So, you want to apply for a B3 family visa to travel to the USA, huh? You’re in the correct place, then! We’ll lead you through each stage of the application procedure for this visa in this helpful guide. The B3 family visa can help you visit family members, go to a family event, or just travel about the lovely country as a family.
Take a seat, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and let’s explore the world of USA visa applications!
How To Apply For USA B3 Family Visa
Step 1: Check your eligibility and gather the necessary documents
Make sure you meet the requirements and have all the required documentation prepared before applying for a B3 family visa. Depending on your relationship to your relative in the UK and the type of job you intend to conduct, the eligibility requirements and required documentation may change.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for a B3 family visa, you must:
- Be a skilled worker, professional, or other worker who is capable of performing unskilled work that is not temporary or seasonal and requires less than two years of training or experience.
- Possess a labor certification on Form ETA-9089 from the Department of Labour, as well as a work offer for a permanent, full-time position from a UK business.
- Satisfy the educational, training, or experience prerequisites listed on the labor certification for the available position
- Perform a job for which there are no qualified workers in the United States comply with any additional conditions included in the labor certification
If you are applying as a skilled worker or professional, you must also:
- Prove that you have at least two years of work experience, a degree, or other training that satisfies the requirements for the position listed on the labor certification.
- If you are applying as a professional, prove that you have a U.S. bachelor’s degree or a foreign degree equivalent and that a baccalaureate degree is a typical prerequisite for entry into the occupation.
- A baccalaureate degree cannot be replaced by training or experience.
If you are applying as another worker, you must also:
- Show that you have the skills necessary to undertake unskilled work that isn’t transitory or seasonal and doesn’t require more than two years of training or experience.
Documents
To apply for a B3 family visa, you will need to provide the following documents:
- A current passport or other travel paperwork
- A finished and signed Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, submitted on your behalf by your company (petitioner).
- A replica of the Department of Labor’s officially recognized labor certification on Form ETA-9089
- Birth certificates, marriage certificates, adoption certificates, and other documents attesting to your family’s connection to the UK are acceptable forms of proof.
- Proof of your visa category eligibility, including transcripts, diplomas, licenses, certificates, letters from employers, etc.
- Bank statements, pay stubs, tax returns, and other documentary proof of your financial stability in the UK.
- Evidence of your proficiency in the English language, such as test scores, diplomas, and other credentials.
- Evidence of your access to your child in person if you are applying as a parent and share parental responsibility with another person
- Evidence of your active role in your child’s upbringing if you are applying as a parent
- Evidence of your health status and medical history, such as medical reports, test results, vaccination records, etc.
Depending on your situation, you might also need to provide further documentation. For instance:
- At a visa application center, you can be asked to submit biometric data (fingerprints and a photo) if you are applying from outside the UK.
- You might need to supply documentation of your immigration status and authorization to remain in the UK if you are submitting an application from within the UK.2
- You may need to give proof of their link to you and their eligibility for the visa category if you are applying with dependents (spouse, partner, or children under 18).
You should check the official rules for more details on the kind of documents you must provide and how to put them together. In addition, be sure your documents have been translated and are originals or certified copies if they are not in English.
Step 2: Fill out the online application form and pay the fee
After you have checked your eligibility and gathered the necessary documents, you need to fill out the online application form and pay the fee for your B3 family visa. The online application form is Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, and is for temporary travel to the United States, including B3 family visas.
How to access and complete the online application form
You can access the online application form by clicking on the Consular Electronic Application Center website.
You will need to provide information such as:
- Your personal details, such as name, date of birth, nationality, etc.
- Your contact details include address, phone number, email, etc.
- Your passport details include number, issue date, expiry date, etc.
- Your travel details, such as the purpose of the visit, intended date of arrival and departure, etc.
- Your family details, such as the name and relationship of your family member in the UK, their immigration status, etc.
- Your work and education details, such as occupation, employer, education level, etc.
- Your background information includes previous visits to the US or other countries, criminal history, health issues, etc.
- You must also upload a digital photo of yourself that meets the photo requirements.
- You will need your Application ID (displayed on the top right-hand corner of each page) and the answer to your security question to retrieve your application later.
