# US Tourist Visa Appointment from India: Booking Guide

> Booking a US B1/B2 visa appointment from India, step by step: DS-160, the $185 MRV fee, the two appointments, the five interview cities and what to carry.

_Published: 2026-11-06 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1053_

## TL;DR

To book a US tourist visa appointment from India you complete the DS-160, pay the non-refundable $185 MRV fee and schedule online through the embassy's appointment system. You book a biometrics slot at a Visa Application Center at least 2 business days before your interview at the Embassy in New Delhi or a consulate in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata.

## Key takeaways

- VFS Global does not handle US visas from India; booking is through the embassy's own appointment system.
- The B (business/tourist) visa fee is $185, non-refundable, payable in local currency; the receipt is valid 365 days.
- You book two slots: biometrics at a VAC, at least 2 business days before the interview.
- Interviews take place in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata.
- Previous B1/B2 visa holders may qualify for an interview waiver.

**To book a US tourist visa appointment from India, complete Form DS-160, pay the non-refundable $185 MRV fee, then schedule online through the U.S. Embassy's appointment system: a biometrics slot at a Visa Application Center at least 2 business days before your interview at the Embassy in New Delhi or a consulate in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata.**

## Article

Unlike most countries, the US does not use VFS Global in India; everything runs through the embassy's appointment system (ustraveldocs.com/in and usvisascheduling.com). The steps and fees here are from the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India, as published on those official sources and checked on 10 October 2026. For the wider picture of US visa types, see our US visa guide for Indian applicants.

### Step one is not the calendar: DS-160 first
You cannot book a slot without a completed DS-160, the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application. Two details on this form decide whether your appointment day goes smoothly:

- The barcode. The DS-160 confirmation page carries a barcode, and it must match the barcode used to book the appointment. If you start a fresh DS-160 after booking, your paperwork and booking no longer match.
- The photo. You upload it during the DS-160. It must have been taken within the last six months, and renewal applicants generally must not reuse the photo from their old visa. If the upload fails, bring one printed photo.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your period of stay in the United States, unless a country-specific agreement exempts you. Check this before you pay anything.

### Paying the $185 MRV fee from India
A tourist visa falls in the B (Business/Tourist) category, which shares the $185 fee with C-1, D, F, I, J, M, T and TN/TD visas. The fee is paid in local currency, and the payment options listed are NEFT, UPI, debit or credit card, and cash at DRUK Bank, AXIS Bank and Citibank.

Fee detailWhat the embassy statesAmount for B visas$185RefundNon-refundableCurrencyPayable in local currencyWays to payNEFT, UPI, Debit/Credit Card, cash at DRUK Bank, AXIS Bank and CitibankReceipt validity365 daysThe 365-day receipt validity gives you time to wait for a suitable slot, but do not let it lapse. Reciprocity (issuance) fees may also apply depending on the case; the amounts were not listed on the pages we read.

### Booking the two appointments
Once the fee is recorded, the scheduling system lets you book:

- A biometrics appointment at a Visa Application Center (VAC), where your fingerprints and photo are taken.
- The interview at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi or a Consulate General in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata.
The rule to remember is that biometrics must happen at least 2 business days before the interview. When you pick dates, check that the VAC date leaves those two business days clear before the interview; a biometrics slot on the day before does not meet the rule.

### Which city: VAC and interview locations
Each interview city has its own VAC. These are the locations published on the embassy's appointment portal:

CityVisa Application CenterInterview locationNew DelhiShivaji Stadium Metro StationU.S. Embassy, Shanti Path, Chanakya PuriMumbaiBandra Kurla ComplexConsulate General, C-49, G-Block, BKCChennaiNungambakkamConsulate General, Anna SalaiHyderabadHitec City Metro StationConsulate General, NanakramgudaKolkataMirza Ghalib StreetConsulate General, Ho Chi Minh SaraniChoose a city you can reach twice, because the two appointments fall on different days at least 2 business days apart. Note the exact VAC address from your appointment confirmation; in New Delhi and Hyderabad the VAC sits at a metro station, not at the interview building.

### Interview waiver: when you may skip the interview slot
Applicants who previously held a B1/B2 visa may qualify for an interview waiver. The embassy's nonimmigrant visa pages set out who qualifies; read them carefully before assuming you can skip the interview. If you do not qualify, you follow the normal two-appointment route above.

