The United States attracted 79.6 million tourists in 2018, accounting for almost 5.6% of the total international travelers worldwide, according to figures published by the US Travel Association. Whether you choose to spend your nights under countless stars at Yosemite National Park, or on the idyllic beaches of Maui, the United States is sure to entice you with its charm.
To visit this enormous country, you first need to apply for a visitor visa. A visitor visa is a short-term visa, granted to a person who intends to travel to America for the purposes of business, tourism, medical treatment or a combination of these purposes. There are two types of US visitor visas, which you need to choose from, depending on the purpose of your visit.
Business Visa (B1)
This kind of visa is issued to those wanting to travel to the US on a temporary basis for the purposes of negotiating a business contract, consultation with business associates, attending scientific, business or educational conventions, or to settle an estate.
Tourism Visa (B2)
The B2 visa is meant for those who wish to travel to America for the purposes of visiting friends or family, for tourism, medical treatment, or participating in a music, sports or social event that does not lead to any monetary remuneration.
To apply for a visitor visa, you need to fill the non-immigration visa application form, DS-160, submit the mandatory documents, pay the visa fee and then schedule appointments for biometric readings and the visa interview.
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Sponsor Documents Required for US Visa
If your visit to the United States is being sponsoring by a friend or relative, certain documents will need to be submitted as proof. You will need to request your sponsor to send these documents directly to you, so that you can attach them with the other mandatory documents that accompany the visa application. Here’s a look at the key documents of sponsorship you will need:
Affidavit of Support
Your will need to fill Affidavit of Support, Form I-134, to prove their financial ability to support your stay in the US. If more than one person is being sponsored by them, they will need to fill separate forms for each person.
Invitation Letter
A formal letter of invitation, addressed to the applicant, is required. If more than one person will be traveling through the same sponsorship, a single letter mentioning all the names of the people being sponsored will suffice. The letter can be in English or your native language.
Letter to the US Consulate
A letter from the sponsor, addressed to the US consulate, stating that they will be responsible for your visit, and requesting them to grant you a visa.
Financial Documents
Financial documents demonstrating that the sponsor has sufficient funds to support your stay in the US are also required. These can include the sponsor’s income tax returns for the last three years, their bank statements and their last three pay stubs.
Residency Status Documents
Documents such as the sponsor’s passport, green card, employment letter, citizenship certificate, etc., which prove their residency status in the US also need to be submitted.
Make sure the documents are accurate and legible before submitting them to the consulate. Also make sure that you only send current documents.
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