Are you applying for US visa from India? If yes, you should know about the US visa application process and requirements for Indians. There are mainly two types of US visas i.e. non immigrant and immigrant visa The blog covers steps for US visa applications from India in detail.
US visa types from India
You have to choose correct type of US visa depending on purpose of visit and stay duration. Following are the main types of US visas from India based on temporary and permanent stay.
US Non immigrant visa
If you want to visit US for temporary or short period of time, you have to get nonimmigrant Visa. DS-160 online application form is required for Nonimmigrant visa. You have to fill out and submit it to the US embassy or consulate . visa will be determined by combining the personal interview and the duly filled DS-160 form.
Following are the type of non immigrant visas on the basis of purpose of visit:
US Visitor Visa
- Tourist Visa: It is issued for tourism, vacation, family/friends, and medical treatment
- Business Visa: It is issued for attending business meetings and conferences
US Employment Visa
- Temporary employment visa: If you want to work in the US for fixed period of duration, you need to apply for temporary workers visa. The individuals holding temporary workers visas are not considered permanent residents. All the visa categories of temporary worker visas require the petition to be filed by the prospective employer with US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Only the approved petition can apply for US work visa.
- Exchange Visitor Visa: You can participate in exchange programs in the US using the visa.
- Media Visa: The representatives of foreign media can apply for Media Visas. The members of press, radio, film industries, and print media can apply for a media visa for temporary travel to the US to work in their profession.
US Study & Exchange Visa
- Student Visas: You can enroll for a short duration of study, which is not for a degree or academic certificate. The maximum validity of visitor visas is up to 120 months.
Notice to Visa Applicants:
- Take print out of DS-160 bar code page after successful submission of online visa application form DS-160.
- You need to schedule two visa interview appointments.
- Make sure that you have made payment for the visa application processing fee.
Note:
- The applicants who want to visit US along with family, must apply together and suggested to go for interview altogether.
US Immigrant Visa
If you want to stay permanently in US, you can apply for US immigrant visa from India. There are various types of immigrant visas. You need to submit DS-260 immigrant visa application form to the US embassy or consulate.
Following are the type of US immigrant visas:
US Family Immigration Visa
US family immigration visa allows eligible family members of US citizens or green card holders to live permanently in the United States. It mainly includes Immediate Relative visas (spouse, parents, minor children of US citizens) and family preference visas (siblings and adult children).
US Diversity Visa
US Diversity Visa (DV) Program, also called the Green Card Lottery, allows you to apply for permanent residency in the United States. You must meet education or work experience requirements and submit an online entry during the registration period. You also need to complete interviews and background checks to receive the visa.
Note:
You can be eligible to apply for Immigrant Visa only if sponsored by-
- Permanent United States citizen relative
- Lawful permanent resident of United States
- Prospective employer
US visa application from India
Following are the steps for US visa application from India:
Paper photo size:
- According to the directions from November 1, 2016, eye glasses are prohibited from visa photos.
- The proper photo size must be 2” by 2” .(2 inches by 2 inches)
- The height of the head should measure 1 inches (i.e. top of hair to bottom of the chin)
Digital image size:
- The image pixel dimension must be 600 pixels by 600 pixels.
- Maximum acceptable pixel dimension of the image is 1200 pixels by 1200 pixels.
- The top of the head including hair to the bottom of the chin must be between 50% to 69% of the image’s total height.
Step 1
Visit the U. S. Department of States website and choose Consular electronic application center and fill out online visa application form DS-160.
Step 2
After successful visa application submission, you need to pay the visa fee.
Step 3
You can schedule your appointment . You need to schedule two appointment dates i.e. for visa application centre and visa interview at the Embassy or Consulate.
Step 4
Submit online filled form and document at the visa appointment centre (VAC):
- Passport
- DS-160- confirmation page
- Appointment confirmation page
- One photograph as per US visa specification
- Mandatory documents
Step 5
After the VAC appointment , you need to visit U.S. Embassy or Consulate for interview.
US Visa Appointment
Scheduling appointment is very essential in order to complete the application process applying for the Online Non-immigrant Visa Application Process. You can schedule appointment for visa by following the steps given below:
- After the successful online submission of the form, the applicant(s) need to re-login to the profile which has been created for making the application fee payment.
- After login in, on the left-hand side of your dashboard you will see Schedule appointment. Click on schedule appointment, it will start the scheduling appointment process.
- Two appointment dates must be scheduled by you, one for the Visa Application Centre (VAC) and another for the Visa Interview at the Embassy or Consulate. (Note: Both the appointment cannot be on the same date)
- The first scheduled appointment will provide you five Visa Application Centre as options, out of which you can choose one to give your biometric data (fingerprints) and photograph. (Note: This appointment must be scheduled at least one day prior to interview appointment at the Embassy or Consulate)
- The second appointment will be at Embassy or Consulate for personal interview. You need three information to schedule your appointment at Embassy or Consulate
- Your Passport Number
- Date of paying Visa Fee
- The 10 (ten) digit barcode number from your DS-160 form confirmation page.
- You will be able to select your visa type, add departments, enter personal data, select your document delivery location, schedule you appointment, etc. while going through the process.
Note:
The applicant(s) who want to visit to US along with Family members can go altogether for both the appointment in order to avoid inconvenience.
Applicants must read the instructions carefully regarding the document requirements, particularly regarding the uploading of photos in the electronic visa online application.
Instructions for the Photograph:
Paper photo size:
- According to the directions from November 1, 2016, eye glasses are prohibited from visa photos.
- The proper photo size must be 2” by 2” .(2 inches by 2 inches)
- The height of the head should measure 1 inches (i.e. top of hair to bottom of the chin)
Digital image size:
- The image pixel dimension must be 600 pixels by 600 pixels.
- Maximum acceptable pixel dimension of the image is 1200 pixels by 1200 pixels.
- The top of the head including hair to the bottom of the chin must be between 50% to 69% of the image’s total height.
US Visa Fee
The US visa fee varies according to the type of visa applied for. We have provided visa fees according to the visa type on the following link US visa fee page. For more information about the payment of visa fee and process, visit Bank and Payment Options page.
Note: You charge with additional fee on issuance visa .
The general fee for nonimmigrant visa is set to be $160 (US dollar) by US government.
The fee structure according to the class of visa is below:
| Fee Amount (in USD) | Fee Amount (in INR) | Visa Type | Description |
| $160 | 10880 | B | Business/Tourist |
| $160 | 10880 | C-1 | Transit |
| $160 | 10880 | D | Ship/Airline Crew |
| $160 | 10880 | F | Student (academic) |
| $160 | 10880 | I | Journalist and Media |
| $160 | 10880 | J | Exchange Visitors |
| $160 | 10880 | M | Student (vocational) |
| $160 | 10880 | TN/TD | NAFTA Professionals |
| $190 | 12920 | H | Temporary/Seasonal Workers and Employment, Trainees |
| $190 | 12920 | L | Intracompany Transferees |
| $190 | 12920 | O | Persons with Extraordinary Ability |
| $190 | 12920 | P | Athletes. Artists & Entertainers |
| $190 | 12920 | Q | International Cultural Exchange |
| $190 | 12920 | R | Religious Worker |
| $265 | 18020 | K | Fiancé(e) or Spouse of U.S. Citizen |
| $205 | 13940 | E | Treaty Trader/Investor, Australian Professional Specialty |
1 Pingback