The B-1/B-2 visa covers tourism, visiting family, business meetings and medical treatment, and is normally issued to Indian citizens for ten years. The fee is USD 185, the decision is made at an in-person interview, and in October 2026 the next available interview in India was 7 to 12 months away depending on the consulate.
Who needs a US visitor visa? Every Indian passport holder, for any visit. India is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so ESTA does not apply. You complete the DS-160 online, pay USD 185, attend a biometrics appointment at a Visa Application Center and an interview at the embassy in New Delhi or a consulate in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata. Since September 2025 you must apply in the country where you are a national or resident.
What does it cost? USD 185 per person, paid in Indian rupees through the appointment portal before you can book. It is the same for adults and children and is not refunded if the visa is refused. A visa integrity fee of USD 250 was written into law in 2025 but is not on the State Department fee schedule and was not being collected in October 2026. A USD 750 expedited-appointment option introduced on 1 July 2026 runs at selected posts only and did not include India at launch.
How long does it take from India? Most of the time is the wait for an interview slot. The State Department's October 2026 figures for the next available B-1/B-2 interview were about 12 months in Mumbai, 11 in New Delhi, 10.5 in Hyderabad, 8.5 in Kolkata and 7.5 in Chennai. After the interview, passports are usually returned within one to two weeks unless administrative processing applies.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | B-1 (business) / B-2 (tourism, family, medical), usually issued together |
| Government fee | USD 185 per person (MRV fee) |
| Validity for Indians | Up to 10 years, multiple entry |
| Stay per entry | Decided by CBP at the port, usually 6 months |
| Interview wait (Oct 2026) | 7.5 months (Chennai) to 12 months (Mumbai) |
| Decision | At the interview; passport back in 1 to 2 weeks |
| Where to apply | DS-160 online, then VAC biometrics and consular interview in India |
| Interview waiver | Renewals only, under narrow 2025 rules; cases consolidated in New Delhi |
Under section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act every visitor applicant is presumed to be an intending immigrant until they convince the consular officer otherwise. The officer looks for a residence in India you do not intend to abandon, a clear and temporary purpose, and the means to pay for the trip. The decision is made in a short interview, often under three minutes, on the basis of the DS-160 and your answers; documents are looked at only if the officer asks.
Strong cases have a stable job or business, family who stay in India, travel history to other countries, and a trip that fits the applicant's means. Parents visiting children in the US, business travellers with an invitation, and tourists with a planned itinerary all use the same visa. Weak cases are recent graduates with no employment, applicants whose spouse or whole family is already in the US, and anyone whose stated purpose does not match their profile.
The B-1/B-2 allows tourism, visiting family and friends, medical treatment, business meetings, negotiations, conferences and short unpaid training. It does not allow employment, paid performances, study for credit or journalism. Transit through a US airport also needs a visa; most Indian travellers use the B-1/B-2 rather than the C transit visa.
| Item | USD | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| B-1/B-2 visa application (MRV) fee | 185 | Per person, including children; paid before booking |
| Visa integrity fee | 250 | Enacted in 2025; not on the fee schedule and not collected as of October 2026 |
| Expedited B-1/B-2 appointment (pilot, 1 Jul to 31 Dec 2026) | 750 | Selected posts only; India not included at launch |
| C transit visa | 185 | Only if you will not leave the airport and hold no B visa |
| Visa issuance (reciprocity) fee for Indians | 0 | No reciprocity fee for B visas |
The MRV fee is paid in rupees through the usvisa-info appointment portal and stays valid for 365 days from payment; you must book an appointment inside that year. Vistolane charges the government fee at the official rate and shows it separately on the price card.
| Stage | Typical time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| DS-160 and fee | 1 to 3 days | Have the passport, employment and travel history to hand |
| Wait for interview slot | 7.5 to 12 months | Mumbai 12, New Delhi 11, Hyderabad 10.5, Kolkata 8.5, Chennai 7.5 months (Oct 2026); slots open in batches |
| Interview to passport back | 1 to 2 weeks | Longer if placed in administrative processing |
| Emergency appointment | Days to weeks | Medical emergencies, funerals, urgent business; requested through the portal with evidence |
Book as early as you know you may travel; the fee is valid for a year and appointments can be rescheduled. Watch the portal for released slots, and consider a consulate other than your home city if it has earlier dates.
