Tourist and business travel (B-1/B-2)

This page is for Turkish citizens traveling to the United States for a tourist trip, to visit relatives, for medical treatment, or for a short business trip. B-1 is for business, and B-2 is for tourism; the two purposes can be combined in one visa (B-1/B-2). Since Türkiye is not in the Visa Waiver Program, a visa is also required for a short tourist trip. Below, you will find what activities are permitted, application steps, rules on length of stay and extensions, application locations, and official forms.

• meet and consult with business partners
• attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention, conference, or seminar held on specified dates
• negotiate contracts, handle inheritance matters, or follow up on a lawsuit
• conduct independent research
• take orders for goods produced abroad (without taking paid employment in the United States)
• seek investment opportunities in the United States; attend a U.S. company's board meeting
• receive short-term training; transit through the United States
• Install, service, or repair a commercial or industrial machine purchased from a company abroad, or train U.S. employees in this regard. Conditions:
  • the sales contract must expressly require the seller to provide this service
  • the person must have specialized knowledge necessary for the work and must not receive remuneration from a U.S. source
  • the construction work itself is not covered; only supervision or training may qualify as B-1
• Pay rule: You may not receive a salary from a U.S. source with B-1 status. The U.S. party may cover only reasonable expenses such as transportation, accommodation, and meals.
• For work that does not clearly fall within this list, a petition-based work visa is required (see 2.4 Work visas).

• Permitted:
  • tourism, vacation, and visiting friends and relatives
  • medical treatment
  • participating in activities of associations or social organizations
  • participating in amateur musical, sports, or similar activities without receiving payment
  • a short recreational course that does not count toward a degree or academic credit (for example, a two-day cooking course during a vacation)
• Not permitted:
  • any study that counts toward academic credit or a degree, even if short-term
  • working; performing professionally in a paid or ticketed show
  • coming as a ship or aircraft crew member; working in the press or media
  • permanently settling in the United States

• a legitimate purpose of travel and a limited period of stay
• sufficient funds to cover travel and living expenses
• a residence outside the United States that you do not intend to abandon and ties that will ensure your return
• no circumstance preventing you from obtaining a visa
• Ties are assessed based on your ties in Türkiye, not on guarantees from family or friends in the United States.
• An invitation letter or Affidavit of Support is not required. Even if you bring one, it is not considered one of the decision criteria.
• If someone else will pay your expenses, you may show proof of this.

1. Complete the DS-160 form and print the confirmation page. Details: 1.3 Temporary visa application step by step.
2. Pay the application fee ($185) and schedule an appointment. The fee is non-refundable. See 1.4 Fees.
3. Prepare for the interview: your passport, DS-160 confirmation page, and one color photograph taken within the last 6 months, with a white background, 5×5 cm, without glasses.
4. There is no separate mandatory document list for B-1/B-2 from the Embassy. You may bring documents that you believe support your application. Documents that may demonstrate ties in Türkiye include:
   • work ID or employer letter, pay slips
   • bank statement, title deed, company ownership, and the company's financial status
   • Credit cards do not count as financial assets.
5. For a scientific or technical trip (conference, training, research, equipment purchase), bring your résumé, publication list, and the invitation letter from the U.S. institution.
6. Your fingerprints will be taken at the interview. If the officer requires additional administrative processing, they will tell you at the end of the interview.
7. If your visa is approved, your passport will be delivered using the delivery method you selected. Do not buy a non-refundable ticket before receiving your visa.
8. Apply in the country where you live or are a citizen. Applicants applying in another country may have difficulty demonstrating their ties.
9. People renewing a full-validity B visa that expired within the last 12 months may apply without an interview under certain conditions. See 1.6 Interview.
10. Expedited appointments for employees of selected companies in Türkiye: 1.8 Expedited Appointment and Business Visa Program.

• A letter from the U.S. doctor or hospital: it must show that they accept the treatment, the appointment date, the estimated treatment period, and the cost (doctor, hospital, and other expenses).
• Your doctor’s diagnostic report from Türkiye: it must explain the illness and why treatment is needed in the United States.
• Proof of who will pay the expenses: bank statement, proof of income, or tax records (yours or those of the person covering the expenses).
• The original receipt from each healthcare provider if you made an advance payment.
• Bring the original documents and their English translations. These documents do not guarantee that a visa will be issued.

• Turkish citizens are issued B-1, B-2, and B-1/B-2 visas valid for 120 months (10 years), multiple entry. See 1.5 Visa validity periods.
• Visa validity is not the length of stay. The CBP officer determines the length of stay upon entry and records it on the I-94.
• B-1: The period required for the business, initially 1–6 months upon entry. It may be extended for a maximum of 6 months. The total period for a single trip generally does not exceed one year.
• B-2: Under the regulations, a visitor is granted at least 6 months of stay unless a specific decision provides otherwise. Entry in B-1 and B-2 status may be granted for up to one year; extensions are for 6 months at a time.
• Extension: Apply to USCIS with Form I-539 before the date on the I-94 expires.
  • Fee: $470 (paper) or $420 (online), according to the 2026 fee schedule.
  • USCIS recommends applying at least 45 days before the period expires. A late application may be accepted only in extraordinary circumstances beyond your control.
• Requirements for an extension: having entered legally with a visa, still having valid status, not having committed a crime that would prevent you from obtaining a visa, not having violated the conditions of entry, and having a passport valid throughout the stay.
• Documents for a B-2 extension application:
  • a copy of the passport and the I-94 record for each person included in the application
  • an explanation and proof of how you will support yourself in the United States (such as a bank statement)
  • a written explanation of why you are requesting an extension, why the stay is temporary (for example, a return ticket), and how it will affect your work in Türkiye
• There is no right to appeal if a B-2 extension application is denied. Therefore, submit a complete application the first time.

