US B1/B2 Visa: DS-160, Appointment and Interview Preparation

The standard visa for Turkish citizens travelling to the United States for business meetings, trade fairs, conferences or tourism is the B1/B2. B1 covers business, B2 covers tourism and visits, and in practice they are issued together. A US visa differs from European visas in three ways. The application starts with an online form, the decision is made at an interview, and the visas issued are usually long-term.

Step-by-step process

1. DS-160 form. Filled in online, with a photo uploaded. After submission you print the confirmation page with its barcode. The form covers personal details, work history, travel history, a US contact and security questions. It cannot be corrected once submitted. If a field is wrong, a new form is filled in.
2. Fee payment. The visa application fee (MRV) is paid through designated banks or online channels, and the receipt number is needed for the appointment. The fee is non-refundable.
3. Appointment. You create a profile on the official appointment system, enter the DS-160 number and receipt, and choose a date in Istanbul or Ankara. Waiting times can stretch from weeks to months. This wait shapes corporate travel plans more than anything else.
4. Interview. You go to the consulate with your passport, DS-160 confirmation, appointment confirmation and supporting documents. Fingerprints are taken and you have a short conversation with the officer. The decision is usually given verbally at the end.
5. Passport delivery. Approved visas are placed in the passport and sent to the chosen courier point. Some files go into "administrative processing", which can take weeks and affect travel plans.

Interview waiver

Applicants who previously held a US visa used to be able to renew by courier without an interview under certain conditions. The State Department narrowed this sharply in autumn 2025. Since 1 October 2025 almost all applicants are called for an interview. A narrow exception remains for B1/B2 renewals. You may qualify if your previous visa was issued for full validity and expired less than 12 months ago. You also need to have been at least 18 when it was issued, to have no visa refusals and to apply in Türkiye. The questions in the appointment system decide eligibility, and the consulate can still call you for an interview. Rules may change again.

Documents to bring to the interview

Mandatory:

• A valid passport (at least 6 months of validity after the trip is recommended)
• DS-160 confirmation page
• Appointment confirmation page
• Fee receipt

Supporting (corporate application):

• An assignment letter from the company: title, start date, purpose and dates of travel, who covers the costs
• An invitation letter from the US company, or fair or conference registration
• Company documents: tax certificate, activity certificate, signature circular
• Payslips, social security record, personal bank statement
• Documents on property and family ties
• Old passports (previous US and Schengen visas)

The officer may not ask for all of them. Still, keep them all in an organised folder.

What is asked at the interview

The questions are short and direct. Where are you going, for what purpose and for how long? Who is paying? What do you do? Have you travelled abroad before? The officer looks for two things: that the purpose of the trip is genuine, and that your intention to return to Türkiye is strong. Short, consistent answers that match your documents are enough. Long memorised speeches backfire.

Common reasons for refusal

• 214(b) insufficient ties: work, income and family ties showing intention to return are judged weak. This is the most common reason.
• Wrong or missing information on the DS-160: especially travel history and work details.
• Inconsistent statements: interview answers that do not match the form or documents.
• Unclear purpose: saying "business meeting" with no invitation, fair registration or programme.

You can reapply after a refusal. If nothing in the file has changed, the result is usually the same. A new application needs documents that strengthen ties and a clearer purpose.

Timing tips for companies

• Check appointment waiting times before planning the trip. For a fair or conference in the US, start the application as early as possible, ideally 3-4 months ahead.
• Do not buy non-refundable tickets because of the risk of administrative processing. Use flexible bookings until the visa is in the passport.
• Start renewals early for employees whose visas are about to expire. Once 12 months have passed since expiry the interview waiver no longer applies, and if an interview is needed the appointment wait applies here too.
• US visas are usually multiple-entry and long-term. While the visa is valid, later trips need no new application.

A submitted DS-160 cannot be corrected, so checking it together before you send it is the cheapest safeguard there is. We also track the appointment and prepare you for the interview. The appointment information form is in the United States section of our Visa Services page.