US Tourist Visa for Indians: How to Apply & Requirements

Do Indians require a visa for the US?

Yes. Indian citizens must apply for a visa to enter the US for tourism. The nation does not provide visa-free access to Indian passport holders, whether their visit is for tourism or business activities.

The US tourist visa is valid for 10 years and allows you to visit the country for 180 days. You can apply for a visa through Atlys or handle the application yourself.

Is there a US visa on arrival for Indian passport holders?

There is no visa-on-arrival facility for Indian passport holders travelling to the United States. Indian citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to the US, whether for tourism, business, education, or other purposes.

US tourist visa requirements for Indian citizens

Your application must meet the specific visa requirements listed by the US government. The required documents for a US visa are as follows:

• US visa application form: You must fill out the visa application form for the US, called the DS-160 form.

• Valid passport: A passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity of at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States.

• Photograph: A digital copy of your passport-size photo that meets the US photo requirements (2" X 2" photograph taken within the last six months). If you fail to upload the photo when completing the DS-160 form, take a printed photo with you during the VAC appointment.

Supporting documents to bring to your interview:

• DS-160 confirmation page: After filling out the form, you can print the confirmation page with the barcode.

• Appointment confirmation: Download the appointment confirmation page to present at the embassy.

• Proof of purpose of the trip: You must present documents indicating your purpose of visit, such as a cover letter, travel itinerary, places you will visit, etc.

• Proof of temporary stay: You must provide proof of your accommodation/stay in the USA.

• Proof of sufficient funds: You must submit your bank and tax statements to prove your financial ability to pay for your trip.

• Proof of employment: You can submit the employment contract or the leave approval letter.

Apply on Atlys to get end-to-end assistance in collecting the required documents.

Visa application jurisdiction

The concept of passport jurisdiction requires that your visa application be processed by the embassy or consulate serving the area where you live. Submitting your application to an embassy different from the one designated for your region is not possible and will lead to a visa rejection.

It is crucial to apply within the correct jurisdiction based on your residence in India. Atlys will schedule your appointment and interview at the appropriate US embassy or consulate in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata or Chennai, depending on your passport jurisdiction.

US visa fees for Indians

The US tourist visa fee for Indians is ₹ 31,500 when you apply on Atlys.

*It is important to note that the visa fees are subject to change. Check the official US government website for the most up-to-date information.

US visa application process for Indians

We want to ensure our readers know exactly how to apply and their options. You can apply for the US tourist visa through Atlys or handle the application yourself.

How to apply through Atlys

To get your US visa from India on time, here's a quick overview of what to expect when applying online through Atlys.

1. 1

   Visit Altys: Start your US tourist visa application on Atlys.

2. 2

   Upload documents: Submit your digital photo and passport. Atlys will provide assistance in collecting the remaining documents to ensure your application meets the minimum requirements.

3. 3

   Pay the fees: Pay the visa application fee to submit your application and secure a visa appointment.

4. 4

   Arrange for an appointment and interview date: An Atlys representative will assist you in booking an expedited date for your visa appointment and interview. You will receive the dates for your OFC appointment (where you must submit your biometrics) and your consular appointment (interview with a USA visa officer).

5. 5

   Attend your appointment and interview: Attend your OFC appointment and submit your biometric information. The day after, you will attend your interview with a US visa officer (2-3 minutes). The visa officer will ask relevant questions about your planned trip, your intention to return home, and your travel history.

6. 6

   Visa outcome and pickup: You will be informed of your visa status immediately after attending the interview. You must submit your passport and relevant documents to the consulate if your visa application is approved. Your passport will be returned to your home address with your US tourist visa stamp.

Apply through Atlys and get an expedited visa appointment date. Applying by yourself means waiting up to a year for an appointment date.

How to apply through the government website:

Applying for a US tourist visa from India is lengthy and can take months. Here's what to expect when applying by yourself:

1. 1

   Apply online for the US visa: Complete the DS-160 form and ensure all information is correct and accurate. Remember to save your Application ID for future reference.

2. 2

   Pay the visa fees: There are multiple ways to pay the US tourist visa fees from India. You can pay the fee online or offline at the designated payment locations.

3. 3

   Schedule the US visa appointment: Create an account on the CGI Federal portal to schedule an appointment at the Visa Application Center (VAC) and a separate interview with the US Embassy/Consulate. Note that the VAC appointment (OFC appointment) is only for collecting your biometrics. You must schedule the VAC appointment at least one day before the interview appointment date.

4. 4

   Provide biometrics at the VAC appointment: The VAC appointment is primarily made to take your biometric information (fingerprints and photographs) before your interview.

5. 5

   Attend the US visa interview: Visit the embassy/consulate on the day of the interview. Submit your supporting documents and answer all the questions correctly and confidently.

6. 6

   US visa approval: The visa officer will inform you of the visa decision immediately after your interview. If approved, you can submit your passport for visa processing. You must then pick up your passport from the US passport collection centres. Passports not collected within 14 working days will be returned to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.

Apply with Atlys for a personal concierge to assist you with document collection and an expedited visa appointment.

Receive your approved US tourist visa

During your visa interview, USA visa officers will question you about the purpose of your trip, your intention to travel back home, your travel history, and more.

Authorities will approve or deny your visa request based on your interview and supporting documents; and will inform you immediately of their decision. If your visa is approved, you must submit your passport to the consulate for visa processing (up to 10 days).

Once your visa has been processed, authorities will return your passport with the stamped visa included. You can collect your passport and visa at the designated collection centres throughout India.

US visa information for Indians

How to check your US visa status?

You can check your US visa status on the online portal. You must enter the following details:

1. 1

   The location where you submitted your visa.

2. 2

   Your application ID or case number.

3. 3

   Your passport number.

4. 4

   The first 5 letters of your surname.

5. 5

   Enter the captcha code to proceed.

Alternatively, you can also call to track your visa application at:

Phone Number: +91 22 62011000.

Visa processing could take a few weeks. It is advised that you wait at least 2 weeks from the appointment date before making an enquiry.

US visa processing time

The embassy usually takes about 10 days to process your US visa if everything goes smoothly. After that, you can travel to the designated collection centre closest to your city to collect your visa and passport.

Please note that this timeframe does include the application process or the wait for a visa interview. Visa interview slots are limited, and the waiting time can be around 365 days.

Apply through Atlys and get a US visa appointment within 3 months.

US visa validity & duration of stay

The US tourist visa for Indians is a multiple-entry visa valid for 10 years. It allows the holder to stay in the country for 180 days.

The US official in India would decide the length of your visa. Additionally, the immigration or border control officer at the US port of entry can determine whether you can stay the entire visa period in the country.