A Comprehensive Guide for US Visa Applicants from India

Traveling to the great nation of the United States of America is inevitable today. Whether you want to visit ‘the land of opportunity’ for an urgent business visit or for any personal purpose, the visa application process to enter the country is quite detailed. While there is no limit to availability of cheap last minute flights from India to the USA, getting US visa approval is a prerequisite for entry of citizens of the majority of countries like India.

So, who requires a US visa?

A citizen of a foreign country is required to obtain a US visa to enter America. The visa is placed in the form of a stamped approval on a visa applicant’s passport. The duration of a US visa can vary between 6 months to 10 years. Once approved, a traveler can easily find cheap last minute flights to the United States of America and explore the super popular ‘land of opportunity’. Foreign nationals who come under the category of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) or visa-free travel do not require a US visa to enter the country.

There are 2 broad categories for US visas- Immigration visa for a permanent stay and Non-Immigration visa for a temporary stay. Check out the detailed list of US visa types in the table below and select your visa type to go ahead with the visa application process.

Visa Type	Reason for visa application
A	Diplomats and government officials
A1, G-1, NATO1-6	Renewal of visas
A-2, NATO1-6	Defense personnels stationed in the US
B-1	Pro athletes, business professionals, domestic help or nannies
B-2	Medical treatments, tourists, and vacation seekers
BCC	Mexican Border Crossing Card
C	Transit in the U.S.
D	Crew members serving on aircraft
E-1	Treaty traders
E-2	Treaty investors
E-3	Australian professionals and workers
F-1	Language and academic students
F-2	Dependents of F-1 Visa holders (students)
G1 – G5, NATO	Designated international organization’s employees and NATO
H-1B-1	Chilean Free Trade Agreement (FTA) professionals, Singaporean FTA professionals
H1-B [H1B Stamping India]	Physicians and specialized professionals
H2 – A	Temporary workers for seasonal agriculture
H2 – B	Temporary workers for non-agricultural professions
H3	Primarily non-employment training programs
H1 – C	Nurses traveling to areas with a shortage of healthcare professionals
I	Information media representatives and journalists
J	Exchange visitors or International cultural exchange visitors
J-1	Au-pairs exchange visitors, professors, scholars, and teachers as exchange visitors
J-2	Children under the age of 21/ Spouse of J-1 visa holder
L	Intracompany transferees
M-1	Vocational reasons
M-2	Dependent on M-1 holder
O-1	Foreign nationals possessing excellent knowledge and abilities in the field of education, art, science, athletics, or business
P	Entertainers, athletes and artists
Q	International cultural exchange
R	For purpose of religious work
TN/TD	Mexican & Canadian NAFTA professional workers
T-1	Victims of Human trafficking
U-1	Victims of any criminal activity

Eligibility criteria for an Indian visa applicant:

The United States of America has detailed eligibility criteria for a US visa applicant. Check out the regulations before you book any flights to USA from India. Below, we have mentioned a checklist for the eligibility criteria for a visa applicant.

• Most importantly, you need to give a valid reason for traveling to the United States of America.
• An applicant needs to hold a passport with a validity of 6 months
• A person with a criminal record is not allowed to apply for a US visa.
• Applicants need to show a detailed record of the financial stability of themselves and their dependents.
• A candidate will need to show a medical certificate of good health from an authorized physician.
• An applicant must not be suffering from a communicable disease like Tuberculosis.

Relevant documents required for US Visa applicants from India:

A visa applicant will need to submit relevant documents that might vary for each visa type. Once an applicant has selected the specific visa type, he/she can go through the list as per specific visa category. Don’t worry about price once your visa is approved as there are unlimited cheap last minute flights deals online to make a last minute plan.The basic documents required for visa application are as follows:

1. Two colored photographs
2. Validity of passport for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in the United States.
3. Marriage certificate, if applicable
4. Death certificate of spouse or divorce certificate if applicable
5. Dependent visa applicants need to submit all original documents to prove their relationship.
6. A certificate of clearance from the police.
7. Records of military service, if any