The visa lets you travel to a US port of entry; the Customs and Border Protection officer decides admission and the length of stay, normally six months for B-2, recorded on the electronic I-94. Overstaying voids the visa and triggers bars of three or ten years after 180 days and one year of unlawful presence. Extensions are filed with USCIS on Form I-539 before the I-94 date.
Frequent long stays, especially by parents spending most of each year in the US, lead to shorter admissions or questions at the next entry. Visitors cannot work or enrol in a degree course; changing status inside the US is possible in limited cases but a new visa for the new category is needed to re-enter after travel.
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid at least six months beyond the stay | Plus all previous passports showing US and other visas |
| DS-160 confirmation page and appointment letter | The DS-160 barcode must match the appointment profile |
| One 2x2-inch photo | White background, taken in the last six months; also uploaded to the DS-160 |
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Itinerary or invitation | Hotel plans for tourism; a letter from US relatives with proof of their status; a business invitation for B-1 |
| Evidence of the US host's status | Copy of passport, green card or visa and I-94 for the family member you visit |
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Bank statements and income tax returns | Six months of statements and two years of ITRs; the officer may not look, but have them |
| Employer letter with approved leave | Designation, salary, start date and leave dates; GST or incorporation documents for business owners |
| Property and family in India | Title deeds, fixed deposits, marriage and birth certificates for dependants staying in India |
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Previous US visa and travel record | Earlier visas, I-94 history and any refusal letters; declare every refusal on the DS-160 |
The officer was not convinced you have strong ties to India and a temporary purpose: weak employment, family already in the US, or answers that did not match the DS-160.
The fix. Reapply only when something has changed: a new job, property, a clearer purpose. Pay the fee again, answer concisely and consistently, and bring evidence of the change even if it is not asked for.
The case was held for further review or a document was requested; the passport may be kept or returned.
The fix. Submit exactly what the letter asks for through the portal or VAC; processing can take weeks to months and the fee stays valid.
Travel history, employment or earlier refusals on the form did not match the interview or the record. Material misrepresentation leads to a permanent bar under 212(a)(6)(C)(i).
The fix. Check the DS-160 line by line before the interview, declare every refusal by any country, and do not let an agent invent employment or travel.
An earlier visit exceeded the I-94 date or the applicant worked without authorisation.
The fix. Establish the exact dates from I-94 records; after a 3- or 10-year bar expires, apply with a full explanation and evidence of compliance since.
The stated plan amounted to work, study or living in the US (for example a parent intending to provide childcare for a year).
The fix. Describe a genuine, time-limited visit and apply for the correct visa if the real purpose is work or study.
No. ESTA is only for Visa Waiver Program nationals; Indian citizens need a B-1/B-2 visa, applied for with the DS-160, a USD 185 fee and an in-person interview.
There is no published amount, and the officer rarely reads statements at the window. What matters is that your declared income supports the trip. Have six months of statements and two years of tax returns available in case they are asked for.
Since September 2025 applicants must apply in the country of their nationality or residence, so third-country appointments are no longer an option for Indians living in India. You can choose any of the five Indian posts.
Only for renewals meeting the narrow rules introduced in 2025: a prior visa in the same category that is valid or expired within the last 12 months, applied for in your country of nationality or residence, with no prior refusal. Waiver cases in India are consolidated in New Delhi and take about three weeks.
Yes. Vistolane completes the DS-160, pays the MRV fee at the official rate, monitors the portal for appointments at every Indian post and prepares you for the interview; the USD 185 fee is shown separately on the price card.