The American B-1 and B2 visas are temporary visas that allow visitors from across the globe to travel to the US for business, short-term work, or simply leisure.
The government also gives travelers the opportunity to switch their visa status from B1/B2 to another type of visa, depending on their immediate needs and circumstances.
But, how would you react if I tell you that you can visit many other countries on a B1/B2 visa, apart from the USA? Great, isn’t it, since getting a B1/B2 visa itself is a huge task?
You get the maximum value for your time, money, and effort when you are allowed to visit other countries while you are in the US on a B1/B2 visa.
In this article…
Countries You are Allowed to Visit with a US Tourist Visa
Some sources have stated that you can travel to up to 33 countries “visa-free” if you have a valid US tourist visa or green card. Many of these countries will need the B1/B2 visa to be a multi-entry one that has been used at least once to travel to the US.
According to US Customs and Border Protection, a non-immigrant can visit Canada or Mexico for up to 30 days and re-enter during their visit to the US. The date till which one can re-enter America is provided on Form I-94. However, the traveler may need to contact officials in Canada or Mexico, since their rules for entry with a B1/B2 visa may vary.
Moreover, you’ll have to depart from the US before the departure date mentioned on the visa, to avoid overstaying.
Overstaying in the US can have serious consequences, including the person being barred from entering the USA for the next 3 to 10 years, depending on the time for which the individual has overstayed in the US.
Also read: Best travel insurance for parents visiting USA
Below is the complete list of countries you can visit with a B1/B2 visa.
Central America
- Belize
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Costa Rica
- Panama
- El Salvador
- Nicaragua
North America
- United States of America, including Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa
- Mexico
Caribbean
- Dominican Republic
- Aruba
- Curaçao
- Saint Maarten
- Antigua and Barbuda
Europe
- Montenegro
- Serbia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Turkey
- Georgia
- Albania
- United Kingdom
South America
- Peru
- Chile
- Colombia
The Middle East
- United Arab Emirates
- Oman
- Qatar
Africa
- São Tomé and Príncipe
Asia
- Certain parts of Taiwan
- South Korea
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Malaysia
The time period for which you can visit these countries may vary. Moreover, some nations have restrictions on the entry of people of certain nationalities.
Also read: How to Check USCIS Case Status Online
US officials strictly monitor the time period for which you are issued the visa since they want to make sure that your intention is to return to your home country before your visa expires.
When you return to the US, after having visited any of the above-mentioned countries, and if your current US visa has expired but your I-20 is still valid, you won’t need to obtain a new visa in order to re-enter the US.
Important Note: According to CBP, after returning from countries like England or Costa Rica, your re-entry to the US will be considered a new admission, after which you’ll have to undergo a tedious inspection process.
Leave a Reply