# How to Get a US Visa from India in 2026 (Full Guide)

> The full 2026 process for Indian citizens: choosing the visa class, the DS-160, fees at the INR 98 consular rate, VAC biometrics, the interview, waivers and this year's rule changes.

_Published: 2026-10-19 · Reading time: 7 min · Words: 1531_

## TL;DR

Indians need a US visa for every trip, because India is not in the Visa Waiver Program. You fill the DS-160, pay the fee ($185 for B-1/B-2, F, J and M visas), give biometrics at a Visa Application Center and attend an interview in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata; issuance typically takes 7-10 working days after the interview.

## Key takeaways

- India is not a Visa Waiver Program country, so there is no ESTA, e-visa or visa on arrival for Indians.
- Fees: $185 (B, F, J, M and others), $205 (H, L, O, P, Q, R), $265 (K), $315 (E), paid in INR at the consular exchange rate of INR 98 per USD from 25 May 2026.
- Biometrics at a VAC come at least 2 business days before the interview at one of five posts.
- Processing after the interview is typically 7-10 working days; the Embassy advises applying at least three months before travel.
- B-1/B-2 renewals within 12 months of expiry may qualify for an interview waiver.

**According to the U.S. Embassy in India, Indian citizens apply for a US visa by completing the online DS-160, paying the non-refundable fee ($185 for B-1/B-2 visitor and F student visas), booking appointments online, giving fingerprints at a Visa Application Center and attending an interview at New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata.**

## Article

This guide walks through the whole route for 2026, from picking the visa class to collecting your passport, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026: the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India, the official appointment service (ustraveldocs.com) and the Federal Register. VFS Global does not handle US visas from India. For quick facts on every category, see our US visa page for Indian citizens.

First, the basics: every trip needs a visa. India is not one of the countries designated for the Visa Waiver Program, so Indian citizens need a visa even for a short tourist or business trip. The online ESTA authorisation is only for Visa Waiver Program countries. There is no visa on arrival and no electronic visa: you complete the forms online, but the visa is placed in your passport after biometrics and an interview, or an interview waiver if you qualify.

### Which US visa class do you need, and what does it cost?
Your purpose decides the class, and the class decides the fee. The U.S. Embassy groups nonimmigrant visas like this:

Visa classesTypical purposeApplication feeB, C-1, D, F, I, J, M, T, TN/TDBusiness or tourism (B-1/B-2), transit, crew, students, journalists, exchange visitors$185CW, H, L, O, P, Q, RPetition-based work, intracompany transfer, extraordinary ability, athletes and artists, religious workers$205KFiancé(e) or spouse of a U.S. citizen$265ETreaty trader or investor$315The fee is non-refundable and is paid in Indian rupees at the consular exchange rate, which the U.S. Embassy set at INR 98 per USD from 25 May 2026 (previously INR 96). The Embassy does not publish a fixed rupee amount. You can pay by NEFT, UPI, debit or credit card, or in cash at the listed banks. The payment stays valid for 365 days for scheduling: the appointment must be booked within that period, though the interview itself may fall later.

Some categories carry extra charges. F and M students pay the $350 SEVIS I-901 fee before the interview, and J exchange visitors pay $220 (special subsidised J categories pay $35). First-time principal applicants under a blanket L petition pay a $500 Fraud Prevention and Detection fee on interview day. Three routes are closed to Indian citizens altogether: the H-2A and H-2B temporary worker visas and the Diversity Visa lottery.

### How do you apply, step by step?
- Complete the DS-160 online and upload your photo. Keep the confirmation page: its barcode must match the one you use to book the appointment.
- Pay the visa fee. After UPI or QR payment you can book instantly; NEFT and RuPay cards clear within one business day; cash at AXIS or DRUK Bank clears the following business day.
- Book two appointments through the official scheduling service: biometrics at a Visa Application Center, at least 2 business days before the interview, and the interview itself.
- Attend biometrics at the VAC with your appointment letter, passport and DS-160 confirmation.
- Attend the interview at the Embassy or Consulate General with the documents listed below.
- Collect your passport. Issuance typically takes 7-10 working days after the interview. Premium delivery to a home or office address costs INR 1,500 per passport, paid in cash on delivery.

### Where will your interview take place?
The U.S. Mission's map of consular posts splits India into five districts, but the visa FAQ says anyone legally present in India may apply at any of the five posts. If your nearest post has a long wait, you can book elsewhere.

PostVAC locationStates in its districtU.S. Embassy, New DelhiShivaji Stadium Metro StationDelhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, ChandigarhConsulate General, MumbaiBandra Kurla ComplexMaharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar HaveliConsulate General, ChennaiNungambakkamTamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar IslandsConsulate General, HyderabadHitec City Metro StationTelangana, Andhra Pradesh, OdishaConsulate General, KolkataMirza Ghalib StreetWest Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Sikkim and the North-Eastern statesBlanket L-1 interviews in India are held only at the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai. Current interview waits vary by post and are published on the State Department's wait-time tool.

### What should you carry to the interview?
Every applicant brings the DS-160 confirmation page, a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended stay, the fee receipt, the appointment letter and any documents named in it. The photo is uploaded with the DS-160; it must be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), on a white background, taken within the last six months, without eyeglasses.

