US Work Visa Requirements for Indians: 2026 Checklist

This checklist uses the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India, the official appointment service (ustraveldocs.com) and the Federal Register, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. VFS Global does not handle US visas in India. For tourist, student and fee details, see our US visa guide for Indians.

Which US work visas can Indians apply for?

Most Indian professionals use the H-1B or L-1. Both start with a petition filed by the US employer, not by you.

What must your US employer complete first?

For an H-1B, the employer files a labor condition application with the US Department of Labor and a Form I-129 petition with USCIS. You can apply for the visa only after USCIS approves the petition and issues the I-797 approval notice.

• The $100,000 payment: under Presidential Proclamation 10973 (from 21 September 2025), petitions for H-1B workers outside the US must be accompanied by a $100,000 payment by the employer. Proclamation 11069 renewed this for 12 months from 21 September 2026. DHS can grant national-interest exceptions. It is not a visa application fee.
• Weighted lottery: a DHS rule effective 27 February 2026 introduced weighted selection for cap-subject H-1B registrations, starting with the FY 2027 season. It generally favours higher-skilled, higher-paid workers.
• L-1 petitions: USCIS must approve an individual or blanket L petition before you apply.

Our record does not include USCIS petition processing times, so ask your employer for the petition's status before you book anything.

What documents do you take to the interview?

• DS-160 confirmation (barcode) page. The barcode must match the one used to book the appointment.
• Passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay.
• One 2 x 2-inch (51 x 51 mm) photo taken within the last six months, with no eyeglasses. Renewal applicants should not reuse the photo from the old visa.
• The visa fee (MRV) payment receipt.
• The receipt number of the approved USCIS Form I-129 petition (I-797 approval notice).
• The interview appointment letter and any documents it lists.
• Blanket L-1 principals: the $500 Fraud Prevention and Detection fee, paid at the consular cashier on interview day by demand draft, Visa or MasterCard credit card, or cash in INR or USD.

Before your interview, set your social media accounts to public. The appointment service lists this for H-1B and H-4 applicants, among others. You may also carry any supporting documents that back up what you tell the consular officer.

What do H-4 and L-2 family members need?

Dependants apply with their own DS-160 and passport, plus:

• An original marriage or birth certificate showing the relationship.
• A letter from the principal applicant's employer confirming continued employment.
• If the H-1B holder already works in the US: their pay slips for the current calendar year and US federal tax returns (IRS Form 1040 and W-2s) for each year on H-1B.

An L-2 spouse may seek US work authorization after entry using Form I-765. L-2 children may not work.

How do you pay and book from India?

You pay the $205 fee 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). Payment options include NEFT, UPI, debit or credit card, and cash at DRUK Bank, AXIS Bank and Citibank. After payment, you can book the interview instantly with UPI, within one business day with NEFT or RuPay cards, and on the following business day with cash.

You then attend a biometrics appointment at a Visa Application Center at least 2 business days before the interview, and the interview itself at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi or a Consulate General in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata. Anyone legally present in India may apply at any of the five posts. Blanket L-1 interviews in India are held only at the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai.

When can you travel after approval?

• The Embassy or Consulate may process an H, L, O, P or Q visa up to 90 days before the employment start date on your I-797.
• You can use the visa to enter the US from 10 days before that start date.
• After the interview, visas typically take 7-10 working days. Some cases go into administrative processing, which cannot be predicted; most is resolved within 180 days of the interview.
• A CBP officer at the port of entry decides how long you may stay and records it on Form I-94.

The Embassy advises against buying tickets until the visa is issued.

Mistakes that delay Indian work visa files

• Booking an interview before the I-797 arrives.
• A DS-160 barcode that does not match the appointment booking.
• A recycled photo or one taken more than six months ago.
• Private social media accounts.
• Dependants arriving without the principal's employment letter or, for families already in the US, the pay slips and tax returns.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). A verifiable reservation lets you plan dates without buying a non-refundable ticket before the visa is issued. Contact us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can Indians apply for an H-2B visa?

No. Indian and Bhutanese passport holders are not eligible for H-2A seasonal agricultural or H-2B temporary non-agricultural worker visas. Indian citizens are also not included in the Diversity Visa lottery.

Who pays the $100,000 H-1B payment?

The employer. It must accompany petitions for H-1B workers outside the US under Proclamations 10973 and 11069, unless DHS grants a national-interest exception. It is separate from your $205 visa application fee.

Are there other fees besides the $205 visa fee?

Possibly. The appointment service mentions reciprocity (issuance) fees where applicable, but the amounts for Indian nationals were not verified in our record. Blanket L-1 principals also pay the $500 Fraud Prevention and Detection fee.

How long can I stay in the US on a work visa?

The visa's expiry date is only the last day you can use it to enter. The CBP officer at the port of entry sets your permitted stay on Form I-94, and you may stay for that period even if the visa expires.