Visa services · United States
USA B1/B2 Visa for Indians
The US visitor visa is interview-led: the DS-160, the fee, and then three minutes at a consulate window that decide ten years of travel. How to prepare for the part that matters.
Published 27 July 2026 · Updated 27 July 2026
A different kind of visa process
Unlike the UK's paper-weighing or Singapore's agent channel, the US B1/B2 runs on an **interview**. Documents matter, but the decision usually happens in a short conversation with a consular officer — which changes how you should prepare.
The sequence
1. **DS-160** — the long online form. Every answer is testimony; inconsistencies between the DS-160 and your interview answers are the classic self-inflicted wound 2. **MRV fee** — USD 185 for B1/B2 at current schedules 3. **Two appointments** — biometrics at a Visa Application Centre, then the consular interview (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata) 4. **The interview** — typically 2–5 minutes: purpose of trip, who funds it, what you do in India, family situation
Approved passports return with a visa **commonly valid 10 years, multiple entry** — each visit's stay set at the border, usually up to 6 months.
The wait-time reality
Indian demand made US interview waits infamous — at their worst, over a year. They've improved substantially, and vary by city and season; checking all five consulates and grabbing cancellations is a real strategy we run for clients. Genuine emergencies have an expedite channel; everything else rewards early planning.
Preparing for three minutes
Officers assess *nonimmigrant intent* — your life in India pulling you home. Strong preparation isn't a folder of papers (you may never open it); it's clear, consistent, unrehearsed-sounding answers about your job or business, your trip's purpose, and who pays. We run practice interviews precisely because polished-but-honest beats scripted every time.
Documents to carry anyway
Passport (plus old passports), DS-160 confirmation, appointment letters, and support evidence: bank statements, ITRs, employment/business proof, invitation and sponsor documents for family visits, property papers if relevant.
FAQ
My visa was refused under 214(b). Is that permanent?
No — 214(b) means the officer wasn't convinced of nonimmigrant intent that day. Reapply when something material has changed; we assess whether it has, honestly.
Can I attend a conference on B1/B2?
Yes — conferences, meetings and negotiations sit within B1. Employment does not.
Do children need interviews?
Applicants under 14 generally qualify for interview waiver with proper documentation when applying with parents — we structure family files to use it.