United States
US visitor visas
The US visitor category covers short stays — tourism, visiting family or friends, business meetings, private medical treatment and airport transit. The main route is the B-1/B-2 visitor visa (B-1 for business, B-2 for tourism or medical treatment), which does not permit paid employment. Depending on your nationality you may instead be able to travel under the Visa Waiver Program with an approved ESTA for tourism or business for up to 90 days — an ESTA is not a visa, and approval does not guarantee entry. This section groups the US short-stay routes and links to the official U.S. Department of State guidance so you can confirm exactly what applies to you.
- SHORT STAYBUSINESS OR TOURISMNO WORKVisitor visa (B-1/B-2)PopularA temporary visa for business (B-1), tourism or medical treatment (B-2), or the two combined. No employment is permitted.View visa details
- SHORT STAYUP TO 90 DAYSNO VISAVisa Waiver Program (ESTA)PopularLets citizens of participating countries travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa, using an approved ESTA obtained before travel.View visa details
- SHORT STAYSEA OR AIR CREWD crewmember visaA short-term nonimmigrant visa for foreign nationals working aboard a sea vessel or international aircraft that operates in the United States.View visa details
- SHORT STAYTRANSITC-1 transit visaA short-stay nonimmigrant visa for travellers passing through the United States in immediate and continuous transit on the way to another country.View visa details
- SHORT STAYBUSINESSNO PAID WORKB-1 Business Visitor VisaPopularA temporary nonimmigrant visa for short business trips to the United States — meetings, conferences, contract negotiation and consulting with associates. It does not permit paid work or employment by a US company.View visa details
- SHORT STAYTOURISM & MEDICALNO WORKB-2 Tourist Visitor VisaPopularA temporary US visa for tourism, holidays, visiting family and friends, private medical treatment and short recreational courses. No paid work or study for academic credit is permitted.View visa details