US Visa Requirements & Eligibility

The United States of America offers various visas depending on the purpose of your visit, including tourism, education, work, and business, among others. Non-immigrant visas permit temporary stays for those travelling for business or tourism purposes. Immigrant visas allow permanent residency in the US, required for those who have been employed in the US or have family residing.  
 

Indian citizens require a valid visa to enter the US for tourism, business, study, work, or other purposes. The type of visa required depends on the purpose of the visit. The B1 visa is granted for business purposes, while the B2 visa is granted for tourism and other non-business activities.

To schedule your travel plans seamlessly, be sure to book your US visa appointment well in advance. 

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US Visa for Indians 

There are various types of US visas that are granted based on the purpose of your visit.  

A B1/B2 visa is a non-immigrant visa category for individuals who plan to visit the US temporarily for business, tourism, or medical purposes. Here are the main types of B1/B2 visas: 

US business visa (B1 visa) 

A business visitor visa or the B1 visa is granted if you are travelling for business meetings, research or training programmes, or for attending conventions or trade shows. 

US tourist visa (B2 visa)

A US tourist visa is granted if you are travelling for tourism purposes, to attend social events, or for family gatherings.

The B1 and B2 visa allows for a combined purpose of business and tourism. Therefore, if your visit to the US involves both business and tourist activities, you can apply for a B1 or B2 visa instead of separate B1 and B2 visas.

When applying for a B1 or B2 visa, you'll need to demonstrate your intent to visit the US temporarily, have sufficient funds to cover your expenses during your stay, and show your intention to return to your home country after the visit. 
 

Visa type

Documents required

US business visa / US tourist visa 

 

  • Original passport valid for 6 months with minimum 2 blank pages. 
  • Duly filled online application form which should be printed and carried by the applicant at the time of interview.  
  • US visa photo requirements: Two recent photos with white background of size of 2x2 inches (51 x 51 mm) 
  • Additionally, you may bring supporting documents to share accurate information provided to the consular officer. 
  • Invitation letter from the company in USA. 
  • NOC from company. 
  • Financial proof:  
    • Last 3 months' salary slips. 
    • Income tax acknowledgement for last 3 years. 
    • Last 6-month bank statements with stamp and signature on it. 
  • Documents to carry for biometrics:
    • Appointment confirmation letter
    • Your current passport and most recently expired passport
    • Print out of the DS-160 confirmation page

 

Ensure all your necessary documents are in place before your US visa appointment for a hassle-free process. 

Points to note: 

The appointment is only open to those applying for the US visa. Candidates with impairments may bring a caregiver, assistant, or interpreter with them. 

You will not be allowed to enter the facility prior to the time specified on your appointment letter, so please arrive at the exact hour of your appointment. 

An applicant may be asked to provide additional documents as per the embassy’s discretion. Passport will be released by the consulate on basis of the interview. Processing days will be calculated once all documents have been shared in accordance with embassy requirements. 

Does the US offer visa-on-arrival for Indians?

No, US does not offer visa-on-arrival for Indian citizens. They need to obtain a visa before travelling to the US, regardless of the purpose of their visit. Indian citizens  should apply for a visa in advance through the US Embassy or Consulate before travelling to the US. The type of visa required depends on the purpose of the visit, such as tourism, business, study, or work.

Confirm your US visa appointment early to help avoid delays in your travel plans. 

How to apply for US Visa online through Air India?

Please follow the below steps to apply for a US Visa:

  1. Click here to visit the AirIndia OneVasco website.
  2. Add and review the applicants’ details before proceeding to checkout.
  3. Once the payment is successful, you will receive a confirmation of your visa application. The OneVasco visa concierge team will get in touch to assist further with the US Visa for Indians and ensure a smooth process.
  4. Once the required documents are submitted and verified by our visa experts’ team, your US visa application will be submitted for approval.  
  5. Once approved, the passport along with the stamped visa will be released within 5-7 business days. 

Online Process for US Visa application


Fill out the DS-160 form online through the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website. Provide accurate information about yourself, your planned travel to the USA, and your background. 

Pay the visa application fee: Pay the non-refundable visa application fee, which varies depending on the type of visa you're applying for. Payment instructions are usually provided on the website of the US Embassy or Consulate.

Schedule a visa interview: Once you've paid the visa application fee, schedule an appointment for a visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate in your home country. Appointment scheduling procedures may vary depending on the location.

Gather required documents: Prepare the necessary documents for your visa interview. Supporting documents such as proof of ties to your home country, travel itinerary, and financial documents to demonstrate your ability to cover expenses during your stay in the USA.

On the scheduled date of your visa interview, arrive at the US Embassy or Consulate with all required documents. Be prepared to answer questions about your travel plans, background, and reasons for visiting the USA.

Biometric Data Collection (if applicable): Depending on your country of residence and visa category, you may be required to provide biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) at the Visa Application Centre or at the US Embassy/Consulate on the day of your interview.

Documents to be carried at the time of appointment:  

  • Appointment confirmation letter.  
  • Your current passport and most recently expired passport. 
  • Print out of the DS-160 confirmation page. 

