America is a dream holiday destination for many. Whether you want to see the Statue of Liberty in New York, the Golden Gate Bridge in California or one of the many other highlights in the other 48 states, there’s something for everyone. But before you go, you’ll need to sort out your US visa.
Whether you’re travelling for business or as a tourist, it’s important to get things organised well in advance. This article will take you through everything from the different types, how to apply for a US visa and the associated costs.
Types of US visa
For Indian passport holders, there are five main reasons to apply for an American visa:
- Business or employment
- Immigrate
- Tourism & visit
- Study & exchange
- Transit
While tourism visas are the most common, they’re not the only way to visit the US. Before applying for a business, employment or study visa, it’s important that you have either a job offer or a university placement offer before starting the paperwork.
Immigration visas can be broken into a few different areas, such as:
- Adoption
- Diversity visas
- Employment-based immigration
- Family-based immigration
- Fiancé(e)/spouse
- Returning resident
How to apply for a US visa
The application process for many of the different types of visa for the USA are very similar. In most cases, you should prepare to fill in an online form and go to a consulate for an in-person interview. The general process is as follows:
- Decide which type of document you need. For example, for a vacation you’ll need a B2 visitor visa.
- If you intend to travel as a tourist (which means you can’t work in America), you’ll need to apply for a non-immigrant visa and fill out a DS-160 form. This step costs $185, roughly ₹15,500.
- Create an account on the official website of the US Embassy and schedule an interview.
After the interview, your application will be judged. If approved, your passport will have a visa added to it. You can pick this up from an embassy, consulate or, for an extra fee, have it couriered to an address of your choosing.
The cost of most US visas is $185/₹15,500. Some types of work visas are more at $205/₹17,220, while a fiance(e)/spouse has to pay $265/₹22,260.
Documents needed for your application
As well as the forms mentioned above, you could be asked for some or all of the following documents:
- Passport (with at least six months’ validity from the date of your departure from the US)
- Travel itinerary, if you’ve already made plans.
- Dates of your last five visits to USA, if applicable.
- Your travel information for the past five years.
- CV detailing past jobs and current work status.
For other visa types, you may be asked for evidence backing your application. This may include proof of employment (eg a letter of offer), study (eg a SEVIS ID) or finances (ie you have enough money to support yourself in America).
List of US embassies and consulates in India
As part of your application, you’ll have to attend an in-person interview at an American embassy or consulate. There are currently five of these in India:
- Chennai
- Hyderabad
- Kolkata
- Mumbai
- New Delhi
Time frames for visas and visa applications
There’s good and bad news about the timeframes for US visas.
The bad news is that you need to be patient. From start to finish, it can take almost a year to be granted your visa. The average wait time is generally somewhere between 300 and 320 days. A lot of this is waiting for your interview and then waiting for the final judgment.
You can track the status of your application on this US Department of State website. You’ll need your Immigrant Visa Case Number to do so.
However, once you have the visa, you can use it multiple times over the next 10 years. The standard US tourist B2 visa is good for a 180-day stay in America. There’s no set rule on how long you have to leave the country for, but if it appears that you’re abusing your privileges (eg staying for six months, leaving for a week, returning for six months) you may be denied entry by the border guard.
Expired passports and changes of name
You may be surprised, but the good news is that if your passport expires before the end of your visa, you do not need to apply for a new visa.
When you travel to America next, simply take both passports: the expired one with the visa and your new one. So long as all the details match, you’ll be allowed to use the visa as normal.
The only reason this might not work is if you have changed your name. If your new passport has a different name – maybe you got married – then it’s advised that you apply for a new visa to match.
Top tips for travelling to America
The wait time for a US visa can be almost a year for Indian passport holders
Remember that tax isn’t included in prices and tips are expected in service industries
America is roughly three times as large as India so plan road trips accordingly
America is one of the most visited countries in the world – and you’ll quickly see why. From natural wonders like the Grand Canyon to human endeavours like the Lincoln Memorial, the USA is full of instantly recognisable landmarks that will have you making the most of your 10-year visa.
Want to see the best of America? Skyscanner can help you find the best flights, hotels and car hire deals that you’ll need to book before you go.
