by Catherine Perez

Created on: March 26, 2009   Last Updated: March 31, 2009

Let me tell you that where I live (Yemen) this is the hundred thousand dollar question. And if I knew the answer I would probably be rich by now.I don't think that anyone can tell you HOW to get a visit visa to the USA (unless you know something I don't) but I can tell you HOW to apply for one, which is somehow a lot different.

For the sake of argument, I will assume at this stage you are planning to travel for leisure only reasons. If you intend to work or open a business, or whatever else it is a whole different process. First and foremost, you need to make sure that you actually need a visa to go to the States. Many countries benefit from a visa waiver, which allow its nationals to go visa-free to the USA.

There are, as of 2009, 27 countries on that list: Andorra,Iceland, Norway, Australia, Ireland, Portugal, Austria, Italy, San Marino, Belgium, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Finland, Monaco, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand, United Kingdom But, don't take my word for it. Go on the American Embassy website of your country and check for yourself. If you do not know the web address, just Google it. So, now that you're clear on whether or not you need to apply for a visa, here is what you need to know. An American tourist visa is called a B2 and in order to apply for one you need to fill a simple form. But you need to know that there are a few provisions in order for an individual to be eligible:

You need to hold a valid passport

You need to have the financial means to support yourself during your trip. You actually intend to return to your country of residence once the visa expired

You need to be of good character. So what does it mean? First, get yourself a passport. Easy. Then, make sure that you have proofs at hand (bank account statements, contract of employment etc) of your financial resources. No visa officer in the World will give a visa if you are not able to prove that you can afford the trip. If you are not the one financing the holiday, bring the person Who will along with you, with proof of their identity, relation to you and proofs of income. Now, and that's the tricky one, you have to show that you intend to return to your country of abode in the end. I guess that's where most fail. There is no trick here, it's down to the officer to decide. I assume that they are well trained on the matter and that they are able to smell a faker a mile away.

AS for everything else, the

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