Published 27 July 2026 · Updated 26 August 2026
A different kind of visa process
Where the UK weighs papers and Singapore routes through agents, the US B1/B2 runs on an interview. Documents matter, but the decision is made in a short conversation with a consular officer, and that changes how you should prepare.
The sequence
- 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
- MRV fee: USD 185 for B1/B2 at current schedules
- Two appointments: biometrics at a Visa Application Centre, then the consular interview (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata)
- The interview: 2–5 minutes on 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 is set at the border, normally up to 6 months.
The wait-time reality
Indian demand made US interview waits infamous; at their worst they ran over a year. They have improved substantially and vary by city and season. Checking all five consulates and taking cancellations is a strategy we run for clients. 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 is clear, consistent, natural-sounding answers about your job or business, your trip's purpose, and who pays. The folder of papers may never be opened. We run practice interviews because a candid, prepared applicant does better than a scripted one.
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.
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 qualify for interview waiver in most cases, with the right documentation, when applying with parents. We structure family files to use it.