Indian citizens travelling to the United States for tourism or business require a B1/B2 visitor visa, valid for up to ten years. Applicants complete the DS-160 form, pay the fee, and attend an in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate in India, with passport return by courier.
Search intent
informational → transactional
'USA visa from India' is heavily informational because the process is interview-based, document-heavy, and the wait-time question dominates search. The snippet answers the headline question; the apply modal captures users ready to begin the DS-160.
Primary keyword
USA visa from India
B1/B2 Visitor VisaDS-160 online formIn-person interview at US Embassy/Consulateustraveldocs.com schedulingUp to 10-year validity
Overview
The US visitor visa is an interview-based visa valid for up to ten years, with each entry typically permitting a stay of up to six months as decided by the Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry. Indian applicants complete the DS-160 form online, pay the fee, schedule an interview through ustraveldocs.com, and attend in person at the US Embassy in New Delhi or a Consulate in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, or Hyderabad.
Not to be confused with
This page covers the B1/B2 visitor visa for tourism and short-term business. It does not cover the F-1 student visa, H-1B work visa, L-1 intracompany visa, ESTA (not applicable to Indian passport holders), or immigrant visas. The US visa is separate from the Canadian visa and does not permit entry to Canada.
Eligibility
Indian passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended period of stay.
A genuine temporary purpose: tourism, visiting family or friends, or short-term business.
Sufficient funds to cover the trip without working in the US.
Strong ties to India demonstrating intent to return.
No ineligibilities under US immigration law.
Documents by applicant profile
DS-160 confirmation page with barcode.
Visa fee receipt and appointment confirmation.
Valid passport and prior passports.
One photograph meeting US visa specifications.
Approved-leave letter from the employer.
Last three to six months of salary slips and bank statements.
Latest Form 16 and income-tax returns.
Return flight itinerary and accommodation details.
Step-by-step process
1
Complete the DS-160
Fill the DS-160 form on the official portal, upload the photograph, and print the confirmation with the barcode.
2
Pay the visa fee
Pay the non-refundable MRV fee through the approved payment channels and retain the receipt.
3
Schedule the interview
Book an interview slot on ustraveldocs.com for the US Embassy in New Delhi or a Consulate in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, or Hyderabad.
4
Attend the interview
Visit the embassy or consulate on the scheduled date with the DS-160 confirmation, fee receipt, passport, and supporting documents.
5
Receive the passport
If approved, the visa is stamped and the passport is returned by courier to the chosen address.
Fees
Applicant
Fee
Note
B1/B2 visitor visa (MRV fee)
185USDverify
Representative fee; confirm on travel.state.gov / ustraveldocs before paying.
Courier return
Included or nominalINRverify
Subject to ustraveldocs terms.
* Fees marked "verify" must be confirmed on the official portal before payment.
Processing time
Processing time has two parts: the interview wait time, which varies widely by location and season and can range from days to many months, and the post-interview visa issuance time, typically one to two weeks. Applicants should check current wait times on ustraveldocs.com before planning travel.
Common rejection reasons
Insufficient evidence of strong ties to India.
Inability to clearly explain the purpose and duration of the trip.
Doubts about financial capacity to cover the stay.
Prior immigration non-compliance or visa misuse.
Incomplete or inconsistent DS-160 information.
Failure to convince the officer of intent to return.
Gaya · Bodhgaya · Patna · Varanasi application path
Bihar-based applicants are generally interviewed at the US Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate in Kolkata, depending on the consular district. The concierge route covers: DS-160 completion with Hindi/Bhojpuri support, fee payment assistance, interview scheduling at the nearest available slot, a pre-interview briefing in Gaya/Bodhgaya, and return passport courier to Patna or Bodhgaya. Pilgrims should plan interviews well outside the Pind Daan window.
Pan-India note: The DS-160 + interview route applies nationwide. Consular districts determine which embassy or consulate an applicant uses, but the concierge supports applicants from every state with document preparation and scheduling.
Local-market adaptation: For Gaya/Bodhgaya applicants the US visa is the highest-effort destination because of the mandatory in-person interview and variable wait times. The concierge differentiates by: (a) managing the wait-time monitoring so the applicant does not need to refresh ustraveldocs daily, (b) providing a structured pre-interview briefing tailored to pilgrim/first-time-traveller profiles, and (c) grouping the New Delhi or Kolkata trip with logistics support (travel, stay, passport courier). This is distinct from generic pan-India copy.
Editorial control panel — 10-part deliverable metadata
Compliance & trust
Last verified
2026-08-02
Source priority
travel.state.gov and ustraveldocs.com/in are the primary sources. No third-party platform is used as a content source.
Ambiguity flags
Interview wait times change frequently and must be checked live on ustraveldocs.com.
INR fee amount varies with the USD exchange rate on the payment date.
Post-interview issuance time can extend if administrative processing applies.
Editor note: Wait-time statements are intentionally qualitative. Before publishing authoritative live figures, re-confirm current interview wait times on ustraveldocs.com for each consular location.
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