The “B” Visitor Visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1), or temporarily for pleasure (B-2).

B1 Business Visitor Visa
Travel appropriate for a business (B-1) visitor visa includes travel to:

• Consult with business associates;
• Attend a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, or a conference on specific dates;
• Settle an estate;
• Negotiate a contract;
• Participate in short-term training.

B2 Visitor Visa
Travel appropriate for a (B-2) visitor visa includes travel to:

• Tourism or Family Visits
• Medical Reasons
• Participation in Social Events
• Armed Forces Dependents
• Dependents of Crew Members
• Short, part-time Course of Study
• Amateur Entertainers and Athletes

B-1/B-2 Business & Pleasure Visa
We understand that business and pleasure are often mixed when traveling to the U.S. and therefore the B-1 and B-2 are often issued as a combined “B-1/B-2” Visa.

Embassy security procedures require that all visitors receive a security inspection. You will be allowed to check one cell phone at the Embassy gate. The US Embassy and the Embassy guards are not liable for any loss or damage to your cell phone while it is checked.

You will NOT be allowed to enter the U.S. Embassy for your appointment carrying any of the following items:

• Any other battery-operated or electronic devices such as laptops, Ipads, computer tablets, digital diaries, cameras, MP3 players, or portable music players.
• Any oversize shoulder bags or purses.
• Any oversize handbags and travel bags, large back-packs, briefcases, or suitcases. Applicants can only carry in clear bags containing papers needed for their appointment
• Sealed envelopes or packages.
• Cigarettes/cigars/match boxes/lighters.
• Any sharp objects such as scissors, pen knives or nail files.
• Weapons or explosive materials of any kind.

To facilitate and speed up your entry into the compound we recommend you bring no large bags such as suitcases, backpacks and packages.

Baby food and/or essential medications (in plastic containers only, NO glass) should be brought to the attention of the guards.

Once you enter the screening area, be prepared to remove all metallic items, together with your coat/jacket, belt, handbag/rucksack/briefcase, etc.

We thank you for your cooperation.

The list provided above is not exhaustive. Other items may be prohibited at the discretion of security staff. Other than the one allowed cell phone, the US Embassy will not accept the storage of any of the above prohibited items.

Only visa applicants with confirmed appointments will be granted access to the Embassy. Accompanying persons may be required to wait outside the Embassy entrance.

If you fail to follow these security requirements you may face delays or cancellations to your visit.

Step 1. Complete a visa application

Fill out an application for a temporary visa online — form DS-160.

Please respond to all questions on this form. If the response is “no” or “none,” please write “no” or “none.” Do not skip a question.

If your application is incomplete or incorrect, you will be turned away and you will have to make a new appointment for a later date.

What next?

• Fill out your application on line (DS-160)
• Upload your photo while filling out the application on line. (If you skip this step, be sure to bring one recent photo without glasses (2 in x 2 in) to your interview.
• After having attested to the truthfulness of your information on the application, print out the confirmation page and bring this to your interview (If you do not have this because of a website issue, bring your passport to your appointment — please do not write to consularlome@state.gov to explain your problem).

Step 2. Gather the payment and any supporting documents

Prepare all the necessary documents:

• A valid passport for traveling to the U.S. – your passport must be valid at least six months beyond the period of your travel to the United States. If you are traveling with family, each person must have a separate visa application. Your passport cannot have mistakes concerning the name, age, gender, or place of birth. If there is a mistake, you will be turned away until the mistake is corrected.
• The confirmation page with the barcode (if you are missing this because of a website problem, bring your passport to the appointment — please DO NOT write to consularlome@state.gov informing us of the problem!)
• Visa application fee of $185 or its equivalent West African CFA. Please note that because of fluctuations in the exchange rate, this amount may vary.
• One photo – you will upload this photo while completing your form DS-160 online. If the upload fails, you will need to bring the recent photo without glasses and without shadows and on a white backdrop to your appointment. The size of the photo should be 2 inches by 2 inches.

Supplemental documents possibly needed

The following supplemental documents could be requested to establish if you are qualified for the visa. These additional evidentiary documents could include:

• A letter of invitation or sponsorship;
• Various proof of your ability to pay for your travel;
• A prior passport holding visas and entry and exit stamps from past trips

Note: Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant’s residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a non-immigrant tourist visa. If you do choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember that it is not one of the factors that we use in determining whether to issue or deny a non-immigrant tourist visa. 

Step 3. Schedule an Interview Appointment

• Using the barcode written on the confirmation page, make an appointment for Lomé.

We strongly advise you to make an appointment in the area where you are domiciled. Department of State regulations allows you to make an appointment in any embassy or consulate of the United States, but understand that it is generally more difficult to qualify for a visa outside of your place of permanent residence.

