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 |
Uruguay is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a Uruguayan passport holder needs a B-2 visitor visa for a holiday in Manhattan or anywhere in the United States. An ESTA is not available. The application runs through the online DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate, and the visa is decided there, not at the airport.
What the Status Means
For a Uruguayan citizen, the United States is a visa country, not an ESTA country. Uruguay does not belong to the Visa Waiver Program, so no online pre-travel authorization exists for its passport holders. A B-2 visitor visa, placed in the passport by a US embassy or consulate, is the document that allows a holiday, a family visit or short sightseeing. The visa covers every state, Manhattan included.
Apply early enough that the passport is back in hand before flights are booked. Appointment waits at a US embassy or consulate change through the year, so check the official site at travel.state.gov for current instructions and availability. An ESTA application through esta.cbp.dhs.gov will not help, since Uruguayan passports are not eligible for that program and an interview is required in every case.
Before You Fly and on Arrival
The airline checks entry documents at check-in in Montevideo, so keep the passport with the visa in hand luggage. Arrivals land at John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport or Newark Liberty International Airport, and each airport has its own transfer options into Manhattan. Note the arrival airport and terminal on the booking confirmation, because the route into the city differs by airport.
At the airport, Customs and Border Protection officers inspect the passport and ask about the purpose of the trip, the length of the stay and the address in Manhattan. Answer plainly and consistently. A return ticket, a hotel confirmation and a simple plan for the days in the city help. Officers make the final decision on entry, even when the visa is valid.
Staying in Manhattan
Hotels in Manhattan ask for a passport at check-in, and a saved or printed booking confirmation speeds up the process. Have the return flight details and a contact address in the city ready, since both come up at the airport and at the front desk. Many properties hold luggage before the room is ready, which suits an early arrival from Montevideo.
Reaching the city from the airport is straightforward: official airport buses, rail or shuttle connections where they exist, and taxis or ride services from the marked ranks. Fares and schedules change, so check the current details at the airport information desk or the official airport site. Travelers with heavy bags often choose a taxi, while the subway is cheaper and slower.
Longer Stays, Work and Study
A B-2 visa fits tourism, family visits and short recreational trips. Study, employment, journalism, long stays or repeated business travel call for a different visa category, and each category has its own form, supporting papers and interview. A visitor visa is not a route to working in the United States, and officers at the airport can refuse entry when the stated purpose does not match the visa class.
Requirements, forms and interview rules change, so confirm the right category on travel.state.gov before paying anything or booking a flight. The US embassy or consulate in Montevideo handles applications from Uruguay, and the official site lists the papers each category needs. This guide does not issue visas and gives no legal advice; a licensed immigration attorney can help with complicated histories.
Longer Stays, Work and Study
A B-2 visa fits tourism, family visits and short recreational trips. Study, employment, journalism, long stays or repeated business travel call for a different visa category, and each category has its own form, supporting papers and interview. A visitor visa is not a route to working in the United States, and officers at the airport can refuse entry when the stated purpose does not match the visa class.
Requirements, forms and interview rules change, so confirm the right category on travel.state.gov before paying anything or booking a flight. The US embassy or consulate in Montevideo handles applications from Uruguay, and the official site lists the papers each category needs. This guide does not issue visas and gives no legal advice; a licensed immigration attorney can help with complicated histories.
How to apply for a visitor visa
- Complete the DS-160 form online for the B-2 visitor visa and save the barcode confirmation.
- Pay the visa application fee through the official route listed on travel.state.gov and keep the receipt.
- Book an interview appointment at the US embassy or consulate in Montevideo through the official system.
- Attend with the passport, confirmation page, fee receipt and papers showing the trip and ties to Uruguay.
- Wait for the passport with the visa, then book flights and prepare for inspection on arrival.
Documents to carry
- Passport with the B-2 visa inside
- Printed DS-160 confirmation page with the barcode
- Fee receipt from the official payment route
- Hotel booking confirmation showing the Manhattan address
- Return or onward flight ticket with confirmed dates
Uruguayan citizens: questions
Do Uruguayan citizens need a visa to visit Manhattan?
Yes. Uruguay is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a Uruguayan passport holder needs a B-2 visitor visa for a holiday in Manhattan or anywhere else in the United States. Apply with the online DS-160 form and attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate before traveling.
Can Uruguayan citizens travel to the US with an ESTA?
No. ESTA is only for passport holders from Visa Waiver Program countries, and Uruguay is not one of them, so an application through esta.cbp.dhs.gov will not be approved. The correct route is a B-2 visitor visa with the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Where do Uruguayan citizens apply for a US visitor visa?
The US embassy or consulate in Montevideo handles applications from Uruguay, sets interview appointments and reviews the supporting papers. Start on travel.state.gov for current instructions and the official appointment system. This Manhattan travel guide covers hotels and sightseeing and does not issue visas or give legal advice.
How early should Uruguayan citizens apply before a New York trip?
Appointment waits change through the year, so apply as early as the trip allows and check current availability on travel.state.gov. Book flights only once the passport with the visa is back in hand. Slots at the embassy or consulate in Montevideo depend on demand and season.
Can Uruguayan citizens work or study in the US on a visitor visa?
No. A B-2 visa covers tourism, family visits and short recreational trips. Work, study or long stays need a different visa category, with its own form, papers and interview. Confirm the correct category on travel.state.gov before applying, since a visitor visa cannot become work permission on arrival.
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.