“Nonimmigrant” visas for temporarily traveling to the USA
On this page, we present visas for temporary travel to the USA, as well as the visa waiver program for eligible nationalities.
Please contact us if you would like more information.
For tourism with a visa exemption (ESTA)
Who is eligible for ESTA?
You do not need to apply for a visa (Visa Waiver Program) for temporary travel lasting less than 90 days if you hold a passport issued by one of the following countries:
Germany, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Slovenia, Portugal, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Norway, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan.
In this case, you simply need to apply for authorization to travel to the USA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization - ESTA). You can apply online on the official Department of Homeland Security website. The ESTA is valid for 2 years from the date of application.
Attention
Attention:
- You cannot use ESTA to work or reside in the USA.
- If you have traveled to Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, or Yemen since March 1, 2011, you are no longer eligible for the visa waiver program (ESTA) to travel to the USA. You must then apply for a B1/B2 visa (see the procedure below). You must follow this procedure strictly, even if you have a second passport!
For tourism with a prior visa application (B1/B2)
B1 and B2 visas
If you have a passport that is not on the list above or do not meet the criteria for the visa exemption, you must apply for a B1/B2 visa (the two are usually requested at the same time).
The B1 visa is a business visa (meeting with associates, attending a convention or conference, negotiating a contract, etc.). The B2 visa is a tourist visa (vacations, medical treatment, etc.).
B1/B2 visas are valid for 10 years and cost USD 160.
Beware of tax residency
Attention:
- Regarding the B1 business visa: it is not a visa that allows you to work in the USA.
- These two visas allow you to stay in the USA for up to 6 months per year and are valid for 10 years. Be careful that the US tax authorities do not consider you a US tax resident! You will be considered a US resident if you meet the substantial presence test for the calendar year (Substantial Presence Test). To do so, you must be physically present in the USA for: 31 days during the current year and 183 days during the three-year period that includes the current year and the two years immediately preceding it, counting:
- All the days you were present during the current year, and
- 1/3 of the days you were present during the first year preceding the current year, and
- 1/6 of the days you were present during the second year preceding the current year.
To obtain B1/B2 visas, you need:
Schedule an appointment at a U.S. Embassy
Once the application has been submitted, schedule an appointment at a U.S. Embassy.
Book an appointment