Documents Required for US Visa from India: 2026 Checklist

This checklist follows the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India and the official appointment service, ustraveldocs.com, as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. VFS Global does not handle US visas from India.

What must every applicant carry to the appointment?

• DS-160 confirmation page with the barcode. It must match the barcode used to book your appointment.
• Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your period of stay in the United States, unless exempt under country-specific agreements.
• Photo uploaded with the DS-160, plus one printed photo if the upload failed.
• MRV fee payment receipt. The fee is $185 for B1/B2, F, M and J visas and $205 for H, L, O, P, Q and R visas.
• Documents stated in your appointment letter.
• Optional supporting documents that you believe support the information you give the consular officer.

You also attend a biometrics appointment at a Visa Application Center at least 2 business days before the interview, at the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulates General in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata.

What should a B1/B2 visitor be ready to prove?

The Embassy does not publish a fixed list of supporting documents for visitor visas. Instead, it sets out what you must show the consular officer under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which presumes every B applicant is an intending immigrant until the applicant shows otherwise:

• that the trip is a temporary visit for business, pleasure or medical treatment;
• that you plan to stay for a specific, limited period;
• that you have funds to cover your expenses in the US;
• that you have a residence outside the US and other binding social or economic ties that will ensure your return.

B-1 covers activities such as consulting business associates, attending conferences, settling an estate or negotiating contracts. B-2 covers tourism, visiting friends or relatives, medical treatment and fraternal, social or service activities. The two are often issued together as one B-1/B-2 visa. Choose supporting papers that prove these four points for your own situation, and keep them consistent with your DS-160 answers.

Which extra documents do students, workers and dependants need?

For H and L work visas, an approved Department of Homeland Security petition is needed before an interview can be scheduled at all. Applicants in a long list of categories, including F, M, J, H-1B and H-4, must set the privacy settings on all social media accounts to public.

What are the US visa photo rules?

• Size 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm); the interview-waiver page specifies 5 x 5 cm.
• White background.
• Taken within the last six months.
• No eyeglasses.
• Renewal applicants generally must not reuse the photo printed on the old visa.

What do you need for an interview-waiver renewal?

If you are renewing a B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visa that is still valid or expired within the past 12 months, and you were at least 18 when it was issued, you may qualify for an interview waiver. All 10 fingerprints must have been taken for the previous visa, the visa must not have been lost, stolen, revoked or cancelled, and you must never have been refused unless the refusal was overcome or waived. You must be in India when submitting, with a passport valid at least 15 calendar days from the appointment.

1. Interview waiver appointment letter
2. Current passport
3. DS-160 confirmation page
4. Previous passport containing the US visa (original)
5. One colour photo, 5 x 5 cm, white background, taken within six months, without eyeglasses

Allow up to three weeks from drop-off until the passport is ready; this cannot be expedited. The consular officer may still call you for an interview.

Which document mistakes cause delays?

• Bringing a DS-160 page whose barcode differs from the one used to book the appointment.
• Reusing the photo from your old visa, or a photo with eyeglasses.
• A passport that will not stay valid for 6 months beyond your planned stay.
• Missing the biometrics appointment, which must come at least 2 business days before the interview.
• Leaving social media accounts private in a category that must set them to public.
• Buying flight tickets early: the Embassy advises applying at least three months before travel and not buying tickets until the visa is issued.

After the interview, nonimmigrant visas are typically processed in 7-10 working days; some cases go to administrative processing, which cannot be predicted and is mostly resolved within 180 days. More on fees and posts is on our US visa page for Indians.

When you need travel dates for the DS-160 without buying tickets, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram can prepare a flight reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for all four. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us through the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is a bank statement mandatory for a US tourist visa from India?

The Embassy does not list a bank statement among the required documents. B1/B2 applicants must show evidence of funds to cover their US expenses, and you may bring any supporting documents you believe back up your answers.

Do I need travel insurance for a US visa application?

Travel insurance is not published as a requirement on the U.S. Embassy pages for Indian applicants. The core documents are the DS-160 page, passport, photo, MRV receipt and appointment letter.

Does the visa expiry date decide how long I can stay in the US?

No. The expiry date is the last day you may use the visa to enter. A CBP officer at the port of entry decides how long you may stay and records it on the online Form I-94, and you may stay for that period even if the visa expires meanwhile.

Can I attend the interview at a consulate outside my state?

Yes. The Embassy's visa FAQ says anyone legally present in India may apply at any of the five posts: New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata.