Check the official site before you travel. imptmanhattan.com is a hotel and travel site; it does not issue visas or ESTAs and this is not legal advice. Rules change: confirm on esta.cbp.dhs.gov and travel.state.gov.
| Status | B-2 visitor visa |
|---|---|
| Visa or authorization | B-2 visitor visa from a US embassy or consulate |
| Where to apply | Online DS-160 form, then an interview |
| Fees and processing | Set by the US government: check the official site |
| Arrival | Inspection by US Customs and Border Protection at the airport |
Bosnia and Herzegovina is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so Bosnian citizens cannot travel to Manhattan on the program's short stay allowance. A B-2 visitor visa is required for a holiday. You apply with the DS-160 form, pay the fee through the official channel, and attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate. Start well before your travel dates and check travel.state.gov for current rules.
What the Status Means
Bosnia and Herzegovina is outside the Visa Waiver Program, so a B-2 visitor visa is the normal route for a holiday in Manhattan. The same visa covers tourism, visiting family and short recreational trips. The application happens outside the United States, at a US embassy or consulate, so sort the visa before booking flights. No visa document is issued at the airport on arrival.
The interview officer decides whether the visa is issued. The decision turns on the purpose of the trip, your ties to Bosnia and Herzegovina and how the stay will be funded. Paperwork helps: proof of employment or study, family links and a clear itinerary. A plane ticket guarantees nothing, so keep bookings flexible until the passport returns with the visa.
Before You Fly and Arriving
Check the visa page for errors before leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina, and confirm that the details match the passport. Book flights into John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia or Newark Liberty, the three airports serving Manhattan. Keep the passport, visa and hotel address in hand luggage, because they are needed at the border. Pack a printed copy of the hotel booking as a backup.
On arrival, a Customs and Border Protection officer inspects the passport and visa, asks about the purpose and length of the visit, and records an admission. Answer plainly and show the return ticket if asked. The officer, not the visa, sets how long the stay is allowed, so check the admission record on the official CBP site. Recent travel history and onward plans may come up too.
Staying in Manhattan
Hotels in Manhattan ask for a passport at check-in, and most want a booking confirmation and a card for incidentals. Have the address ready, plus the names of everyone in the room. A printed copy helps if a phone battery runs flat. Rates and cancellation terms vary, so read the conditions before booking and confirm the check-in window. Keep the confirmation on the phone as well.
Getting into the city from the airports is straightforward: airport trains connect with the subway and commuter rail, buses run to Manhattan, and licensed taxis wait at designated ranks. Allow extra time on weekdays and during roadworks. Confirm the route before landing, and keep the return plan confirmed, because a dated ticket home may be requested at the border.
Longer Stays, Work and Study
A B-2 visa covers tourism and short family visits, not employment or a degree course. Study, temporary work, company transfers and extended stays each need a different visa category, and some categories require a petition filed in the United States first. Check travel.state.gov for the category matching the plan, and apply for the right one from the start.
Entering on a visitor visa and then working or enrolling is not allowed, and it can affect later applications. If plans change after arrival, ask the embassy or consulate, or check the official immigration site rather than relying on hearsay. Rules, forms and procedures change, so confirm details on travel.state.gov before acting on them.
How to apply for a visitor visa
- Complete the DS-160 online form for the B-2 visitor visa, then save the confirmation number.
- Pay the visa application fee through the official channel named by the embassy or consulate.
- Book an interview at a US embassy or consulate through the official appointment system.
- Attend with the passport, photo, DS-160 confirmation and documents on the trip and ties to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- After the passport returns with the visa, fly to New York and show it to a Customs and Border Protection officer.
Documents to carry
- Passport with the B-2 visa, with details matching the travel booking.
- DS-160 confirmation page and the interview appointment record.
- Hotel booking confirmation with the Manhattan address, printed as a backup.
- Return or onward ticket showing plans to leave the United States.
Bosnian citizens: questions
Do Bosnian citizens need a visa to visit Manhattan?
Yes. Bosnia and Herzegovina is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so Bosnian citizens need a B-2 visitor visa for a holiday in Manhattan. The process runs from the DS-160 form to an interview at a US embassy or consulate, so plan the trip around those steps and check travel.state.gov for current rules.
How do Bosnian citizens apply for a US visitor visa?
Start with the DS-160 form online, pay the fee through the official channel, then book an interview at a US embassy or consulate. Attend with the passport, a photo and documents on the trip and ties to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Procedures change, so confirm the steps on travel.state.gov.
What do Bosnian citizens show at a New York airport?
The passport with the visa, the hotel booking and a return ticket. A Customs and Border Protection officer may ask about the purpose of the visit, the length of stay and how the trip is funded. Keep these documents in hand luggage rather than checked bags, and answer questions plainly.
Can Bosnian citizens work or study in Manhattan on a visitor visa?
No. A B-2 visa covers tourism and short family visits, not employment or a degree course. Work, study, transfers and extended stays need a different visa category, and some require a petition filed in the United States first. Check travel.state.gov for the category that fits the plan.
Where will you stay in Manhattan?
Midtown for a first visit, SoHo or the West Village for character, the Upper West Side for the park. Live prices for your dates open in the IMPT app.
Photo credits: Pexels.