- You should print and keep the DS-160 barcode page after you have completed your application. You will not need to print the full application. You will need this barcode page for your visa interview.
How to pay the fee
You will need to pay a non-refundable fee for your B3 family visa application. The fee amount depends on your visa category and country of citizenship. Check the fee amount on the U.S. Department of State website.
You can pay the fee online using a credit or debit card or through an electronic funds transfer from your bank account. Also you can also pay the fee in cash at a designated bank branch in your country. You should check the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website, where you will be interviewed for country-specific instructions on how to pay the fee.
Step 3: Schedule and attend your visa interview
The next step is to schedule and attend your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country. The visa interview is a face-to-face meeting with a consular officer who will ask you questions about your travel purpose, background, and eligibility for the B3 family visa.
How to schedule your visa interview
You can schedule your visa interview online or by phone after you have completed your online application form and paid the fee. Also, you will need your DS-160 barcode page and your fee receipt to schedule your appointment.
Check the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website where you will be interviewed for country-specific instructions on scheduling your visa interview.
Schedule your visa interview as soon as possible, as the waiting times may vary depending on the location and the season. You can check the current waiting times on the U.S. Department of State website.
How to prepare for your visa interview
You should prepare for your visa interview by gathering all the required documents and reviewing your answers to the possible questions. You should bring the following documents to your visa interview:
- Your valid passport or travel document
- Your DS-160 confirmation page
- Your fee receipt
- Your appointment confirmation page
- Your Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, filed by your employer (petitioner) on your behalf
- Your approved labor certification from the Department of Labor on Form ETA-9089
- Evidence of your relationship with your family member in the UK, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, adoption certificates, etc.
- Evidence of your eligibility for the visa category, such as diplomas, transcripts, certificates, licenses, letters from employers, etc.
- Evidence of your financial support in the UK includes bank statements, pay slips, tax returns, etc.
- Evidence of your English language ability, such as test results, certificates, degrees, etc.
- Evidence of your access to your child in person if you are applying as a parent and share parental responsibility with another person
- Evidence of your active role in your child’s upbringing if you are applying as a parent
- Evidence of your health status and medical history, such as medical reports, test results, vaccination records, etc.
You should also bring any additional documents that may support your application, or the consular officer may request that.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, applying for a USA B3 Family Visa is a straightforward process. Start by gathering all the necessary documents, including passports, birth certificates, and proof of relationship. Fill out the application form accurately and submit it along with the required fee.
Don’t forget to schedule an interview at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Be prepared to answer questions about your purpose of travel and demonstrate your ties to your home country. Finally, be patient and wait for the visa processing to be completed. Good luck, and enjoy your time with your family in the USA!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a B3 family visa, and who is eligible for one?
Having a family member who is a skilled worker, professional, or other sort of worker allows you to live and work in the UK under the terms of a B3 family visa. You may be eligible for it if you need long-term care from them and are their husband, partner, parent, child, or other relative.
How long does the B3 family visa application process take, and how much does it cost?
It depends on your application’s starting point and how busy the American embassy or consulate is. Normally, processing an application takes a few weeks to a few months. Each visa category and country of citizenship has a distinct application fee. You can view the fee amount on the U.S. Department of State website.
What paperwork do I need to submit a B3 family visa application?
You must have a valid passport, an online application form, a fee receipt, a job offer from a UK employer with a labor certification, proof of your relationship with a family member living in the UK, proof that you qualify for the visa category, proof that you can support yourself financially in the UK. Proof that you can speak English fluently, proof that you have access to your child if you are a parent, and proof that you take an active part in raising your child if you are a pare. Depending on your circumstance, you could additionally require a few further documents.
What will happen at the visa interview, and what questions will they ask me?
The visa interview is a face-to-face meeting with a consular officer who will check your documents and ask you questions about your travel purpose, background, and eligibility for the B3 family visa. They may also ask you to explain how you intend to return to your home country after your stay in the UK.
Can I bring my dependents (spouse, partner, or children under 18) with me on a B3 family visa?
You can bring your dependents with you if they meet the eligibility criteria for the same visa category as you. You must provide evidence of their relationship with you and their eligibility for the visa category. You will also need to pay an additional fee for each dependant. They will also need to fill out their own online application forms and attend their own visa interviews.
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