Having a visa in the United States opens up quite a few possibilities for travelers. If you wish to explore more without having to go through a ton of paperwork, then applying for a U.S visa is the best option. Legally you can travel to 49 countries without a visa if there’s just a B1/B2 in your passport. Those that already have an immigrant visa or a student one are also not exempt from the visa-abolition rule.
Now that the borders are opening, it’s important to know how to make the most of it.
Top Destinations You Can Travel to with a U.S Visa
Most countries will allow you a stay of up to 180 days visa-free if you present them with a valid U.S travel permit. Some will only let you cross the borders if you hold certain passports due to particular regulations. To find out if your country of birth is eligible, check out the official portal for your destination of choice. In any case, getting a U.S tourist visa really helps with ticking off more destinations on your bucket list.
There’re a few reasons why some countries agree to let U.S visa holders cross their borders that we’ll get back to a little later. Here’s a list of countries that welcome all nationalities visa-free if you already own a U.S visa:
- Mexico
- Costa Rica
- Panama
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Georgia
- Montenegro
- South Korea
Always check for the specification and entry rules for your particular case. Countries such as South Korea and the United Kingdom only allow a short stay and transit 24-hour stay respectively, while Antigua and Barbuda isn’t visa exempt and will give out visas on arrival.
Reasons Why the U.S Visa Holders Fall Under Visa Abolition
Some smaller countries will let travelers enter without asking for a visa if they already have a U.S immigrant or nonimmigrant visa. The reason for it is that the United States has probably one of the strictest application processes. If a potential tourist has already been through it then there’s no reason for double-checking them or their criminal history. Besides, there’re a few other reasons that explain this visa exemption:
1. You won’t immigrate illegally
The U.S migration officers check your records thoroughly to make sure you won’t stay in the country illegally. When you apply for a visa, you have to prove your strong ties to your home country like family or work responsibilities. That lets the other countries rest assured you wouldn’t come there for migration purposes.
2. Screening process is expensive
The United States is very precise and careful in its screening process. From checking the applicant’s social media to their criminal records and migration intentions, they do it all. Being checked by the U.S officers instantly proves your quality of character, thus the other countries don’t have to go through that and pay extra for a complicated, expensive process.
Requirements for a U.S B1/B2 Visa
Obtaining a tourist visa to the United States is easy, especially if you comply with all the requirements. Take the COVID-19 situation under consideration as well and definitely check the Bureau of Consular Affairs website to see the specifications for your particular case.
Here’s the common list of documents that is usually the same for nationals of most countries:
- Passport that is valid 6 months past your stay
- A qualifying colored photo
- A filled in DS-160 form
- Proof of funds/a bank statement from your sponsor
- An invitation from the hotel/business partner in case of a work trip
- Confirmation of paid consular fee ($160USD)
Flight and hotel booking confirmations aren’t required at the stage of application.
The list of countries that fall under visa abolition for the U.S visa holders is constantly growing. Always check for new information in regards to it to expand your travel wish-list.
