# Which US Visa Should Indians Apply For?

> Match your purpose to the right US visa: B-1/B-2, F-1, M-1, J, H-1B or L-1, with 2026 fees, what must exist before you apply, and the US visas Indian citizens cannot get.

_Published: 2026-10-28 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1221_

## TL;DR

Your purpose decides the US visa. Visits, business trips and medical treatment use B-1/B-2; study uses F-1 or M-1; a sponsored professional job uses H-1B; a transfer within your company uses L-1. All need the DS-160, a fee paid in rupees at the consular rate, biometrics and usually an interview.

## Key takeaways

- B-1/B-2 covers business meetings, tourism, family visits and medical treatment; fee $185.
- F-1 (academic) and M-1 (vocational) students pay $185 plus a $350 SEVIS fee and need a Form I-20.
- H-1B and L-1 need a USCIS-approved petition before the visa interview; fee $205.
- New H-1B petitions for workers outside the US carry a $100,000 employer payment, renewed from 21 September 2026 for 12 months.
- Indians cannot use ESTA and are not eligible for H-2A, H-2B or the Diversity Visa lottery.

**According to the U.S. Embassy in India, the right visa depends on your purpose: B-1/B-2 for business, tourism, family visits or medical treatment; F-1 or M-1 for study; H-1B for a sponsored professional job; and L-1 for an intra-company transfer. B and F visas cost $185; H and L visas cost $205.**

## Article

The US has no visa-free, visa-on-arrival or eVisa option for Indian passport holders, and India is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so every trip starts with choosing the correct class on the DS-160. This guide matches common purposes to visa classes using the Embassy's and the official appointment service's published rules, checked on 15 October 2026. For the step-by-step process, see our US visa guide for Indians.

### What is the purpose of your trip?
If you want to…Apply forVisa feeMust exist before you applyHoliday, visit relatives or friends, get medical treatmentB-2 (usually issued as B-1/B-2)$185No petition: DS-160, passport and fee receiptAttend meetings, conferences, negotiate contractsB-1 (usually issued as B-1/B-2)$185No petition: DS-160, passport and fee receiptStudy full-time at a university or collegeF-1$185 + $350 SEVIS feeSigned Form I-20 from the schoolJoin a vocational programmeM-1$185 + $350 SEVIS feeSigned Form I-20Take part in an exchange programmeJ$185 + $220 SEVIS feeSEVIS I-901 fee receiptWork in a professional job for a US employerH-1B$205USCIS-approved I-129 petition (I-797)Move to a US branch of your current employerL-1$205USCIS-approved petition (individual or blanket)Transit through the US uses the C-1 visa ($185). Artists, athletes and people of extraordinary ability use the O, P, Q or R classes in the $205 fee group, and the K visa for a fiancé(e) or spouse of a US citizen costs $265. Fees are payable in Indian rupees at the consular exchange rate, which the U.S. Embassy set at INR 98 per USD from 25 May 2026.

### When is a B-1/B-2 visa the right choice?
B-1 covers business activity such as consulting with business associates, attending conventions or conferences, settling an estate or negotiating contracts. B-2 covers tourism, visits to friends or relatives, medical treatment and activities of a fraternal, social or service nature. The two are often issued together as one B-1/B-2 visa.

The legal test is section 214(b) of US immigration law, which presumes every B applicant is an intending immigrant. You must show that:

- the trip is a temporary visit for business, pleasure or medical treatment;
- you plan to stay for a specific, limited period;
- you have funds to cover your expenses;
- you have a residence outside the US and binding ties that will ensure your return.
The visa's expiry date is only the last day you may use it to enter. A CBP officer decides your length of stay at the port of entry and records it on Form I-94.

### Which visa do students and exchange visitors need?
Choose F-1 for academic study and M-1 for vocational courses. Both need acceptance by an approved school, an original signed Form I-20, the $350 SEVIS I-901 fee receipt and the $185 visa fee. Exchange visitors use the J visa, with a $220 SEVIS fee for most categories.