• Apply to USCIS before your authorized period expires. Do not begin the new activity before approval is received.
• Starting school in B status is prohibited. If you begin classes, you will violate your status and cannot change to student status.
• Changing from B to F-1:
  1. Obtain admission from a SEVP-certified school.
  2. Have the school issue Form I-20 for the reason of “change of status.”
  3. Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee.
  4. Apply to USCIS with Form I-539.
  5. If no decision has been issued by 15 days before the program start date, consult the school official (DSO). The start may be deferred to the next term.
  6. Another option: return to Türkiye and enter with an F-1 visa. See 2.2 Student (F-1, M-1).
• If you entered with B-1 and want to remain as a tourist before your period expires, no separate application is required.
• A new status obtained within the United States is not a visa. When you travel abroad, you must obtain a new visa to return.
• Details: 2.8 Change of status and extension from within the United States.

• The spouse and children of a B-1 holder cannot obtain dependent visas. Each must apply separately for a B-2 visa.
• Domestic employees: Personal domestic employees working for a foreign national holding a B, E, F, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, Q, or TN visa, or for a U.S. citizen living or serving abroad, may obtain B-1 status under certain conditions. If they work for another employer, they will violate their status.
• $10,000 rule: When entering or leaving the United States, you must declare cash and monetary instruments (such as checks) totaling more than $10,000 to CBP using FinCEN Form 105.
  • For family or group travel, the threshold applies to the total amount, not per person.
  • Undeclared money may be seized; fines or imprisonment may result.

• If you remain after the date on your I-94, you fall out of status.
• A person who falls out of status automatically has their visa become void by operation of law (INA 222(g)). The 10-year multiple-entry visa can no longer be used after that.
• You may be unable to obtain a visa in the future, and your entry to the United States may be barred. See 2.9 Consequences of overstay and unlawful presence.
• A valid visa in an expired passport remains valid unless it has been canceled. Do not remove the visa from the old passport; use it together with your new passport.

• U.S. Embassy Ankara — nonimmigrant visas
  • Address: Çukurambar Mahallesi, 1480 Sokak No: 1, 06530 Çankaya / Ankara
  • Phone: +90 312 294 00 00
• U.S. Consulate General Istanbul — nonimmigrant visas
  • Address: Poligon Mahallesi, Sarıyer Caddesi No: 75, 34460 İstinye / İstanbul
  • Phone: +90 212 335 90 00
• The Adana Consulate does not process visas.
• Visa Information Line (appointments and general questions): from Türkiye +90 850 390 1950, from the United States +1 313 572 0883. Complete the DS-160 before calling.
• Written question: the question form for the city where you applied, on the Embassy contact page.
• USCIS Contact Center (extensions and change of status from within the United States): +1 800 375 5283 (TTY +1 800 767 1833). Live assistance is available Monday–Friday, 08:00–20:00 (U.S. Eastern Time).

• Looking at the visa expiration date and missing the authorized stay date on the I-94.
• Enrolling in a course or program that counts for academic credit with a B visa.
• Receiving a salary from a U.S. company or actually working in the United States with B-1 status.
• Relying on an invitation letter from a relative in the United States instead of demonstrating ties in Türkiye.
• Presenting a credit card as a financial asset.
• Waiting until the last day to apply for an extension or submitting the application without an explanation and evidence.
• Failing to declare cash exceeding $10,000.
• Buying non-refundable tickets and hotels before the visa arrives.

• My visa is valid for 10 years. Can I stay in the United States for 10 years? No. A visa only gives you the right to appear at the border and request admission. The period you may stay on each entry is recorded on the I-94.
• Is an invitation letter required? No. The consular officer looks at your ties in Türkiye.
• Can I travel as a tourist and start school there? No. Before starting classes, you must obtain approval from USCIS to change to F-1 status or enter from Türkiye with an F-1 visa.
• Can my spouse and children obtain dependent visas connected to my work visa? B-1 has no dependent visa. Each must submit a separate B-2 application.
• Is the visa in my old passport still valid? Yes, unless it was canceled. Carry the old passport together with your new passport.
• Can I obtain B-2 for medical treatment? Yes, medical treatment is covered by B-2. A doctor’s letter, cost estimate, and documents showing your ability to pay may be requested.

• DS-160 form (CEAC)
• Appointment and fee payment system (ustraveldocs)
• Check I-94 record (CBP)
• Form I-539 (PDF)
• Form I-539 and I-539A instructions (PDF)
• Form I-539A, supplemental information for additional persons (PDF)
• M-752: Tips for B-2 extension applications (PDF)
• Form I-539 mailing addresses
• USCIS fee schedule G-1055 (PDF)
• B-1 permitted activities fact sheet
• Money declaration and FinCEN Form 105 (CBP)
• USCIS processing times