US Visa for Indians

About the US Visa

Only the citizens of countries not part of the USA Visa Waiver Program (VWP) require a US visa. As India does not qualify for the VWP program of the US, all Indians must apply for an American visa to visit this country. Look at some of the key highlights of the US visa for Indians:

*Values will vary depending on the category of the visa applied for

Having a valid US visa does not guarantee entry into the United States of America. The visa is just a document from the US Consular Officer that establishes your eligibility to enter the US for the stated purpose. The actual permission to enter the United States of America and the duration of the stay are decided by the immigration officer at the entry point of the airport.

Features of a US Visa

• Available for both immigrants and non-immigrants
• More than 20 types of non-immigrant visas
• A US Tourist visa is valid for 10 years and lets you stay 180 days or 6 months in a single visit
• Offers a Group US visa appointment option to people travelling in groups of 10 or more
• Option to get an expedited US visa appointment in case of urgent travel to the US

US Visa Fees

A lot of people wonder how much a US visa costs. As per the US immigration laws, all the US visa applicants, including children, must pay the necessary US visa fee. This fee has to be paid by all, whether or not the US visa is approved. The application fee is non-refundable and can't be transferred to another person.

Your US visa fee amount depends on the visa categories. The various kinds of US visa fees are provided below:

Non-Immigrant US Visa Fees

*NAFTA stands for North American Free Trade Agreement

Additional Fees for Non-immigrant US Visa

Additional fees that certain travellers may have to pay for obtaining a nonimmigrant US visa are:

• Nonimmigrant Visa Issuance Fee
• SEVIS or Student & Exchange Visitor Information System Fee (ranging between USD 220 to USD 350)
• Blanket L Fee, which consists of -
  • Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee of USD 500 and
  • Biometric Entry-Exit Fee of USD 4500
• Border Crossing Card Fee of USD 160

The US visa fee application can be paid online via cash, a demand draft or a credit card. You can also pay the application fee for a US visa online through NEFT. However, payment through debit cards and cheques is not accepted.

Once the US visa fee has been paid, a payment receipt will be generated. The payment receipt is valid for one year and lets you schedule an interview at the US Consulate. If you do not schedule an interview at the Consulate within one year of the validity of the receipt, you will have to pay the US visa fees again.

Immigrant US Visa Fees

Additional Fees for Immigrant US Visa

Other fees that an immigrant US visa applicant may have to pay include:

• Diversity visa lottery fee of USD 330
• Support review affidavit fee of USD 120 (for domestic review)
• Fee for determining the Returning Residents Status (DS-117 form) of USD 180
• Transportation letter fee of USD 575 for legal permanent residents of the US
• Application fee of USD 120 for waiver of the two-year residency under J category (DS-3035 form)
• Application fee of USD 930 for waiver of visa ineligibility (I-601 form)

Exceptions on US Visa Fee Payment

Travellers fulfilling one or more of the following conditions don't need to pay any US visa application fees:

• People applying for A, C-2, C-3, and G categories of visas or NATO or diplomatic visas
• J visa category applicants who are travelling to take part in specific official US government-sponsored cultural or educational exchanges
• In case the machine-readable American visa needs to be replaced or the visa needs to be reissued within one year of its issuance due to improper fixing, without the fault of the applicant
• Members or staff of an observer mission to the UN headquarters that has been recognised by the UN General Assembly, including their immediate family members
• People travelling for specific charitable services

US Visa Types

The purpose of travelling to the United States plays a major role in determining the type of visa you will be eligible for. According to the immigration laws of the United States of America, there are two kinds of US visa types:

1. USA Immigrant Visa

   This type of US visa is for people who are travelling to the United States to obtain permanent residency. It includes people shifting due to work relocation, living with a spouse or who have an immediate family member, etc. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services or USCIS approve all petitions for immigrant visas.

2. USA Nonimmigrant Visa

   Non-immigrant visas are the most common category required by people travelling to America for a short period. It is granted to people who are travelling for the purpose of tourism, education, business, medical treatment, participation in an exchange program or for some personal work. There are more than 15 non-immigrant US visa types; a few of them are mentioned below.

   Business Visitor (B-1 US Visa)

   The US business visa offers entry to people for business-related purposes. People who are travelling to the US to meet business associates, attend educational, scientific, professional or business conferences, settle an estate or negotiate contracts can apply for a B1 business visa in the USA.

