in a single sentence: your application should be consistent with your real life.

If you are planning a tourist trip, a tourist trip. If you are going for a business meeting, a business trip. If you are visiting a relative, a visit. If your family is covering the travel expenses, family support. If you have your own income, your own income. If you have a company, your company. If you are a student, your student status.

Rather than trying to change your life to make the application look strong, describing your existing life accurately is far healthier. Because one of the biggest problems in a US visa is sometimes not a lack of documents but an unconvincing account.

The Bright Visa Approach to US Visa Applications

When advising on US visas, for us the process is not merely filling in a form and getting an appointment. First, the applicant's situation must be understood.

What work do they do? Which countries have they travelled to before? Why do they want to go to America? Who is financing the trip? What is their existing order in Türkiye? Have they had a US visa before? If they were refused before, why?

A DS-160 prepared without understanding the answers to these questions may be technically complete. But a well-prepared application file does not settle for merely being "complete." It describes the applicant accurately.

At Bright Visa, our approach takes shape here too. Our aim is not to guess what the consular officer wants to hear and have the applicant memorise it. It is to analyse your real situation accurately, plan the application process accordingly, and help the applicant express their own profile correctly.

Because in a US visa there is no single prescription that applies to everyone.

Final Word: What Is the Most Important Thing in a US Visa?

There are a few basic points to keep in mind when preparing a US visa application.

Take the DS-160 seriously. Because it is the form that provides basic information about you before the interview.

Clarify your purpose of travel. You should be able to explain in a few sentences why you want to go to America.

Know your own situation. When questions come up about your occupation, income, travel history and connections in America, your answers should be clear.

See documents as support, not as an end. A thick file is not always a good file.

Don't memorise the interview. Knowing your own story is more valuable than rehearsed answers.

And perhaps most importantly: don't try to look like someone else in order to get the visa. A well-prepared US visa application does not hide the applicant's real situation. It makes it understandable.

Everyone who wants to go to America has a different story. For some the dream is to walk the streets of New York, for others to see California, for others to visit their family, and for others to finally make that trip they have been postponing for years.

The one thing all these stories have in common is this: the application begins not in America but in Türkiye. With the right information. With the right planning. And with a real file that belongs to you.