The average wait time in the US Consulate Lome for a B1/B2 visa is about 7 days; however, wait times fluctuate throughout the year. To avoid missing your planned trip, we advise applicants to apply at least one month in advance of their scheduled departure.

Please note appointments for the B1/B2 visa are generally Monday mornings by appointment only. Occasionally, during weekend holidays and periods of high demand, there are also appointments on Tuesday mornings.

You will only be allowed inside the consulate gate 15 minutes before your appointment. Do not arrive before this. Anyone who is missing from the appointment list will be denied entry. If you hire someone to complete you DS-160 and to make an appointment online, know that you have an elevated risk of being rejected for you appointment without warning.

Step 4. Come to the visa appointment

• Once you have arrived at the consular entrance, you must leave all electronic devices at the screening entrance. No cell phones or electronic devices are allowed inside the embassy.
• Take a number from the red number wheel.
• Stand in line to the left of the red number wheel. Our personnel will confirm that the information in your visa application is correct.
• Pay at the cashier window.
• Wait for your number to be called for fingerprinting
• Wait for your number to be called for a visa interview

At the end of your visa interview, the consular officer will determine if you are qualified to receive the temporary visitor visa for which you have applied. This decision is done in accordance with United States laws and has no basis in Togolese or another government’s laws. If you are denied a visa, your only recourse is to reapply and to repay the application fee.

Some cases may be subject to additional administrative processing. A consular officer will inform you if you must provide any additional documentation for this additional processing.

If you are approved for a visa, an officer will inform you of a date and time to pick-up your passport and visa.

You can check the status of your visa application on ceac.state.gov.

Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a consular officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of the visa interview. When administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case.

If your visa has been denied, you may find useful information on Ineligibilities and Waivers on usvisas.state.gov.

Overview

If you have an unexpected travel need as per one of the criteria listed below, you may qualify for an expedited appointment depending on availability at the Consulate.

Qualifications

Before you apply for an expedited appointment, you must ensure that you have documentary evidence to prove the urgency. If it appears during your visa interview that you misrepresented the reasons for urgent travel, such facts will be noted on your case file and may adversely influence the outcome of your visa application. All applicants requesting an expedited appointment are required to first pay visa fees for a regular visa appointment. Applicants who are granted an expedited appointment but subsequently refused a visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate will not be allowed to utilize this option to obtain another expedited appointment.

Note: Travel for the purpose of attending weddings and graduation ceremonies, assisting pregnant relatives, participating in an annual business/academic/professional conference, or enjoying last-minute tourism does not qualify for expedited appointments. For such travel, please schedule regular visa appointment well in advance.

Medical Needs

When the purpose of the travel is to obtain urgent medical care, or to accompany a relative or employer for urgent medical care.

Documentation that may be requested by the consulate:

1. A letter from your doctor in Togo describing the medical condition and why you are seeking medical care in the United States.
2. A letter from the physician or hospital in the United States indicating that they are prepared to treat your case and providing the approximate cost of the treatment.
3. Evidence of how you will pay for the cost of the treatment.

Funeral/Death

When the purpose of travel is to attend the funeral of or make arrangements for repatriating the body of an immediate family member (mother, father, brother, sister, child,) in the United States.

Documentation that may be requested by the consulate:

1. A letter from the funeral director in the US stating the contact information, the details of the deceased, and the date of the funeral.
2. You must also present evidence that the deceased is an immediate relative. 

Urgent Business Travel

When the purpose of travel is to attend to an urgent business matter where the travel requirement could not be predicted in advance.

Documentation that may be requested by the consulate:

A letter of invitation from the corresponding company in the United States attesting to the urgency of the planned visit, describing the nature of the business and that either the U.S. or local company will suffer a significant loss of opportunity if an expedited appointment is not available.

Or

Evidence of a necessary training program in the United States of three months duration or less, to include letters from both the local employer and the U.S. company providing the training. Both letters should include a detailed explanation of the training and explain why either the U.S. or local company will suffer a significant loss of opportunity if an expedited appointment is not available.

Students or exchange visitors

Purpose of travel is to begin or resume a valid program of study in the United States within 60 days when no regular visa appointments are available. This option is limited only to students and exchange students who are within 60 days of their start date. It is also limited only to applicants who have not been refused a visa within the last six months at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Instructions – Applying for an Expedited Appointment

Step 1

Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.

Step 2

Schedule an appointment online for the earliest available date.

**Please note that you must schedule an appointment before you can request an expedited date**

Step 3

Send us an email ConsularLome@State.gov

Please mention your current appointment date, the date you wish to have and the reason why you need an expedited appointment.

Step 4

You will receive an email back from us with the new requested appointment date if available.

Step 5

Visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the new date and time of your visa interview. You will need to bring a printed copy of your appointment letter, your Form DS-160 confirmation page, and two photographs taken within the last six months, your current and all old passports, and the original visa fee payment receipt. Applications without all of these items will not be accepted.