Planning to travel to the United States for the first time? You’ve come to the right place! Welcome to our step-by-step US Visa Application Guide for Filipino travelers. In this article, we’ll walk you through the entire application process from booking an appointment to nailing the interview at the US Embassy.
For Filipino nationals, any plan to travel to the United States starts with a visa. And the US visa is one of the most highly coveted for many reasons. First, the US has a massive Filipino diaspora that most of us know someone there. Second, the American influence on Philippine culture is undeniable. Many of us dream of stepping foot in New York or Las Vegas or California. And lastly, it is also a powerful visa to have. When you have a US visa, you are allowed access not just to the United States but also several other countries that otherwise require a separate visa.
It’s no wonder that at any given day, there’s always a long queue at the US Embassy in Manila. But for many of us, the US visa isn’t particularly easy to secure. That’s why we’re half-grateful and half-relieved when we finally got ours. Yes, we were just granted a US B1/B2 visa. Here’s how I got it.
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
WHAT IS A B1/B2 U.S. VISA?
A B1/B2 visa is a non-immigrant short-term visa that will enable you to enter the United States for business (B1), for tourism (B2) or BOTH.
You can use it to do any of the following:
- BUSINESS (B1)
Meeting with business associates
Attending a conference, seminar or convention
Negotiating a contract or agreement
Settling an estate - TOURISM (B2)
Vacation (leisure/holiday)
Visiting relatives or friends
Attending social events (concerts, festivals, shows)
Medical treatment
You cannot use a B1/B2 visa to study, work, or stay for good in the United States.
A B1/B2 visa is usually:
- multiple-entry
- valid for 10 years
Yes, the 10-year validity is the best part. Once you’re granted a visa, you won’t need to renew or apply again for a long time.
I applied for a B1/B2 visa, so every thing you’ll read in this article is about that specific type of visa. If you’re applying for a work visa, student visa or green card, we won’t be of any help because they’re outside our personal experiences.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A U.S. VISA?
Here’s the full application process when applying for a US B1/B2 visa.
Note that Steps 1 to 3 are actually interchangeable. But I believe that how I arranged it below is the order that makes…
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