B-1/B-2 Visitor

“Fear of return” question now matters

B-1/B-2 applicants may face direct questioning about fear of returning to their home country.

A “yes” answer can heavily damage approval chances.

Expanded visa screening & vetting

Approvals now face more scrutiny, more security checks, and tougher profile review.

Visa services and appointment delays still matter

Appointment availability remains uneven globally, and delays still affect planning for many visitor applicants.

General B-1/B-2 enforcement remains strict

No work is allowed, stay is determined at entry through the I-94, and applicants must prove strong home-country ties.

These basics matter even more under stricter screening.

New Visa Integrity Fee

The total visa cost rose materially because of a new added fee structure affecting B-1/B-2 applicants.

This pushed the practical cost much higher than before.

Visa bond program for some risk-based cases

Some applicants from selected countries may be required to post a refundable bond.

This policy signal is especially important through August 2026.

Interview waiver removal

Many renewals and prior low-friction cases now require an actual interview.

Apply from home country / residence rule

Third-country processing became much harder because location flexibility was reduced.

Travel bans and visa restrictions for selected countries

Partial or full visa restrictions now affect some nationalities directly.