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 |
Vietnam is not part of the Visa Waiver Program, so an ESTA is not available to Vietnamese citizens. A holiday in Manhattan requires a B-2 visitor visa. The application is made with the online DS-160 form and finishes with an interview at a US embassy or consulate. Apply before booking flights, and check the official site for anything that changes.
What the visa status means
Vietnam is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so the ESTA route open to some nationalities is closed to Vietnamese passport holders. A holiday in Manhattan needs a B-2 visitor visa. The process starts with the online DS-160 form and continues with an interview at a US embassy or consulate. Sightseeing, family visits and short recreational trips all fall under this category.
Always bring a passport valid for the trip, a photo that meets the specifications, and papers that explain the purpose of travel and the plan to return. Applications made well ahead of the flight date leave room for questions and for any extra documents an officer requests. The visa itself is placed in the passport once the interview is approved.
Before you fly and on arrival
Book flights only after the visa is in the passport, because the airline checks it before boarding. New York is served by John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Keep the passport, the visa, and printed hotel details in the bag carried on board rather than in checked luggage. Arrive with time to spare for inspection.
At passport control, US Customs and Border Protection officers inspect the passport and ask about the purpose of the visit, the length of stay, and where the traveler will sleep. Answer plainly and keep the answers consistent with the visa application. Admission is decided at the border, so a visa alone does not guarantee entry. Officers may also ask about money for the trip.
Staying in Manhattan
Hotels in Manhattan ask for a passport at check-in and often take a card for incidentals. A saved or printed booking confirmation speeds up arrival after a long flight. Keep the return ticket and the dates of the stay easy to find, because officers and airline staff may ask for them. Read the room description and the neighborhood before booking.
From John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, trains and buses run into Manhattan, and taxis wait outside the terminals. LaGuardia has no rail link, so buses or road transport cover that leg. Journeys take longer at rush hour. Check current routes and service changes with the airport or the transit operator on the day of travel.
Work, study, and longer stays
Tourism is not a route to living in the United States. Work, study, and stays of several months need different visa categories, each with its own form, documents, and interview. A visitor visa does not convert into permission to work. Anyone planning a semester abroad, an internship, or a job transfer should check the official site early, because those processes run on their own timetable.
Students apply through the student visa route and usually need a school record and a certificate of eligibility before the interview. Employers handle petitions for work categories. Extending a stay or changing status inside the country is handled by US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Rules and forms change, so confirm details on travel.state.gov before making commitments. This site does not issue visas.
How to apply for a visitor visa
- Complete the online DS-160 form for the B-2 visitor visa and save the confirmation page with its barcode.
- Pay the visa application fee by the official method described on the embassy or consulate website, and keep the receipt.
- Book an interview appointment at the US embassy or consulate that handles applications from Vietnam.
- Attend the interview with the passport, photo, confirmation page, fee receipt, and papers showing the trip and ties at home.
- Collect the passport with the visa inside, check the name and dates, then book flights and accommodation.
- Fly to New York and present the passport to US Customs and Border Protection officers for admission.
Documents to carry
- Passport valid for the trip, with the visa once it is issued
- DS-160 confirmation page and the visa application fee receipt
- Printed hotel booking confirmation with the Manhattan address
- Return or onward ticket showing the planned date of departure
- Papers showing ties at home, such as employment or study documents
Vietnamese citizens: questions
Do Vietnamese citizens need a visa to visit Manhattan?
Yes. Vietnam is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so an ESTA is not available. A B-2 visitor visa is required for a holiday, applied for with the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate. Check travel.state.gov for the current requirements before booking flights.
Can Vietnamese citizens travel to the United States with an ESTA?
No. ESTA is only for travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries, and Vietnam is not one of them. Vietnamese passport holders apply for a visitor visa instead. Anyone who applied for an ESTA in error should read the guidance on travel.state.gov and start the DS-160 application for the correct visa.
How early should Vietnamese citizens apply before a Manhattan trip?
Appointment queues move, so no fixed lead time applies. Apply as soon as the trip looks likely and avoid paying for flights or rooms before the visa is in the passport. Check the current appointment wait on the embassy or consulate website and the general guidance on travel.state.gov.
Can Vietnamese citizens work in Manhattan on a B-2 visitor visa?
No. The B-2 covers tourism, family visits, and short recreational trips, not employment. A job or a course of study in New York needs a different visa category with its own form, documents, and interview. Check travel.state.gov and the relevant US government sites before accepting a job offer or a place at a school.
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.