Getting my B2 Visa – Here’s what I wish I knew!

When you start researching a thru-hike on the PCT, you find a lot of blogs and websites explaining how to get the permit, choose the best gear, when to go, how to resupply, etc. And that’s the most exciting to read about! But if you’re a non-US citizen, you better learn how to obtain a B2 visa! You can be super prepared, but if you don’t get the visa, your hike will remain a dream. I got very lucky, but better not rely on luck only!

After deciding to do the PCT, my wife and I did extensive research about the weather, the terrain, the gears (I geeked out on it!), and the permit. We started saving money and getting ready for this great adventure. The first step to make it real was applying for our permit on the Pacific Crest Trail Association website (it’s quite a process!). I counted the months, and finally, the day arrived to register.

We applied for the permit and got the date we wanted (woohoo, first step!). Then, feeling pumped, we went online to see how to obtain the B2 visa. We are both from Europe and knew we could not enter on an ESTA Visa, but we didn’t worry too much about it, as we thought, first focus on the permit.

After obtaining the permit, we started reading about the B2 Visa. The more I read, the more I started worrying… and excitement turned into anxiety.

 

Our complex case

I am from Belgium, and my wife is from the Netherlands. We got married in Thailand and have a residency in Paraguay. For the past eight years, we have lived a nomadic life together. We were traveling through Central America when we applied for the PCT permit. (Can it get more complicated?)

I read on the US website that we can apply for the B2 visa in any US Embassy by filling out the DS-160 form online and then going in person to the embassy for an interview. It is better to apply from your country of residence. After more research, I could see that the chances of getting denied are higher if you don’t apply from your country of residence.

My heart skipped a beat.

We are not in Paraguay and didn’t intend to go this year. But we were ready to do whatever it takes. So I went on the website of the US Embassy in Paraguay and saw that the waiting time to get an interview was 194 days!

My heart stopped beating.

We are on November 15th, 2023, and our start date is in late April 2024, which is less than 194 days.

Is that it? Is our PCT dream collapsing?

At that point, we realized we had no choice but to apply to another embassy. We were in Granada, Nicaragua, and about to fly to Colombia 7 days later, so I checked on their website, but it was not an option: 760 days! I couldn’t believe it.

I researched all the embassy’s waiting times to find the shortest ones. One of them was in Managua, Nicaragua, with a waiting time of just 1 day (now that seems more reasonable!). We rushed to complete the DS-160 and scheduled our appointment. Crossing our fingers that it would be accepted and that it would be processed in less than 7 days. Optimistic, right? Well, we had to try. It’s an expensive “try” though; the application is 185 USD.

DS-160; check!

Appointment for the interview one day later; check!

Now let’s prepare the file!

The interview

We kept looking for information about how to prepare for the interview. Things didn’t look more promising! We have to prove strong ties with our home country. How are we going to do that? We are nomads and don’t have a house, a car, or anything more than a backpack! And we have our own business online, registered in the United States. We choose a nomadic lifestyle because we like freedom, not « strong ties. »

It was not looking good.

I prepared a document with the following:

– Introduction about the PCT with maps and stats

– Resources (books and websites)

– PCT Permit from the PCTA (not even the confirmation because it takes 3 weeks to be issued)

– PCT thru-hike estimated schedule

– Map & Navigation

– Equipment and resupply strategy

– Previous trails experience

– Bank statement (enough funds to sustain during the hike but not too much so it doesn’t look like you could stay illegally in the US longer)

– Traveling plans for after our PCT thru-hike

– Support letters from our parents confirming our intention not to stay in the US

– The DS-160 with the barcode

– The receipt for the appointment scheduling

– One recent photo (2’x 2’)

 

We left our Airbnb at 5:30 AM to go to the embassy in Managua with a knot in our stomach.

It was written on the appointment confirmation email that we couldn’t enter the embassy with cellphones, bags, electronics, … We hoped there would be some locker service close by, but there was nothing. So we asked a taxi driver to wait for us. And we left our phones and bags in the car, crossing our fingers he would still be there when we came back after the appointment!

We went through the security, scanned our fingerprints, and then queued in front of the counter for the interview. So far, so good. There were four people (Nicaraguan) in front of us.

The first person in front of the queue was denied the visa.

Damn..

Second: denied

We start sweating..

Third: denied

I am not religious, but I start praying to all the gods I know of!

Fourth: accepted

With a bit of relief, the immigration officer might have stopped her “No” strike.

It’s our turn now. She smiled and asked:

– What is the purpose of the visit to the US?

– Did you come all the way from Europe to apply for the short wait time?

– When is your hike?

– What do you do for a living?

….…OK, Your visa is accepted! (She didn’t even check anything from my beautiful file!)

I wanted to jump and yell! But I just smile and try to contain the excitement.

Then she said, “Your passports will be ready to pick up in two weeks.” I froze. Our plane is leaving in 6 days, and we can’t postpone it because we can’t stay in Central America for more than 90 consecutive days. And we can’t fly out without our passports.

I explained the situation; she checked a few things on the screen and said:” You can come to pick up your passports in person at the embassy; it will be ready in two days.” She made our day! And I think I believe in god(s) again!

It seems that we are all set and that our dream will come true! Except, there is one more problem.. My passport is almost full, with only two blank pages left, and I realized that the B2 visa takes one full page. We are flying to Colombia, and the requirements are at least 2 blank pages. Then, I’ll have to fly to Argentina, where the Belgian embassy for Paraguay is located, to renew my passport, but they also require two blank pages.

I think I better start praying again. Apparently, it works…

 

You are warned!

If you are a non-US citizen and non-US resident, keep in mind that the waiting time for the interview can be an issue. It would be a pity to have to cancel all your plans because of the visa.

If I had to do it all again, I would apply for the B2 Visa before the PCT permit. It is valid for 10 years anyway.

Good luck, and see you on the trail!

 

Useful links

Check the waiting time:

– https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html

DS-160 application:

– https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/Default.aspx?TSPD_101_R0=0883343043ab20004398ccd181d0830f13904fcb8086b9e1d172892a67d61ca66efd310d637764120854389e17143000eef86de11d7e53cff2e09fb2da93b0124c43fcec0b293e6ca47a65b4b547a81ed13f2ada54b961cbc20d6ddc791882d2