US Visa - Application Process and Requirements

There are different types of US Visa offered to Indian citizens. They are mainly categorized as Immigrant Visa and Non-Immigrant Visa

Immigrant Visa: It is issued to Indian citizens who wish to stay permanently in the USA. The country issues a limited number of immigrant Visas to foreign citizens. (Can be linked to difference between difference between immigrant and non-immigrant Visas)

Non-Immigrant Visa: Issued to foreign or Indian citizens with permanent residence outside the United States, who wish to visit the USA for specific period of time. Listed below are the different types of non-immigrant Visas offered by the United States depending upon the purpose and duration of travel.

The US B1 Visa or Business Visa: The US B1 visa, often known as the Business Visa, is a non-immigrant visa type provided by the United States to foreign people seeking temporary business-related entry into the country. It enables people to participate in a variety of business tasks such as attending conferences, negotiating contracts, consulting with business contacts, and attending business meetings or seminars. 

The US F1/M1 Visa or Student Visa: The F1 and M1 visas are non-immigrant student visas provided by the United States to foreign nationals who seek to study in the country for academic or vocational purposes. The F1 visa is intended for academic study, whereas the M1 visa is intended for vocational or non-academic programmes. 

The US H-1 B Visa or Work Visa: The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows firms in the United States to temporarily hire foreign workers in speciality occupations. It is one of the most common work visas in the US. You must have a work offer from a U.S. company in a specialist occupation to be eligible for an H-1B visa. A speciality occupation is one that necessitates specialised knowledge and at least a bachelor's degree in a specific discipline. 

The US H-2 B Visa or Work Visa: The H-2B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows companies in the United States to bring in foreign employees to fill temporary non-agricultural occupations. The H-2B visa is intended for temporary or seasonal work. It is often employed in businesses such as hospitality, gardening, construction, and other non-agricultural fields where more labour are required on a temporary basis. 

The US B2 Visa or Tourist Visa: The B-2 visa, often known as the tourist visa, is a nonimmigrant visa that allows foreign citizens to briefly enter the United States for tourism, vacation, or to visit family and friends. It is meant for people who plan to visit the United States for a short period of time, mainly for tourism. The B-2 visa is intended for short-term visits for tourism, vacation, or visiting family and friends. It is not designed for study, work, or other business or professional activities. 

The US J1 or Q1 Exchange Visitor Visa: The J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa is a non-immigrant visa category that allows foreign citizens to visit the United States for educational and cultural exchange programmes. The Q-1 Visa is a subset of the J-1 Visa that is designed for people participating in foreign cultural exchange programmes. 

Documents Required for US Visa Application and Interview

The following documents are commonly required for Indian citizens to apply for a US Visa:

1. Passport valid for six months beyond the intended date of entry into the United States.
2. Colored photographs.
3. Marriage Certificate (if applicable).
4. Bank statement and financial record.
5. Divorce/death certificate of spouse (if applicable). 
6. All original documents establishing the relationship between the petitioner and the applicant need to be submitted. for family-based cases or dependent Visa.
7. A letter from the prospective employer  confirming the essential elements of the job offer needs to be submitted for work visa.
8. Police Clearance Certificate.
9. Certificate of birth.
10. Court records (if applicable).
11. Military records (if any).
12. DS 160 confirmation page printout. 
13. Fee receipt copy of US Visa.
14. Form 60 or Income Tax return of last three years.
15. Day-wise itinerary for tourism visa.
16. Practical application of research, if traveling to the US for research purposes. 

Eligibility Criteria for US Visa

An Indian citizen needs to meet the following eligibility conditions to get a Visa to USA:

1. Must have an Indian passport that is valid for a period of at least 6 months.
2. Should not have any past history of crimes or any ongoing criminal cases against them.
3. Dependents/ spouses travelling with the applicant should apply for separate Visas.
4. Should have enough financial resources.
5. Must undergo medical test by approved physician.
6. Should have strong ties with their current country of residence.
7. Should have a valid reason for travelling to the United States.
8. Should not have any communicable disease like tuberculosis.

Steps to Apply for a US Visa

The following are the general steps to obtain a Visa to the USA:

• Select the type of Visa you are applying for
• Check your eligibility.

