U.S. Visitor Visa (B-1/B-2) 2026: New Rules, Fees, and Interview Changes Explained
The rules surrounding the U.S. Visitor Visa (B-1/B-2) in 2026 have become more complicated than many travellers realise.
The application fee remains $185, but there have been important changes involving interview waivers, visa bonds, visa processing locations in Africa and restrictions affecting nationals of certain countries.
For tourists, people visiting family, business travellers and those seeking short-term medical treatment, understanding these changes before paying for an application is more important than ever.
Here is what applicants need to know about the B-1/B-2 visa requirements, fees, interviews and 2026 changes.
What Is the U.S. B-1/B-2 Visa?
The B-1/B-2 is a temporary visitor visa.
The B-1 category is generally used for eligible temporary business activities, while B-2 covers tourism, visiting family and friends and certain medical treatment. Many applicants receive a combined B-1/B-2 visa.
The U.S. Department of State confirms that foreign nationals travelling to the United States for tourism generally need a B-2 or combined B-1/B-2 visa unless they qualify for the Visa Waiver Program.
A visitor visa does not give someone the right to live or work permanently in the United States. Your activities must remain consistent with the purpose of the visa.
How Much Does the U.S. Visitor Visa Cost in 2026?
The standard application processing fee for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa is currently $185.
This fee is non-refundable, including when an application is refused. The State Department lists the $185 fee under non-petition-based nonimmigrant visas, including visitor visas for business and tourism.
There may also be additional costs depending on your nationality and circumstances.
For example, some nationalities may have a visa issuance or reciprocity fee after approval. The State Department maintains country-specific reciprocity schedules for these charges.
Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that $185 will necessarily be their total cost.
The Biggest Interview Change: Most Applicants Now Need an Interview
One of the most important changes affecting the U.S. visitor visa in 2026 actually began on October 1, 2025.
Under the current policy, most nonimmigrant visa applicants generally need an in-person interview, including applicants who are younger than 14 or older than 79.
The B-1/B-2 interview waiver is now much narrower than it was previously.
There is, however, an important exception for certain people renewing a B-1, B-2 or B1/B2 visa.
Who May Qualify for a B-1/B-2 Interview Waiver?
A person renewing a full-validity B-1, B-2 or B1/B2 visa may qualify for an interview waiver if the previous visa expired within the past 12 months and the applicant was at least 18 when the previous visa was issued.
But meeting that condition does not automatically guarantee a waiver.
The applicant must also generally:
- Apply in their country of nationality or usual residence.
- Have no visa refusal that remains unresolved.
- Have no apparent or potential visa ineligibility.
- Meet the other requirements set by the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate.
A consular officer can still require an in-person interview even when an applicant appears eligible for a waiver.
This means applicants should not book travel or make other plans based solely on the assumption that a renewal will be interview-free.
A Major 2026 Change for African Visa Applicants
There is another change that many African applicants need to know about.
From August 1, 2026, the United States began realigning routine visa services at several African diplomatic posts to designated regional visa hubs.
The changes affect routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services, including tourist and business visas.
The designated regional hubs include locations such as:
- Accra
- Abidjan
- Addis Ababa
- Dakar
- Johannesburg
- Lagos
- Nairobi
- Kampala
- Kigali
- Monrovia
- Luanda
- Yaoundé
Freetown, Abuja and several other locations are among the posts whose routine visa services are being realigned.
For applicants, this could mean that the location where you previously expected to attend a routine visa appointment may no longer be the location used for processing.
The State Department says affected applicants should check their email for specific instructions.
Important Warning for Nigerian Applicants
Nigerian applicants need to pay particular attention to the 2026 rules.
Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, effective January 1, 2026, the United States partially suspended visa issuance to Nigerian nationals for B-1/B-2 visitor visas, subject to the exceptions and other provisions in the proclamation.
There is also a separate visa bond requirement affecting Nigerian nationals.
Nigeria appears on the State Department’s list of countries whose otherwise eligible B-1/B-2 applicants may be required to post a $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 bond. The amount is determined by a consular officer at the time of the interview.
This is extremely important: the bond does not guarantee that you will receive a visa.
Applicants should not pay a supposed visa bond to an agent, travel consultant or third-party website. The State Department says applicants should submit the required Form I-352 and make the payment through the official U.S. government process only after being directed to do so by a consular officer.
What About Sierra Leonean Applicants?
Sierra Leone is facing an even more significant restriction.
The United States currently lists Sierra Leone among the countries for which visa issuance has been fully suspended, subject to limited exceptions, under the January 2026 restrictions. This applies to both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa categories.
Therefore, a Sierra Leonean applicant should not assume that simply completing a B-1/B-2 application and attending an interview will result in normal visa processing.
This is an important distinction from countries where the B-1/B-2 application process remains generally available.
Is Social Media Screening Part of the B-1/B-2 Process?
There has been expanded online presence screening for several nonimmigrant visa categories in 2026.
However, applicants should be careful about online claims that every B-1/B-2 applicant must now make all social media accounts public.
The State Department’s March 2026 announcement specifically expanded online presence review to listed categories including H-1B, H-4, F, M, J and several other visa classes. B-1/B-2 visas are not listed in that particular expansion.
That does not mean visitor visa applicants are exempt from normal security and eligibility screening. The State Department says it conducts thorough vetting of visa applicants.
What Do Visa Officers Look For?
A successful B-1/B-2 application is not simply about having enough money in your bank account.
The central issue is whether your proposed trip is credible and whether you qualify for the visitor visa.
Applicants should be prepared to explain:
- Why they want to visit the United States.
- How long they intend to stay.
- Who will pay for the trip.
- Where they will stay.
- What they do for work or business.
- Why they need to return home.
- Their family, professional or other ties outside the United States.
- Whether their previous international travel history is consistent with their application.
The best interview answers are usually clear, direct and truthful. Memorising long speeches can actually make an interview feel less natural.
How to Improve Your Chances of Getting a B-1/B-2 Visa
Before applying, make sure your application tells one consistent story.
For example, if you say you are travelling for a two-week holiday, your itinerary, employment situation, finances and answers should reasonably support that purpose.
Avoid exaggerating your income, employment, property ownership or travel history.
Also remember that supporting documents do not replace credibility. A thick folder of documents will not necessarily overcome an application where the purpose of travel or intention to return is unclear.
Final Words
The U.S. Visitor Visa B-1/B-2 in 2026 is still available to many eligible travellers, but the process is changing quickly.
The standard application fee remains $185, while interview waivers are now much more limited. African applicants are also dealing with changes to regional visa processing, while nationals of certain countries face additional visa restrictions or bonds.
The most important lesson is to check the rules that apply to your nationality and the location where you intend to apply before starting the process.
And if you are applying from Nigeria, Sierra Leone or another country affected by the 2026 restrictions, do not rely on old visa advice from social media or agents. The rules can be materially different from the standard B-1/B-2 process.
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