Document Checklist
US B1/B2 Visitor Visa Document Checklist (2026)
B1/B2 interviews are short, and the consular officer is testing one thing above all: Section 214(b) ties to your home country. Bring the identity and fee documents you're required to show, plus a tight, organised set of ties and financial evidence you can hand over instantly if asked. See our [US Visitor Visa (B1/B2) guide](/guides/us-visitor-visa-b1-b2-guide) and [DS-160 form guide](/guides/ds-160-form-guide-2026) for the full process this checklist supports.
Application and identity
- DS-160 confirmation pageWith the barcode the consulate scans at your interview.
- Passport valid at least 6 months beyond your intended stayPlus any older passports with prior US visas, if you have them.
- MRV (visa application) fee receipt$185 for B1/B2, paid before or at the interview depending on your consulate.
- Interview appointment confirmation letter
- One passport-style photoUS 2x2 inch specification, only needed if your DS-160 photo upload failed.
Financial and ties-to-home evidence
- Recent bank statementsShowing funds sufficient to cover the whole trip.
- Employment verification letterConfirming your role, salary, and approved leave dates.
- Evidence of property, business ownership, or family responsibilitiesAnything that shows a concrete reason to return home.
- Tax return or payslipsEspecially useful for self-employed or business-owner applicants.
- Return or onward travel itineraryA booking or draft itinerary showing you plan to leave the US within your authorised stay.
Purpose-specific documents
- Invitation letter from a US hostFor family visits — include their status and address.
- Business conference registration or meeting invitationFor B1 business trips.
- Medical appointment letter and treatment estimateFor B2 medical-treatment trips, from the US provider.
- Prior US visas or travel historyA clean record of past compliant US trips strengthens your case.
Tips
- Budget for the new Visa Integrity Fee (from $250) charged when a B1/B2 visa is issued, separate from and in addition to the $185 MRV fee — it's collected at issuance, not at the interview, so it doesn't need to be brought as a document.
- Bring originals plus one photocopy of each document; officers rarely ask for more than a glance.
- Keep everything in one organised folder in the order above — interviews average only a couple of minutes per applicant.
- The strongest ties evidence is specific to you (a mortgage, a job you'd lose, kids in school) rather than generic proof of income alone.
Requirements change — always confirm the current list with the official source before you submit.
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