How to apply for a tourist visa to the United States

The DS-160 is key, but I'd say before you dive into that form you should start by getting an appointment at your country's consulate or embassy, because otherwise you end up filling everything out and then you discover there are no slots available for months!

You need to have a valid passport, passport-sized photos, proof of payment of the fee, and everything that shows you're not going to stay illegally (bank statements, work letter, whatever). That thing about needing to have it ALL before you start is half true - the DS-160 actually helps you check what you're missing, so it's not that serious if you forget something, but obviously showing up with complete documentation speeds everything up a ton on the day of your interview.

Don't schedule your appointment before you have the money ready for the application fee, because some consulates will ask you to pay it almost right away.

What people usually overlook is that you need a photo of a specific size (4x6 cm in most cases) and proof of financial solvency, whether it's a bank statement or something like that, because without it they'll reject your application on the spot.

The DS-160 is important, obviously, but honestly what matters more is that when you get to your interview you have your travel intentions crystal clear - where you're going, how many days, who you're going with - because the consular officers are suspicious of vague answers.

Most of what they say here is fine, but the order matters more than people think. The thing is, everything depends on where you live, because each consulate has its own timelines and requirements. It's not the same to apply in Mexico as in Colombia or Argentina, so before you do anything, go to your specific country's consulate's official website and check what they're asking for.

What nobody mentioned is that a lot of times they let you schedule an appointment online without having paid anything yet, and that's crucial because it lets you plan better when you have money available. What is true is having a current passport from the start, that never fails. You fill out the DS-160 online and it takes like 20 minutes if you don't get distracted; there you need digital photos in a specific format that a lot of people will mess up the first time. Then come the things that actually cost money: the application fee and potentially a professional photo if the one you used in the form doesn't appeal to them.

My personal hack after years of seeing frustrated people: get a simple photocopy of your complete passport the same day you go to the interview, don't wait for them to ask for it at the consulate. And bring like three copies because it always happens that they needed one more. Also, if you have a US mailing address or an old visa even if it's expired, mention it in the interview without making it the first thing you say, because they love seeing that you've already been in the country and didn't cause any trouble.

First of all, make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your trip, because if it doesn't meet that requirement they'll reject your application straight up with no questions asked! What I see people forgetting is that after you complete all the paperwork and pay the fee, you have to wait for them to assign you a consulate appointment, and that can take weeks or months depending on where you are, so don't leave this for the last minute. You'll also need a recent passport photo (the measurements vary by country but it's generally 5x5 cm) and you need to have your travel purpose clear because they'll ask you about it in the interview and you can't just wing it there!