U.S. Immigration Explained Blog

B2 VISA - VISITOR FOR PLEASURE

B2 visas are for non-U.S. citizens traveling to the United States for pleasure or medical treatment purposes. If you are planning to take just a short vacation and do tourist-type activities while in the United States, then the B2 is the visa for you. Or if you are planning to receive medical treatment in the United States, the B2 visa may be used for this purpose as well. Some other activities allowed for B2 visa holders include:

Participating in a convention or conference;
Completing a short course of study (However, this cannot be the primary reason for coming to the United States. It must be a secondary reason.); or
Amateur athletes or entertainers competing or performing for free.
You may also come to the United States if you fall within a B2 visa exception known as the “HEL” exception. This exception applies to non-U.S. citizens who are unmarried partners of someone with a H, E, or L visa. Therefore, if your partner (boyfriend/girlfriend) has an H visa, which is for people with a four-year degree or equivalent experience and a job offer; an E visa for investors, exporters, and importers; or an L visa for an intra-company transferee, you (as his or her partner) can enter under a B2 visa and stay in the United States as long as your partner with the H, E, or L visa holder stays with you.

The B2 visa is normally issued for a period of six months with extensions available for up to one year.