Checklist of documents to be submitted in case of an Immigrant Visa:

• Old and previous passport
• Report of medical examination
• Clearance Certificate from the police
• Other relevant documents supporting a specific visa type

Document requirement for a Non-Immigrant Visa:

• A copy of the Appointment Confirmation Letter
• Current and previous passport
• DS-160 confirmation page stamped at VAC [Visa Stamping India
• Other relevant documents supporting visa type

Visa applicants must also adhere to certain specifications regarding pictures to be submitted. Take a look at the rules regarding photos

• It must be a recent picture.
• Dimension of the picture: 50mm x 50mm
• The colored picture must contain a white background
• The photograph must cover 70% part of your face
• An applicant must hold a neutral facial expression in the picture
• The eyes of the applicant must be wide opened while the camera
• Wearing spectacles due to medical reasons is permitted
• An applicant can wear a uniform while being clicked
• Facial hair is allowed in the photograph
• Wearing headgear for religious reasons is allowed

Step-by-step guide for US Visa Application process:

1. Firstly, cross-check all the above-mentioned documents to get a head start.
2. Secondly, fill out the DS-160 form / NIV US application online. Kindly fill out the page accurately and completely as the details given here are important.
3. Proceed to pay the US visa application fee online and wait for email confirmation of fee receipt and DS-160 confirmation document.
4. After receiving the confirmation mail you will be required to schedule a US Visa appointment.
5. Use the DS-160 application barcode and the visa fee receipt number to schedule the appointment.

Please note that each visa applicant will get two appointments:

• Biometric submission at VAC or Visa Application Center. Take other relevant documents to VAC like an appointment, passport, and DS-160 confirmation document.
• Visa interview scheduling at US Embassy or Consulate-General. Take relevant documents like supporting documents, appointment confirmation letter, and VAC stamped on the DS-160 confirmation document for the interview in the US Embassy or Consulate. Please note that visa interviews and biometric submissions are compulsory for children above the age of 14 years and elderly people under the age of 80 years.

Payment of Visa fees:

The US Visa fee can be paid via cash, mobile, or NEFT and is not refundable. However, people who hold diplomatic passports are exempted from payment of fees.

What is the duration for the processing of visa applications?

The duration for processing of the application is anywhere between 7 to 10 working days. However, the period may vary due to factors like the type of visa, the workload at the embassy, urgency, and other relevant factors. A large number of people are interested in traveling to the great American nation, so, visa interview appointments generally take time for scheduling. It is recommended to apply well in advance before the date of traveling. Once your visa is approved go online to check travel packages that include cheap last minute flights deals.

Where to apply for a US visa application?
The process runs smoothly and visa applications can be easily submitted online. However, it is mandatory for an Indian applicant to visit both VAC and the Embassy in New Delhi or a US Consulate General office located in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, or Hyderabad.

Is there a provision for an emergency visa to America?

There is a provision for visa applicants to get an emergency appointment for a US Visa interview in certain circumstances like medical or humanitarian emergencies.If your emergency visa gets approved on time, go online to find cheap last minute flights to the USA and make a last minute plan with ease.

Please note that not all visa applicants are able to get visas. Let us take a look at the grounds for which a visa can be denied to an applicant:

• An incomplete visa application is probably going to be rejected.
• If you fail to provide valid supporting documents, your visa application might fall through.
• A candidate holding a criminal record might be denied a visa
• Visa denial is also common in case an applicant’s country does not have friendly relations with America.
• The failure to show financial stability is also a major ground for the refusal of a visa.
• If your passport doesn’t have enough blank pages your visa might be denied.
• Sometimes an applicant fails to utilize the last issued visa, and this can also become a reason for the refusal of the visa.
• The failure to provide a legitimate reason to visit the US is a major reason for visa denial.

The US visa application process is a comprehensive one and processing must be done carefully. Go through the step-by-step processes thoroughly and try to make a strong case on the very first attempt. Gather all relevant documents and ask for professional help in case your application is denied in the first attempt.