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However, for Japanese travelers if your trip is for fewer than 90 days you may not need a visa. Please refer to the topic entitled the Visa Waiver Program to see whether you can travel without a visa.

A B-2 visa is appropriate for such activities as

• Tourism
• Visiting friends and relatives
• Medical care
• Participation in conventions, conferences, or convocations of fraternal or social organizations, and
• Participation by amateurs in musical, sports and similar events.

To obtain a B-2 visa, you must show that:

• You have strong ties to a residence in foreign country to which you do not intend to abandon.
• Your trip to the United States will be for a definite temporary period, and that you will return upon the conclusion of your visit.
• You have sufficient funds to cover the expenses of the visit, and return passage.

There is no specific list of documents which must be submitted to prove each of these points. For example, to show residence in Japan, you must show that you have ties to this country. Proof of employment, family ties or other connections, or home ownership will often satisfy this requirement, and should be submitted with your application. Old passports containing previous visas are also useful.

Please note that the length of the visa does not equate to a length of stay. When you enter the United States, you will be inspected by an officer of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. He will determine the amount of time you will be permitted to remain in the U.S. Extensions of stay will be approved only for unexpected or compelling humanitarian reasons. The maximum extension period of stay for travelers entering with a B visa is 6 months.

Application Procedures: For information on the documents required to apply for a tourist visa, pleas see our application checklist.

Please note that because of new security regulations, some applications may require an additional clearance and longer processing. Since the application process cannot be accelerated, please apply well in advance of your travel date, and do not purchase plane tickets until you have received your visa. Applicants should refrain from calling the Embassy merely to inquire about the status of their application. Visa applicants should never assume their application would be automatically approved.