US Visa Processing time:

US visa for Indians is usually processed within 5-7 working days once the interview is cleared in accordance with the embassy requirements. 

After your visa interview, your application will undergo processing by the US Embassy or Consulate. Processing times can vary depending on factors such as the volume of applications and individual circumstances. 

Once your visa application has been approved, you will receive your passport with the visa stamped inside. In some cases, the passport may have to be collected in person at the visa application centre or delivered to your address via courier service.

How to track US Visa application?

Visit the Consular Electronic Application Centre (CEAC) website, managed by the US Department of State. Enter your unique application ID number (found on your DS-160 confirmation page) and other required information to access your application status. You can access the status of your visa by clicking here:  https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx

How much is the US visa fee?

The US visa fees for non-immigrant visa categories (including B1/B2 visas) is USD 185. 

The visa application fee, also known as the Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee, covers the cost of processing your visa application. This fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether your visa is approved or denied. The fee amount depends on the type of visa you're applying for. 

Visa applicants may also have the option to pay for additional services offered by the Visa Application Centre (VAC) or other service providers, such as expedited processing, courier delivery of documents, or assistance with completing the visa application form. These optional services involve additional fees, which vary depending on the specific service requested. 

Frequently asked Questions

Yes, Indian nationals need a valid US visa to enter the country for tourism, business, study, work, or other purposes. The type of visa depends on the purpose of your visit. The B-1 visa is granted for business purposes, while the B-2 visa is granted for tourism and other non-business activities.

Please follow the below steps to apply for a US Visa:

  1. Click here to visit the AirIndia OneVasco website.
  2. Add and review the applicants’ details before proceeding to checkout.
  3. Once the payment is successful, you will receive a confirmation of your visa application. The OneVasco visa concierge team will get in touch to assist you further and ensure a smooth process.
  4. Once the required documents are submitted and verified by our visa experts’ team, your US Visa application will be submitted for approval.
  5. Once approved, your passport with the stamped visa will be released within 5-7 business days.

No. Indian nationals are not eligible for a visa-on-arrival in the US. Depending on the purpose of your visit, a US visa must be applied in advance. 

You can stay in the US for up to 180 days on a B1 or B2 category visa.

The validity period of your US visa depends on the type of visa granted to you. US visas typically have a 10-year validity period. However, the validity period defines the time within which you can use the visa to enter the nation, and its compliance depends on the embassy's decision. It does not specify how long you can stay in the US on each visit. 

Yes, Indian citizens who hold a Schengen visa still require a separate visa to enter the US. The Schengen visa allows entry into the Schengen area, which includes many European countries as per policy, but it does not grant entry into the US. 

To visit the US, Indian citizens need to apply for the appropriate US visa (tourist, business visa or another category depending on the purpose of their visit) through the US embassy or consulate in India.

Yes, you can apply for a US visa without having confirmed flight tickets. When applying for a US visa, particularly a US tourist visa, you are not required to provide confirmed flight bookings. Instead, you can provide an itinerary or proposed travel plans that outline your intended travel dates and destinations within the US. 

Yes, when applying for a US visa, there are specific criteria for the type of photo you must upload. As per the guidelines, the US visa photo requirements are with a white background size of 2x2 inches (51 x 51 mm). 

Yes, documents can be uploaded in either PDF or JPG format. Ensure that your documents are saved in one of these formats when submitting them for your US visa application. 

The US visa processing time depends on the availability of the appointment schedule, 
type of visa you have applied for, as well as the average processing time at the US Embassy.  

Once the visa interview is cleared, the passport along with the stamped visa will be released within 5-7 business days.

Once your visa is approved, you will receive an SMS and email and you will be able to collect the same from the pick-up location chosen while making the appointment. You must carry your original government-issued photo ID along with a photocopy. Information on how to change your pick-up location or authorise someone else to collect your passport is available at: https://ustraveldocs.com/in/en/collection-locations

Yes, every Indian national travelling to the US requires a valid US visa to enter the country. Indian citizens need a visa to enter the US for tourism, business, study, work, or other purposes. The type of visa required depends on the purpose of the visit. The B-1 visa is granted for business purposes, while the B-2 visa is granted for tourism and other non-business activities. 

No. Once a US visa application has been submitted, it cannot be cancelled. However, if you no longer wish to travel to the US or if your circumstances have changed, you can simply choose not to use the visa after it has been issued. 

If you have already been granted a US visa but your travel plans have changed, there is no formal cancellation process required. You can inform the relevant authorities & the embassy or consulate that issued the visa, that you no longer intend to use the visa. 

No. US visa fees is non-refundable, so even if you choose not to use the visa, you will not be eligible for a refund.  

If you have applied for a visa through a visa application service or travel partner, you may need to contact them directly to inform them of your decision not to travel. They can provide guidance on any additional steps that may be necessary. 

Refunds are not available for visa rejections. US visa fee is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the application. When applying for a US visa, it is necessary to ensure all guidelines are followed to minimise the risk of rejection. 

There is no timeframe that you must wait to reapply in case your US visa application is rejected. However, one must understand the reason for rejection and address the issues before submitting a fresh application.