U.S. visitor visa guide
Passport and travel history
What to prepare about your passport and previous international travel for a B1/B2 application.
Short answer
Bring a passport that covers your planned stay, with blank pages. Old passports with previous visas can show you returned on time before. List your past international trips on the DS-160 and be ready to explain them.
Passport
- Valid well beyond your planned stay
- Blank pages for the visa and entry stamps
- Scans or copies of the bio page for your file
Travel history
- Old passports with prior U.S. or other visas
- On-time returns help show you follow visa rules
- List every trip you can recall on the DS-160
Be consistent
The dates and countries on the DS-160 must match your other documents. If an officer sees a mismatch, expect follow-up questions.
FAQ
Does my passport need six months of validity?
Many countries require it, and it avoids problems at the airline check-in. Check your itinerary.
Should I bring old passports?
Yes if you have them. They show your past travel and compliance.
What if I cannot remember every trip?
Fill in what you can recall honestly. Do not guess or invent dates.
Official sources
Links to public government pages for verification.