If the traveler already has a U.S. visa appropriate for this travel, check the expiration date on the visa to make sure it will not expire before the planned travel date.

In many cases, a visa will not be issued if the traveler's passport will expire prior to six months after the traveler’s planned entry into the United States.

Non-U.S. citizens should apply for a U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa within 90 days before the anticipated travel date. Visa processing times vary from country to country and can change depending on the time of year—average visa wait times can be found on the U.S. State Department website.

Visit the website of the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country to find out the process for applying for a U.S. visa, and how long it will take. Visa applicants will need to schedule an interview appointment as a first step in the visa process.

Additional planning time beyond the guidelines above is needed for visa applicants applying at some embassies because of to the time required to schedule an interview appointment. Additionally, the wait times for a Nonimmigrant Visa do not include time for required security clearances or administrative processing, which may extend beyond the general timeframe guidelines.

For more information about obtaining a visa, please visit the U.S. State Department website.