   Tourism, Vacation, Pleasure Visitor (B-2 Visa)

   With so many great places to visit in the US, foreigners coming here for the purpose of tourism or vacation can apply for a B2 US visa. It includes people who are travelling to the US to meet their friends and families or for recreational purposes.

   Student: Academic, Vocational (F/M US Visa)

   The US has some of the best universities in the world and offers a scope of higher education to talents from all over the world. The US student visa is available to students who want to pursue their education in the United States. Students seeking academic education should apply for the F1 visa USA offers, and students of vocational studies should apply for the M1 visa category.

   You can apply for a US student visa after getting accepted by an educational institute in the US once you receive your I-20 form. US student visa applicants should apply within 120 days of the I-20 start date and travel within 30 days of the I-20 commencement date.

   US Work Visa (H-1B & L-1 US Visa)

   A visa for the US is for people who wish to temporarily work in the US as non-immigrants. Someone with highly specialised job knowledge should apply for a US H1B visa, and an intracompany transferee can apply for an L1 visa USA. Other US work visa categories include H1B1, H2A, H2B, H3, H4, L2, O, P and Q.

   US Exchange Visitor Visa (J Visa)

   The US Exchange Visitor visa is available for people who are travelling to the US to participate in an exchange program. An authorised sponsor in the US should have accepted people seeking this visa. The sponsor will provide the participant with the DS-2019 form. All applicants for US visitor visa should select the 'J' visa category.

   US Journalist and Media Visa (I Visa)

   Representatives of the Indian media travelling to cover a story, incident or event are eligible for this type of US visa. This type of visa is only granted to people from the Indian media whose home office remains in India. Applicants for this visa should apply for the 'I' visa category.

Other popular non-immigrant US visa types are transit visa, ship crew visa, religious worker visa, domestic employee visa and investor visa USA.

How to Apply for a US Visa?

The procedure to apply for a US visa is different for immigrant and nonimmigrant visa seekers, which is given below:

How to Apply for a Non-immigrant US Visa

• Determine the type of US visa according to the purpose of your travel
• Fill up the non-immigrant visa electronic application form at the official website of the US Consular Electronic Application Centre and submit it
• Pay the US visa application fee online through NEFT
• Print the confirmation page
• Log in to your profile and book an appointment for the Visa Application Centre (VAC) and at the US Embassy or Consulate. Enter your passport number, the 10-digit barcode number mentioned on your DS-160 confirmation page and the visa application fee receipt number
• Complete your profile and choose a pickup location to receive your passport
• Visit the Visa Application Centre to let the officials take your photograph and fingerprints
• Visit the US Embassy or Consulate on time for your interview, along with all the required documents, and appear for the interview
• The US visa will be granted if you successfully clear the interview

How to Apply for an Immigrant US Visa

• File a petition with the USCIS or the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. The petition can be self-filed/by a relative/potential employer at the USCIS office in America
• Self-petitioners can fill up the I-360 form and send it to the USCIS lockbox in Chicago, since USCIS does not have a public counter presence in India
• The USCIS will approve the petition and give you a priority date
• Apply for an immigrant visa or a non-immigrant visa in the category 'K'
• Obtain a Police Clearance Certificate or PCC from the Regional Passport Office of your city.
• Undergo a medical examination by an Embassy/Consulate-approved physician
• Fill up the immigrant visa electronic application form, or DS-260 form, online at the official website of the US Consular Electronic Application Centre and submit it.
• Print the confirmation page of the DS-260/DS-160 form.
• Log in to your profile and make an appointment at the US Visa Application Centre and a visa interview appointment at the US Embassy or Consulate
• Complete your profile and choose a pickup location to receive your passport
• Visit the Visa Application Centre to provide your photograph and fingerprints (biometrics)
• Visit the US Embassy or Consulate on time for your interview, along with all the required documents
• The US visa will be granted if you successfully clear the interview

Documents Required to Apply for US Visa

Supporting Documents for US visa from India

• Flight tickets and travel itinerary for the USA
• Letter of Employment (in case working for an organisation)
• Financial Statements
• ITR payments
• Any support affidavit required by the Embassy/Consulate
• I-20 form (for student visa USA applicants)
• Other supporting documents according to the US visa type

Forms Required for US Visa Application

It's important to know the major forms required for your American visa application:

DS-160 Form/ DS-260 Form

Each non-immigrant US visa applicant needs to submit a duly completed DS-160 form online before booking an appointment at the Visa Application Centre as per the US Embassy/Consulate instructions.