### What to carry on appointment day
The embassy's document list is short. Bring:

- The DS-160 confirmation (barcode) page, matching the barcode used for booking.
- Your passport, valid at least 6 months beyond your stay.
- One printed photo, if the DS-160 upload failed.
- The MRV fee payment receipt.
- Any documents stated in your appointment letter.
Flight tickets are not on the embassy's list. Embassies generally advise against buying non-refundable tickets before a visa decision; if you want to show a travel plan, a verifiable itinerary or reservation is the safer choice.

### Wait times and booking errors to avoid
Current appointment wait times for New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata are published on the State Department's wait-time page, linked from the appointment service, which also advises applying at least three months before travel. Check availability in the scheduling system itself rather than relying on figures shared on social media. Then avoid these common slips:

- Starting a second DS-160 after booking and bringing the wrong barcode page.
- Reusing the photo from an old US visa on a renewal.
- Booking biometrics on the day before the interview, which breaks the two-business-day rule.
- Paying for the wrong fee group; tourist visas are in the $185 group, not the $205 work visa group.
- Letting the fee receipt pass its 365-day validity without booking.
For trips that need supporting paperwork, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for visa applicants, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us via our contact page.

### Frequently asked questions

#### Can VFS Global book my US visa appointment in India?
No. VFS Global does not handle US visas from India. Appointments are scheduled online through the U.S. Embassy's appointment system at ustraveldocs.com/in and usvisascheduling.com.

#### Is the $185 US visa fee refunded if my visa is refused?
No. The MRV fee is non-refundable. The receipt is valid for 365 days, so you can use it to book within that period.

#### Do I need travel insurance for a US tourist visa from India?
Travel insurance is not published as a requirement on the embassy pages read for this guide. The listed documents are the DS-160 confirmation, passport, photo, fee receipt and anything stated in your appointment letter.

#### Can I attend biometrics in one city and the interview in another?
The embassy pages we read describe a VAC appointment and an interview but do not set out cross-city rules. Check the options shown in the scheduling system when you book, and keep at least 2 business days between biometrics and the interview.

## Steps

1. **Check your passport** — Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay in the United States.
2. **Complete the DS-160** — Fill in the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, upload a photo taken within the last six months and save the confirmation (barcode) page.
3. **Pay the $185 MRV fee** — Pay in local currency by NEFT, UPI, debit or credit card, or cash at DRUK Bank, AXIS Bank or Citibank. The fee is non-refundable and the receipt is valid 365 days.
4. **Book the interview** — Choose the Embassy in New Delhi or a Consulate General in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata in the embassy's scheduling system.
5. **Book biometrics** — Pick a Visa Application Center slot at least 2 business days before the interview date.
6. **Attend both appointments** — Carry the DS-160 barcode page matching your booking, passport, fee receipt, a printed photo if the upload failed, and documents named in your appointment letter.

## FAQ

### Can VFS Global book my US visa appointment in India?

No. VFS Global does not handle US visas from India. Appointments are scheduled online through the U.S. Embassy's appointment system at ustraveldocs.com/in and usvisascheduling.com.

### Is the $185 US visa fee refunded if my visa is refused?

No. The MRV fee is non-refundable. The receipt is valid for 365 days, so you can use it to book within that period.

### Do I need travel insurance for a US tourist visa from India?

Travel insurance is not published as a requirement on the embassy pages read for this guide. The listed documents are the DS-160 confirmation, passport, photo, fee receipt and anything stated in your appointment letter.

### Can I attend biometrics in one city and the interview in another?

The embassy pages we read describe a VAC appointment and an interview but do not set out cross-city rules. Check the options shown in the scheduling system when you book, and keep at least 2 business days between biometrics and the interview.

## Sources

1. [U.S. Embassy India - Apply for a Nonimmigrant Visa](https://in.usembassy.gov/apply-for-a-nonimmigrant-visa/) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India
2. [Embassy appointment portal (linked as 'Fees for Visa Services') - Pay your visa fees](https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/step-3) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India
3. [Embassy appointment portal - Attend your interview (VAC locations)](https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/step-5) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India
4. [U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India - Visas](https://in.usembassy.gov/visas/) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India