U.S. B1/B2 Visitor Visa 2026: DS-160, Interview and EVUS Guide

Bottom line: there is no dependable consulate “approval-rate ranking” or perfect interview script for a B1/B2 visa. The applicant must qualify for the visitor category, provide a truthful and internally consistent DS-160 and interview account, and demonstrate a temporary purpose consistent with departure after the visit. Inventing salary, relatives, bookings or travel history creates risk rather than eligibility.

As reviewed for this page, the U.S. Department of State lists the non-petition visitor-visa application fee as $185 and non-refundable. Interview wait times vary by location, season and visa category. Use the live State Department tool and the application post’s instructions rather than a fixed table copied into an article.

Reviewed July 13, 2026 from U.S. Department of State and Customs and Border Protection sources. Use only official .gov sites and the application system designated by the U.S. embassy or consulate.

B-1, B-2 and combined B1/B2

• B-1 covers qualifying temporary business visits such as meetings or negotiations.
• B-2 covers tourism, visits to family or friends and qualifying medical travel.
• B1/B2 is the common combined annotation covering both visitor purposes.

A visitor visa does not authorize employment in the United States. Visa validity is also not the same as the authorized stay for a particular trip. CBP decides admission and the permitted period at the port of entry.

Application process

1. Confirm the correct category

Start with the State Department visitor-visa page. Study, employment, journalism and long-term residence use different categories and should not be forced into B1/B2 because the application looks familiar.

2. Submit DS-160 online

DS-160 is filed through the Consular Electronic Application Center. Save and print the barcode confirmation page after submission; the full application does not need to be printed. Prepare:

• passport and identity information;
• planned itinerary and U.S. contact details;
• previous U.S. travel, applications and refusals;
• family, education and work history;
• a photo meeting the official specifications.

Answer the form actually presented. Internet shortcuts such as always entering “Unknown” for contacts are not official rules. Review spelling, dates, passport number and prior history before submitting.

For field-by-field preparation, continue with the DS-160 submission checklist.

3. Pay and schedule

Follow the application post’s instructions to create an appointment profile, pay the non-refundable fee and schedule an interview. Wait times change, so apply early. The State Department advises against making final, non-refundable travel purchases before visa issuance.

4. Prepare the core documents

The State Department visitor page identifies core documents including:

• a passport valid for travel and meeting the applicable validity requirement;
• the DS-160 confirmation page;
• fee receipt when pre-interview payment is required;
• a compliant photograph, particularly if the electronic upload failed.

The consular post may request additional evidence. Property deeds, household registration, bank statements and employment letters are not a universal package that guarantees approval; use the local instructions and genuine circumstances.

Interview preparation without scripts

The goal is consistency with the DS-160 and reality, not a rehearsed “best answer.” Be ready to explain in your own words:

1. the purpose and activities of the visit;
2. intended destinations, duration and funding;
3. current work, studies, family and finances;
4. U.S. relatives, prior travel and previous refusals;
5. why the visit will remain temporary.

Do not conceal relatives or treat normal nervousness and eye contact as legal criteria. Consular officers assess the application under law and individual facts.

What a 214(b) refusal means

The State Department explains that a 214(b) refusal may mean the applicant did not sufficiently establish qualification for the nonimmigrant category and/or did not overcome the statutory presumption of immigrant intent. It closes that application and has no appeal process.

An applicant may apply again, but must file a new application, pay another fee and schedule another interview. The official guidance recommends presenting significant changed circumstances or additional relevant information. It does not impose a universal six-month waiting period. Switching posts, resubmitting identical facts or collecting entry stamps elsewhere is not a substitute for addressing the refusal.

Administrative processing has no guaranteed timetable

Some applications require administrative processing or additional documents. Duration is case-specific. Follow the written instructions from the consular post and use the official status tool rather than relying on a promised “one to three months.”

EVUS applies to designated ten-year visitor visas

EVUS is not a visa. CBP states that PRC passport holders traveling on a ten-year B-1, B-2 or B1/B2 visa must enroll before temporary business or tourism travel.

Current points:

• the official site is EVUS.gov;
• each new enrollment has cost $30 since September 30, 2025;
• an enrollment is generally usable for multiple trips for two years but can expire earlier because of passport or visa status;
• a new passport, visa or relevant information may require a new enrollment;
• shorter-validity or other visa categories should not automatically be treated as EVUS cases.

Avoid look-alike agency sites and outdated claims that EVUS is free.

Pre-departure checklist

1. Passport, visa and EVUS when applicable are valid.
2. DS-160, interview answers and actual travel purpose remain consistent.
3. Transit-document requirements are confirmed.
4. Accommodation, onward travel and funding plans are genuine.
5. A visa permits travel to request admission; it does not guarantee entry.
6. The traveler will depart within the period admitted by CBP.

Frequently asked questions

Will a Chinese applicant always receive a ten-year B1/B2 visa?

No guarantee exists. Visa validity and entries are shown on the issued visa and are subject to reciprocity arrangements, but the applicant must first qualify for issuance.

Should flights and hotels be purchased before the interview?

Prepare a credible plan and, if needed, cancellable arrangements. Do not make final non-refundable purchases before issuance.

What if a DS-160 error is discovered after submission?

Follow the State Department DS-160 FAQ and the application post’s instructions. Whether a new form is required and how a new confirmation number is connected to an appointment depends on the error and local procedure.

Must the interview be in English?

Language arrangements depend on the application post. Accurate understanding and truthful answers matter more than memorized English lines.

Official sources

• U.S. Department of State: Visitor Visa
• U.S. Department of State: DS-160
• U.S. Department of State: Visa Denials and 214(b)
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection: EVUS

This guide supports application preparation. It is not immigration legal advice and does not promise visa issuance or admission.