US Visa for Indian Citizens: B1/B2 Fees, DS-160 & Interview

Yes. Indian citizens need a visa to visit the United States, because India is not part of the Visa Waiver Program and ESTA is therefore not an option. For tourism, family visits, medical treatment or short business trips, the right document is the B-1/B-2 visitor visa, which most first-time applicants obtain through an online DS-160 form, a biometrics visit at a Visa Application Centre and an in-person interview at the US Embassy or one of four consulates in India.

Which US visa do Indian visitors need?

The B-1/B-2 visitor visa covers two purposes. B-1 is for business activity such as meeting business contacts, attending conferences or conventions, negotiating contracts or settling an estate. B-2 is for leisure, including holidays, visiting relatives or friends, and medical treatment. In practice the two are usually issued together as a single B-1/B-2 visa.

A visitor visa does not allow work or degree study. It also only lets you seek entry: a US border officer decides on arrival whether you are admitted and for how long.

Apply from India, not from a third country

The US Embassy in India states that nonimmigrant applicants should book their interview at the embassy or consulate in their country of residence or nationality. For an Indian citizen living in India, that means applying in India. Booking abroad to dodge a long queue at home is generally no longer possible, and fees are not transferable.

Indians living abroad on a residence permit can normally apply in that country instead, because it is their country of residence.

Where Indians apply: embassy, consulates and VACs

Interviews take place at five US posts:

• US Embassy, New Delhi (Shantipath, Chanakyapuri)
• US Consulate General, Mumbai (Bandra Kurla Complex)
• US Consulate General, Chennai (Gemini Circle)
• US Consulate General, Hyderabad (Financial District, Nanakramguda)
• US Consulate General, Kolkata (Ho Chi Minh Sarani)

Each of these five cities also has a Visa Application Centre (VAC), sometimes still called the OFC by applicants, where fingerprints and a digital photo are taken. The VAC is a separate building from the consulate; your appointment letter gives the address.

For interview waiver drop-offs and passport collection, the official service network in India also covers Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bengaluru and Kochi, giving eleven locations in total.

Step-by-step: how to apply

Step 1: Complete the DS-160

The DS-160 is the online nonimmigrant visa application. Answer every question honestly and keep the confirmation page. If you correct your DS-160 after booking, the embassy says you must bring both the original and corrected confirmation pages, or rebook with the new number.

Step 2: Create a profile and pay the fee

Scheduling for India now runs on the official usvisascheduling.com portal, which the embassy and its information site ustraveldocs.com link to. After you create a profile and enter your DS-160 details, you pay the visa application fee (the MRV fee).

Step 3: Book the VAC and interview appointments

Most applicants book two appointments in one go. The VAC biometrics appointment must be at least two business days before the consular interview. Family members such as spouses, children, parents, siblings and grandparents can be scheduled together using the dependant option, while friends or colleagues travelling for the same purpose must book separately.

Step 4: Attend biometrics

At the VAC your fingerprints and photo are recorded. Applicants under 14 or over 79 do not have to attend the VAC in person; a relative or representative can submit their documents on the scheduled date.

Step 5: Attend the interview

Everyone must appear in person at the interview, including children under 14 and people over 79. Missing the interview marks you as a no-show, which means paying a new fee and starting again. Phones, smart watches and large bags are not allowed inside.

US visa fee for Indian citizens (as of October 2026)

The official India fee page lists the B-1/B-2 application fee at 185 US dollars. Fees are quoted in dollars but paid in rupees at the consular exchange rate, which the US Embassy set at 98 rupees to the dollar from 25 May 2026. That makes the visitor visa fee about 18,130 rupees as of October 2026, but always check the amount shown when you pay, because the exchange rate can change.

Key points on payment:

• Accepted methods include NEFT, UPI, debit or credit card, and cash over the counter at designated banks; personal cheques are not accepted.
• The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, even if the visa is refused.
• The receipt is valid for 365 days, within which you must book your appointment.
• If a payment seems to fail, do not pay again; contact the official support desk instead.

Indian applicants may also see references to a separate visa issuance (reciprocity) fee and to a new visa integrity fee created by US legislation in 2025. Neither appears on the official India fee page for visitor visas at the time of writing, so check the State Department's current fee and reciprocity pages before you apply.

