# Does VFS Handle US Visas in India? Where Indians Actually Apply

> VFS Global plays no part in US visas from India. Here is the official route: DS-160, fee payment in INR, Visa Application Centers and interviews at five posts.

_Published: 2026-10-21 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1226_

## TL;DR

VFS Global does not handle US visas in India. Applicants fill the DS-160, pay the fee (USD 185 for B, F, J and M visas) in rupees and book through the U.S. Mission's own appointment service, then give biometrics at a Visa Application Center and attend an interview in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata.

## Key takeaways

- VFS Global has no role in US visas from India; the U.S. Mission runs its own appointment service.
- Visitor (B), student (F, M) and exchange (J) visas cost $185, paid in INR at the consular exchange rate of INR 98 per USD from 25 May 2026.
- Biometrics are taken at a Visa Application Center at least 2 business days before the interview.
- Interviews take place at the U.S. Embassy New Delhi or the Consulates General in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata.
- Eligible B-1/B-2 renewals can use the interview waiver dropbox, which takes up to three weeks.

**No. VFS does not handle US visas in India. According to the U.S. Embassy, Indians complete the DS-160, pay the $185 visitor or student fee and book through the official appointment system, then give biometrics at a Visa Application Center and attend an interview at the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata.**

## Article

Many Indians assume the US works like the UK or Schengen countries, where VFS Global centres take your file. It does not: VFS Global's India page for the USA returns an error, and the U.S. Mission in India runs its own system. This guide shows where you actually apply and in what order, as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. Our US visa guide for Indians covers visa types and documents in more depth.

### Is VFS Global involved in US visas in India?
No. The U.S. Embassy's visa pages send applicants to the official appointment service at ustraveldocs.com/in and usvisascheduling.com. That is where you pay the fee and schedule your appointments. The biometric appointments take place at Visa Application Centers (VACs), which are part of this process, not VFS centres.

If a website offers a 'VFS' appointment for a US visa in India, it is not the channel the U.S. Embassy names. Official visa enquiries go to support-india@usvisascheduling.com or +91 20 69020000.

### Where do Indians actually apply?
There are five US visa posts in India, each with its own VAC for fingerprints and photographs.

PostVAC (biometrics)Interview atConsular districtNew DelhiShivaji Stadium Metro StationU.S. Embassy, Shantipath, ChanakyapuriChandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar PradeshMumbaiBandra Kurla ComplexConsulate General, C-49, G-Block, BKCMaharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar HaveliChennaiNungambakkamConsulate General, 220 Anna Salai at Gemini CircleTamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar IslandsHyderabadHitec City Metro StationConsulate General, NanakramgudaTelangana, Andhra Pradesh, OdishaKolkataMirza Ghalib StreetConsulate General, 5/1 Ho Chi Minh SaraniWest Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, TripuraThe district lists come from the Mission's map of consular posts. For visas, the official FAQ says anyone legally present in India may apply at any of the five posts, so you can book wherever the earliest slot suits you.

### Step by step: from DS-160 to passport
- Complete Form DS-160 online and upload a photo: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), white background, taken within the last six months, without eyeglasses. Keep the confirmation page with its barcode.
- Pay the non-refundable visa fee: $185 for B, C-1, D, F, I, J, M, T and TN/TD visas; $205 for H, L, O, P, Q and R work visas; $315 for E visas; $265 for K visas.
- Schedule two appointments with the same DS-160 barcode: biometrics at a VAC at least 2 business days before the interview, then the interview itself. Your fee payment is valid for 365 days for scheduling.
- Attend the VAC for fingerprints and a photograph.
- Attend the interview with the DS-160 confirmation page, a passport valid at least 6 months beyond your stay, the fee receipt, the appointment letter and any supporting documents. Students add the signed Form I-20 and the $350 SEVIS fee receipt; H and L applicants need the approved petition (I-797) before they can even book.
- Wait for the passport. Processing after the interview typically takes 7-10 working days, though individual cases may take longer. Administrative processing cannot be predicted; most is resolved within 180 days of the interview. Premium delivery to your home or office costs INR 1,500 per passport.

### How do you pay the US visa fee in India?
The fee is set in US dollars but paid in rupees at the Consular Exchange Rate, which the U.S. Embassy set at INR 98 per USD from 25 May 2026 (previously INR 96). Accepted methods are NEFT, UPI, debit or credit card, and cash at DRUK Bank, AXIS Bank and Citibank.

Your payment method decides how soon you can book. UPI or QR payments are instant; NEFT and RuPay card payments take up to one business day; cash at AXIS or DRUK Bank is available the following business day.