For a B-1/B-2 visa, the consular officer starts from the presumption in Section 214(b) that every applicant is an intending immigrant. You overcome it by showing a temporary purpose, a specific and limited stay, funds to cover your expenses, and a residence in India with binding social or economic ties. Students add the original signed Form I-20 and the SEVIS receipt. H, L, O, P and Q applicants need the receipt number of the approved USCIS petition (Form I-797) before an interview can even be scheduled. F, M, J, H-1B, H-4 and several other applicants must set their social media accounts to public.

### How long does it take, and can you skip the interview?
The official scheduling page advises applying at least three months before your travel date and not buying tickets until the visa is issued. After the interview, most visas are ready in 7-10 working days. Some cases go into administrative processing, which cannot be predicted in advance; most is resolved within 180 days of the interview.

Renewing a tourist or business visa can be faster. You may qualify for an interview waiver if your B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visa is still valid or expired within the past 12 months, you were at least 18 when it was issued, all 10 fingerprints were taken last time, and you have never been refused (unless the refusal was overcome or waived). Allow up to three weeks from passport drop-off, and note that the officer may still call you for an interview.

A separate $750 expedited B1/B2 interview appointment is being piloted from 1 July to 31 December 2026 at limited posts listed on travel.state.gov. Whether Indian posts take part has not been verified, and the fee does not speed up processing or guarantee a visa.

### What changed for Indian applicants in 2026?
- 25 May 2026: the consular exchange rate for fee payments moved from INR 96 to INR 98 per US dollar (U.S. Embassy India).
- 27 February 2026: a DHS rule introduced weighted selection for cap-subject H-1B registrations that generally favours higher-skilled, higher-paid workers, from the FY 2027 season.
- 15 September 2026: F and J admission moved to a fixed period up to the programme length, not exceeding four years, and the F-1 post-completion departure period fell from 60 to 30 days (Federal Register final rule).
- 21 September 2026: Proclamation 11069 renewed for 12 months the $100,000 employer payment for H-1B petitions for workers outside the US, unless DHS grants a national-interest exception.

### Mistakes that slow Indian applicants down
- Booking with a DS-160 barcode that differs from the confirmation page you carry.
- Reusing the photo from your old visa when renewing, or wearing eyeglasses in the photo.
- Buying non-refundable flights before the visa is issued, against the Embassy's advice.
- Assuming the visa's expiry date is how long you may stay. A CBP officer sets your stay at entry and records it on Form I-94.
For the paperwork around your trip, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, day-by-day itineraries and cover letters, with packages from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

### Frequently asked questions

#### Is there a US e-visa or ESTA for Indian passport holders?
No. ESTA is only for Visa Waiver Program countries, and India is not one of them. Indians fill the DS-160 online, but the visa is issued in the passport after biometrics and an interview or an interview waiver.

#### How much is the US visa fee in Indian rupees?
The U.S. Embassy publishes the fee in dollars and converts it at the consular exchange rate, set at INR 98 per USD from 25 May 2026. The rate changes with the market, so check the payment page on the day you pay rather than relying on an older rupee figure.

#### 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 the online Form I-94. You may stay for the I-94 period even if the visa expires during your trip.

#### Can my US student visa be issued well before my course starts?
Yes. F and M student visas can be issued up to 365 days before the course start date. You can travel to the US within 30 days of the start date on your Form I-20.

## Steps

1. **Choose your visa class** — Match your purpose to the right class: B-1/B-2 for business or tourism, F or M for study, H or L for petition-based work. The class sets the fee ($185, $205, $265 or $315).
2. **Complete the DS-160** — Fill the online nonimmigrant application, upload a 2 x 2 inch photo on a white background and save the confirmation page with its barcode.
3. **Pay the visa fee** — Pay in INR at the consular exchange rate (INR 98 per USD from 25 May 2026) by UPI, NEFT, card or cash at the listed banks. UPI payments allow instant booking.
4. **Book biometrics and interview** — Schedule a Visa Application Center appointment at least 2 business days before your interview at New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata.
5. **Give biometrics** — Attend the VAC with your passport, DS-160 confirmation and appointment letter for fingerprints and photo.
6. **Attend the interview** — Carry your passport, DS-160 confirmation, fee receipt, appointment letter and evidence of your purpose, funds and ties to India.
7. **Collect your passport** — Issuance typically takes 7-10 working days after the interview. Collect it or choose premium delivery for INR 1,500 per passport.

## FAQ

### Is there a US e-visa or ESTA for Indian passport holders?

No. ESTA is only for Visa Waiver Program countries, and India is not one of them. Indians fill the DS-160 online, but the visa is issued in the passport after biometrics and an interview or an interview waiver.

### How much is the US visa fee in Indian rupees?

The U.S. Embassy publishes the fee in dollars and converts it at the consular exchange rate, set at INR 98 per USD from 25 May 2026. The rate changes with the market, so check the payment page on the day you pay rather than relying on an older rupee figure.

### 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 the online Form I-94. You may stay for the I-94 period even if the visa expires during your trip.

### Can my US student visa be issued well before my course starts?

Yes. F and M student visas can be issued up to 365 days before the course start date. You can travel to the US within 30 days of the start date on your Form I-20.

## 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 - Schedule your appointment (processing time, lead time)](https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/step-4) — U.S. Department of State (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. Department of State (official appointment service)
4. [U.S. Mission India - Map of Consular Posts (consular districts by state)](https://in.usembassy.gov/map-of-consular-posts-in-india/) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India