Document checklist for Indian applicants

The official mandatory items are short:

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay
• DS-160 confirmation page
• Appointment confirmation letter
• One recent colour photo, 5 cm by 5 cm on a white background, taken within six months and without spectacles
• Previous passports, especially any with earlier US visas

Beyond these, the embassy says you may bring any documents you believe support your case. Officers focus mainly on your answers, but evidence of ties to India and funds can help, for example:

• Salary slips and an employer letter (NOC) confirming your role and approved leave
• Income tax returns or Form 16 for recent years
• Bank statements showing a steady balance, not a sudden large deposit
• Business and GST registration if self-employed
• An invitation letter from US relatives, with proof of their status
• A conference registration or business invitation for B-1 trips

Do not hand over forged or exaggerated documents. Fraud can lead to a permanent ineligibility.

Wait times and processing

Appointment availability in India has often been tight, and it varies by city and season. The State Department publishes current interview wait times for New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata on its official visa wait time tool, and the scheduling portal shows the actual dates available. We do not quote figures because they change weekly.

The official guidance encourages applying at least three months before you travel. Once the interview is over, processing typically takes seven to ten working days, although some cases take longer. If a genuine emergency arises, such as a medical need or a death in the family, you can request an expedited appointment through the scheduling system, but only after you hold a confirmed interview date.

Interview waiver: who can skip the interview?

The State Department narrowed interview waivers sharply in 2025, and since then most Indian applicants must attend an interview. Under the current India rules, you may qualify to drop off your application without an interview only if all of the following apply:

• You are renewing a full-validity B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visa that is still valid or expired within the last 12 months
• You were at least 18 when that previous visa was issued
• You are applying in your consular district of residence
• All ten fingerprints were taken when the last visa was issued
• The previous visa was not lost, stolen or revoked, and you have no unresolved refusal

You must be in India when you submit. Allow up to three weeks for processing, and an officer can still call you for interview.

Why US visas are refused: section 214(b)

US law presumes that every visitor visa applicant intends to immigrate. To overcome this, you must show the officer that your trip is temporary, that you will stay for a limited time, that you can fund the visit, and that you have a home and strong ties in India that will bring you back.

When an officer is not satisfied, the refusal is issued under section 214(b). It is not a permanent ban, but reapplying with the same circumstances usually gives the same result. Wait until something meaningful has changed and declare the earlier refusal on your new DS-160.

A refusal under section 221(g) is different. It means information is missing or the case needs administrative processing, and the officer will tell you what to submit or simply ask you to wait.

Beware of visa agents and fake slots

The US Embassy in India stresses that all visa information is free on its official sites and warns that many consultants give poor advice. Be wary of anyone selling guaranteed appointments, early slots or approvals. The scheduling site blocks users of automation tools, so slot-booking bots can get you locked out. Nobody outside the consulate can influence the decision.

Frequently asked questions

Can Indians get a US visa on arrival or use ESTA?

No. Indian nationals are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, so ESTA is not available and there is no visa on arrival. You need a visa issued before travel.

What is the US visa fee in rupees in 2026?

The B-1/B-2 fee is 185 US dollars. At the consular rate of 98 rupees per dollar in force since May 2026, that is about 18,130 rupees, paid in rupees through the official portal.

Can I book my US visa interview in another country to get an earlier date?

Generally not. Applicants are expected to apply in their country of nationality or residence, so an Indian resident should apply in India.

Do children and senior citizens need to attend the interview?

Yes. Since the interview waiver rules were tightened, applicants under 14 and over 79 must attend the interview in person, although they can skip the VAC biometrics visit.

Can I renew my US tourist visa without an interview from India?

Possibly, if your previous B-1/B-2 visa had full validity, expired no more than 12 months ago, was issued when you were 18 or older, and you meet the other waiver conditions.

What should I do after a 214(b) refusal?

Reapply only once your circumstances have genuinely changed, and be ready to show stronger ties to India.

US visa rules, fees and exchange rates change regularly. Before you book or pay, confirm every detail on the US Embassy and Consulates in India website, the official ustraveldocs.com information pages and the usvisascheduling.com portal.