From 1 July to 31 December 2026, an optional $750 fee for an expedited B1/B2 interview within ten business days is being piloted at limited posts listed on travel.state.gov. The official sources checked do not confirm whether Indian posts take part, and the fee does not speed up processing or guarantee a visa.

### Can you skip the interview? The dropbox route
Some B-1/B-2 renewals qualify for an interview waiver. You must be renewing a B visa that is still valid or expired within the past 12 months, have been at least 18 when it was issued, have given all 10 fingerprints for it, and never have been refused unless the refusal was overcome or waived. The previous visa must not have been lost, stolen, revoked or cancelled, you must be in India when you submit, and your passport must be valid at least 15 calendar days from the appointment.

You drop off the waiver appointment letter, current passport, DS-160 page, the previous passport with the US visa and one colour photo of 5 x 5 cm. Drop-off is free at the VACs in the five post cities; elsewhere it costs INR 1,500 per passport. Allow up to three weeks; this cannot be expedited, and the consular officer may still call you for an interview.

### Which mistakes delay a US visa from India?
- Booking too late. The appointment service advises applying at least three months before travel; interview waits vary by post and are published on the State Department's wait-time tool.
- Buying air tickets first. The official advice is not to buy tickets until the visa is issued. If you need to show travel plans, a verifiable flight reservation avoids a non-refundable fare.
- A mismatched DS-160. The barcode page you bring must match the one used to book.
- Private social media accounts. F, M, J, H-1B and several other categories must set accounts to 'public'.
- Reusing the old visa photo for a renewal, which is generally not allowed.
For flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram offers packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us via the contact page.

### Frequently asked questions

#### Can I attend my US visa interview at a consulate outside my home state?
Yes, for most applicants. The official visa FAQ says anyone legally present in India may apply at any of the five posts: New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata. For interview waivers, the eligibility list asks you to apply in the consular district where you live, so check before booking.

#### Is the US visa fee refundable if I am refused?
No. The visa application fee is non-refundable. The payment stays valid for 365 days from the receipt date, within which you must schedule your appointment.

#### How long can I stay in the US on a B-1/B-2 visa?
The visa's expiry date is only the last day you may use it to enter. A CBP officer at the port of entry decides how long you may stay and records it on Form I-94, which can run beyond the visa's expiry.

#### Is there a US eVisa or ESTA for Indian citizens?
No. India is not a Visa Waiver Program country, so ESTA is not available, and there is no electronic visa. The visa is issued in your passport after biometrics and an interview or an eligible interview waiver.

## Steps

1. **Complete the DS-160** — Fill Form DS-160 online, upload a 2 x 2 inch white-background photo and save the barcode confirmation page.
2. **Pay the visa fee in INR** — Pay the non-refundable fee ($185 for B, F, J and M visas) by UPI, NEFT, card or cash at the listed banks, at the consular exchange rate.
3. **Book VAC and interview appointments** — Schedule biometrics at a Visa Application Center at least 2 business days before your interview at one of the five posts.
4. **Give biometrics at the VAC** — Attend the VAC in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata for fingerprints and a photograph.
5. **Attend the interview** — Bring the DS-160 page, passport, fee receipt, appointment letter and category documents such as the I-20 or I-797.
6. **Collect your passport** — Expect typically 7-10 working days after the interview; choose pickup or premium delivery at INR 1,500.

## FAQ

### Can I attend my US visa interview at a consulate outside my home state?

Yes, for most applicants. The official visa FAQ says anyone legally present in India may apply at any of the five posts: New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata. For interview waivers, the eligibility list asks you to apply in the consular district where you live, so check before booking.

### Is the US visa fee refundable if I am refused?

No. The visa application fee is non-refundable. The payment stays valid for 365 days from the receipt date, within which you must schedule your appointment.

### How long can I stay in the US on a B-1/B-2 visa?

The visa's expiry date is only the last day you may use it to enter. A CBP officer at the port of entry decides how long you may stay and records it on Form I-94, which can run beyond the visa's expiry.

### Is there a US eVisa or ESTA for Indian citizens?

No. India is not a Visa Waiver Program country, so ESTA is not available, and there is no electronic visa. The visa is issued in your passport after biometrics and an interview or an eligible interview waiver.

## Sources

1. [U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India - Visas](https://in.usembassy.gov/visas/) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India
2. [Official US visa appointment service India - Pay your visa fees](https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/step-3) — U.S. Mission India (official appointment service)
3. [Official US visa appointment service India - Renew my visa / interview waiver](https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/renew-visa) — U.S. Mission India (official appointment service)
4. [U.S. Mission India - Map of Consular Posts](https://in.usembassy.gov/map-of-consular-posts-in-india/) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India