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Nonimmigrant Visa Unit

B-1/B-2 Visa (Temporary Visitor for Business or Pleasure)

What is a B-1/B-2 visa?

A B-1/B-2 visa is the most commonly sought nonimmigrant visa. It is for people who wish to visit the United States temporarily for business or pleasure. Some of the activities permissible on a B-1/B-2 visa are:

  • Going on vacation
  • Visiting family members
  • Attending business meetings
  • Participating in work-related training
  • Receiving medical treatment
  • Undertaking independent research
  • Performing missionary work

For a more complete explanation of these and other permissible B-1/B-2 activities, please see 9 FAM 41.31.

How do I apply for a B-1/B-2 visa?

Follow the below steps in order to apply for a B-1/B-2 visa:

  1. Review our Personal Appearance Waiver Program page, our Business Visa Program page, and our Group Travel Program page to determine whether you may qualify for one of these programs. If so, follow the directions on the corresponding page. Otherwise, go to step 2.
  2. Purchase a personal identification number (PIN). If you are in the United States, skip this step and go to step 3.
  3. Contact our Visa Information Center to schedule an appointment with the consular officer.
  4. Pay the nonrefundable visa application fee.
  5. Appear at the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit on the date/time of your visa interview appointment. 

Which documents are required to apply a B-1/B-2 visa?

  • A valid passport with at least six months' validity remaining. Note that we are unable to process visas for applicants whose passports contain any type of powder. Also, we cannot accept damaged passports.


  • A completed and signed Form DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application). You may obtain Form DS-156 at any authorized Banco Helm office, or you may download the form from our website. If you download it from our website, make sure to print both pages of the form on one letter-size (8.5 inches by 11 inches) sheet of paper, front and back. You must take the completed form to Banco Helm when you pay the nonrefundable visa application fee.


  • For applicants who are at least 14 years of age but under 80, a completed and signed form DS-157 (Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application). You may obtain form DS-157 at any authorized Banco Helm offices, or you may download the form from our website.


  • A photograph. Glue the photograph to the front of the Form DS-156 in the photograph space.


  • A Colombian national identity card (cédula de identidad personal) for citizens of Colombia 18 years of age and older, a Colombia residency card for residents of Colombia 18 years of age and older, or an identification card for citizens and residents of Colombia under 18). If you just turned 18 and have not yet received your cedula or residency card, you must present the receipt issued by the Registraduría as well as the corresponding annotation on the passport.


  • For an applicant under the age of 14, an authenticated copy of his or her birth certificate (folio del Registro Civil de Nacimiento).


What other documents does the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit suggest?

You may wish to consult the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit's list of suggested supporting documents.