Entry
Only eligible nationalities can use ESTA, the visa waiver, so the right route depends on the passport. Among people unable to use it, most require the B-1/B-2 visitor visa: the DS-160 form is completed online, the fee for the visa is paid, and an interview takes place at a consulate or embassy of the US (waivers of the interview have become rare), with exceptions listed on the State Department's page. Waiting times for appointments can be long, so apply early. The 'visa integrity fee' is new, having been passed into law in 2025; the State Department's official site says if and in what way it applies to an application. Entry is not guaranteed by a visa, because the border officer makes that decision, and how long a stay is allowed appears on the I-94 record. Stick to official .gov sites, and never pay anyone offering to 'guarantee' a visa.
- ESTA - official application site (CBP) OfficialThe official ESTA application, for eligible nationalities.
- US Department of State - Visitor visa (B-1/B-2) OfficialRequirements, fees and steps.
- DS-160 online visa application OfficialThe official visa application form.
- US Customs and Border Protection - travel OfficialWhat to declare and what to expect at the border.
- I-94 - check your admission record OfficialSee your authorised stay after you enter.
- Visit The USA OfficialOfficial tourism guide (Brand USA).