The DS-160/ DS-260 form is a certification from the applicant's side, which confirms that all information mentioned in the form is true. Furnishing any incorrect information in the form will eliminate your chances of entering the United States of America.All DS-160/ DS-260 forms need to be signed electronically. You should also bring a printed copy of the confirmation page to the US visa interview.

I-20 Form

Every person who wants to study in America needs the I-20 form for their F or M US student visa. The form states that the applicant has been accepted to an American college/university and requires a student visa. The USA does not guarantee a visa to each applicant with an I-20 form. Only when the applicant student has submitted all the required documents and has cleared the visa interview they are granted a student visa.

Do's to Ensure Smooth Processing of US Visa Application

• Your passport should be valid for at least six months after the scheduled date of departure from the United States
• Photographs of children under 14 years should be taken according to the guidelines issued by the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs
• The appointment at the Visa Application Centre should be at least a day before the appointment at the Embassy or Consulate
• People with no PCC certificate and medical examination report will not be allowed to enter the US Embassy or Consulate
• People who have been denied a US visa earlier should apply for a fresh DS-160 form
• People travelling to the United States in groups of 10 or more people can apply for a group visa appointment.

Who Can Apply for an Expedited US Visa Appointment?

In some cases, applicants are provided with expedited appointments for their US visa interview. Documents supporting the urgency need to be submitted at the time of the interview. You can apply for an expedited US visa appointment under the following circumstances:

• Need for urgent medical treatment in the US
• Death or funeral of an immediate family member in the US
• Urgent travel to the US for business purposes
• Students or exchange visitors whose program is going to start within 60 days

How to Check US Visa Status?

Once you have submitted your US travel visa application and have attended your visa interview, the Consular Department of the US Embassy & Consulates will take a few days to process it. During this period, you can check the application status of your US visa online by visiting the official website of the US Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC).

Take the following steps to view your US visa application status:

• Visit the official website of the US CEAC
• Select 'Check my visa application status'
• Select your US visa application type
• Enter your interview location
• Enter your Application ID or the case number
• Click on submit
• You can find out if your US visa application has been accepted, refused or has pending administrative processing

Administrative Processing during US Visa Process

Some US visa applications get delayed because they require further administrative processing under Section 221(g) of the US Immigration & Nationality Act. Such applications take a minimum of 180 days to get processed, starting from the date of the interview or submission of additional documents.

In cases of emergencies, including critical injury, illness or death of an immediate family member, applications with administrative processing can get processed faster. If a US travel visa application requires administrative processing, the Consular Officer will inform the applicant about the same to the applicant at the end of the US visa interview.

USA Travel Insurance

Getting a US travel visa is not a cakewalk. In fact, the US visa rejection rate in India for student visas was 41% in 2023-2024. A lot of efforts, documents and a strenuous visa interview are involved in a US visa. Even if you do get a visa, you must prepare for any possible setback that could affect your emotional and financial state in the US.

What if an unforeseen incident like a flight delay, loss of check-in baggage or a road accident ruins your trip to the USA? Not only do such unpredictable emergencies spoil your travel plans, but they also put a big financial burden on your shoulders.

By buying a travel insurance policy, you can stay prepared for such adversities and continue to have fun with so many things to do in the US. Travel insurance for the US comes with varying coverage, including medical expenses, loss of passport, delay or loss of check-in baggage, personal accident, flight delay, missed connecting flight, personal liability, emergency cash advance and many more. Right from student travel insurance to family travel insurance, different types of travel insurance plans can cater to the needs of different kinds of travellers.

Having a valid travel insurance policy is not mandatory as per the laws of the United States. However, the US has pretty expensive medical care, and thus, even a small visit to a healthcare provider during your travel will end up burning a big hole in your pockets. What's more, many international travel insurance policies cover you for setbacks like visa rejection as well, in case your US visa was rejected unfairly. Overall, your US trip insurance provides financial aid in your hour of need.