Online mode: 

- Fill in the online application form

- Submit the required documents online

Offline mode:

- Download the application form

- Fill the form and submit it to the US Embassy office located in India

1. Pay the application fee and schedule the visa interview 
2. Appear for the Visa interview with all required documents at a the selected embassy

Procedure for Applying for Immigrant Visa

Here are the requirements and necessary step to follow to apply for an immigrant visa:

• Police clearance certificate issued by the Regional Passport Office, which will be valid for a year
• Complete the medical examination test conducted and approved medical professionals
• Proceed to complete the DS-260 Form with your Invoice ID number and Beneficiary ID number.
• Pay the Visa fees.
• Book an your appointment for Visa interview.

Procedure for Applying for Non-Immigrant Visa

The US Visa application procedure for non-immigrant Visa is listed below:

• Select visa type and category depending upon the purpose of travel.
• Complete the DS-160 form carefully with all required details. 
• Depending upon the visa type, pay the fees.
• Schedule visa interviews, one for Visa Application Centre and other for US Embassy.

Documents to Carry for US Visa Interview

Given below are the necessary documents required for  visa interview:

For Immigrant Visa application:

1. DS-260 confirmation page stamped at the Visa Application Centre
2. Current and all old passports
3. Police Clearance Certificate issued by the Regional Passport Office.
4. Medical examination report
5. Supporting Documents as per your Visa type

For Non-Immigrant Visa application: 

1. Copy of your appointment confirmation letter
2. DS-160 confirmation page stamped at the Visa Application Centre
3. Current and all old passports
4. Supporting documents required for your Visa type

How to Schedule an Appointment for US Visa

Here are the steps to schedule an appointment for a US visa:

1. Schedule an appointment online by logging in to the candidate profile
2. Use the same credentials used while paying visa fees
3. Click on ‘Schedule Appointment’ button on the dashboard

1. Schedule two appointments:

• Visa Application Centre
• US Embassy

1. Schedule Category 1 appointment with Visa Application Centre to capture your fingerprint and photograph

Note:

1. Most of the US visa application interviews are scheduled by the National Visa Centre or Kentucky Consular Center.
2. Arrive at the interview venue 15 minutes before time.
3. Canceling and rescheduling appointments are possible as per the applicant’s need.

How to Pay US Visa Fees?

Here are the steps to pay US visa fees:

1. Payment can be made through NEFT, mobile payment, or cash

1. Payment made is non-refundable
2. Diplomatic passports are exempt from paying Visa fees, irrespective of the purpose of travel and visa type
3. Payment for non-immigrant visa can be made in cash at specific branches of AXIS or Citibank

The non-immigrant Visa fees can be paid in cash at select branches of AXIS or Citibank

Note: Official passport holders are not charged for official visas, and they need to appear for visa interview at the US Embassy between 11am to 12pm on any working day.

Information needed for scheduling US Visa Interview

The following information is needed while scheduling a visa interview:

1. Visa application fee receipt number.

1. Passport number.
2. The 10-digit barcode number from the DS-160 confirmation page.

What if I Need an Emergency Visa Interview Appointment?

An emergency appointment for US visa interview is granted in genuine case such as medical care, attending funeral, urgent business trips, and admission into foreign universities. Here are the documents required and steps to be followed to avail emergency visa interview appointments:

1. Need to submit valid supporting documents
2. Need to complete the DS-160 form
3. Register at US Travel Docs Website and make payments
4. Submit application fee receipt
5.  Create an emergency request for appointment

1. After receiving request approval, schedule an emergency visa appointment
2. Attend biometrics and interview

Note: Failing to prove the authenticity of emergency appointment may adversely affect the candidate’s visa application.

The following conditions do not qualify for emergency Visa interview appointments to USA:

1. Attending marriage ceremony.
2. Helping pregnant relatives.
3. Participating in annual business/educational conferences.

1. Participating in pleasure trips.

US Visa Refusal Reasons

Your US Visa May be rejected under the following circumstances:

1. Incomplete Visa application
2. Supporting documents missing
3. You fail to fulfill the eligibility conditions required for the Visa category.
4. You have criminal records.
5. Lack of adequate finance to support your trip to the United States
6. Your intention of returning is not clear.
7. Your passport does not have enough blank pages.
8. If you country of residence does not have a good relationship with your destination country.
9. If you have not used a Visa issued to your previously.
10. If you don't have a legitimate reason for visiting the country.
11. If you fail to submit adequate proof against your eligibility