Do Guatemalan passport holders need a visa for the United States?

Yes. Guatemala is not in the US Visa Waiver Programme, so Guatemalan citizens need a B1/B2 visitor visa before travelling. It costs 185 US dollars, requires an interview at the embassy in Guatemala City, and no bond is required: Guatemala is not on the US visa bond list.

Visa required

Yes, a B1/B2 visitor visa

Cost

USD 185, unchanged since May 2023

Visa bond

Not required, Guatemala is not on the bond list

Interview

Required in person, at the US Embassy in Guatemala City

Faster appointment

Optional USD 750, available until 31 December 2026

Covers

Tourism, visiting family, business meetings

Entry requirements

• A Guatemalan passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay.
• An approved B1/B2 visa before you travel. There is no visa on arrival, including at land borders.
• A completed DS-160 and its confirmation page.
• Evidence of ties to Guatemala that you will return to: employment, studies, property or dependent family.
• Proof of funds for the trip and an address in the United States.

How to apply for a B1/B2 visa

Complete the DS-160 online, pay the 185 dollar fee, then book an interview at the US Embassy in Guatemala City. The fee is paid up front and is not refunded if you are refused.

A separate 750 US dollar fee can buy an interview appointment within ten business days at selected posts. It is optional, it is on top of the 185 dollars, and it is temporary: it took effect on 1 July 2026 and expires on 31 December 2026 unless extended. It is worth pricing against the trip rather than dismissing it, because in this region the wait for an ordinary appointment is usually what decides whether a trip happens at all.

The consular officer decides on the day of the interview. The single thing that decides most cases is whether you have shown convincing reasons to return home.

Good to know

• No bond applies to Guatemalan applicants. This is worth stating plainly because the United States made its visa bond programme permanent on 3 August 2026, several countries in the region are affected, and rumour travels faster than the list. Guatemala is not on it.
• The visa is not permission to enter. A Customs and Border Protection officer makes that decision at the port of entry and sets how long you may stay, which is often shorter than the visa is valid for.
• A B1/B2 does not permit work of any kind, including informal or cash work. Being found working on a visitor visa ends the trip and makes future applications considerably harder.

Frequently asked questions

Related pages

• Cancún travel guide
• Do Singaporeans need a visa for the United States?
• Check visa requirements for any passport

Sources

Every fact on this page was checked against the official sources below on 8 August 2026.

• US Department of Homeland Security — Visa Waiver Program designated countries. Guatemala is absent from the designation list.
• Federal Register, 9 June 2026, Schedule of Fees for Consular Services (2026-11513) — USD 185 MRV fee; temporary USD 750 expedited-appointment fee, 1 July to 31 December 2026
• Federal Register, 3 August 2026, Visas: Visa Bond Program (2026-15726) — the programme is permanent and applies to nationals of listed countries only
• US Department of State — Countries Subject to Visa Bonds. Guatemala is not listed. Read in a browser by Simran Raheja on 2026-08-08.

Entry rules change without notice and the official source is always the authority. Confirm with the embassy or immigration portal before you book.