- An F-1 or M-1 visa can be issued up to 365 days before your course start date, but you can travel only within 30 days of the start date on your I-20.
- F-1 students may be eligible for up to 12 months of Optional Practical Training after completing course requirements.
- From 15 September 2026, F and J admission is for a fixed period up to the programme length, not exceeding four years. The F-1 departure period after completion fell from 60 to 30 days.
- F, M and J applicants must set their social media accounts to "public".
Spouses and unmarried children under 21 can get F-2 or M-2 visas but may not work. There is no derivative visa for parents.

### Which work visa fits your job?
H-1B is for a pre-arranged professional job needing at least a bachelor's degree, or equivalent, in the specific specialty. Your employer files a labor condition application and an I-129 petition, and USCIS must approve it before you apply in India. Two 2025-26 changes matter:

- Under Presidential Proclamation 10973 (from 21 September 2025), renewed by Proclamation 11069 from 21 September 2026 for 12 months, petitions for H-1B workers outside the US must come with a $100,000 payment by the employer, unless DHS grants a national-interest exception.
- A weighted selection process for cap-subject registrations, which generally favours higher-skilled, higher-paid workers, applies from the FY 2027 registration season.
L-1 is for managers, executives or specialised-knowledge staff transferred to a US parent, branch, affiliate or subsidiary. You must have worked for the company outside the US continuously for one year within the three years before applying for admission. Blanket L-1 interviews in India are held only at the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai, and first-time blanket principals pay a $500 fraud prevention fee on interview day.

### Which US visas can Indians not get?
- ESTA and the Visa Waiver Program: India is not a designated country, so even a short tourist trip needs a visa.
- H-2A and H-2B: Indian passport holders are not eligible for seasonal agricultural or temporary non-agricultural worker visas.
- Diversity Visa lottery: Indian citizens are not included.
If an agent offers a US "seasonal farm job visa" or a "green card lottery entry" for Indians, those routes are closed under the official rules.

### Where do you apply once you have chosen?
You fill the DS-160, pay the fee and book through the official appointment service. Biometrics are taken at a Visa Application Center at least 2 business days before an interview at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulates General in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata. Anyone legally present in India may apply at any of the five posts.

- Apply at least three months before travel and do not buy tickets until the visa is issued.
- After the interview, processing typically takes 7-10 working days; administrative processing, when needed, cannot be predicted in advance.
- B-1/B-2 holders renewing a visa that is valid or expired within the past 12 months may qualify for an interview waiver.
For a B-2 file, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

### Frequently asked questions

#### Can I study in the US on a B-2 tourist visa?
No. Full-time study needs an F-1 (academic) or M-1 (vocational) visa, which requires a Form I-20 from an approved US school and the $350 SEVIS fee. B-2 covers tourism, visits, medical treatment and social activities.

#### How long can I stay in the US on a B-1/B-2 visa?
A CBP officer decides your length of stay at the port of entry and records it on Form I-94. You may stay for the period on your I-94 even if the visa expires during your stay.

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

#### Is there a faster US visitor visa interview for Indians?
A temporary $750 fee for an expedited B1/B2 interview within ten business days runs from 1 July to 31 December 2026, but only at limited posts listed on travel.state.gov. Whether Indian posts take part was not verified, and the fee does not speed up processing or guarantee a visa.

## FAQ

### Can I study in the US on a B-2 tourist visa?

No. Full-time study needs an F-1 (academic) or M-1 (vocational) visa, which requires a Form I-20 from an approved US school and the $350 SEVIS fee. B-2 covers tourism, visits, medical treatment and social activities.

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

A CBP officer decides your length of stay at the port of entry and records it on Form I-94. You may stay for the period on your I-94 even if the visa expires during your stay.

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

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

### Is there a faster US visitor visa interview for Indians?

A temporary $750 fee for an expedited B1/B2 interview within ten business days runs from 1 July to 31 December 2026, but only at limited posts listed on travel.state.gov. Whether Indian posts take part was not verified, and the fee does not speed up processing or guarantee a visa.

## Sources

1. [Types of Visas](https://in.usembassy.gov/types-of-visas/) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India
2. [Pay your visa fees](https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/step-3) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India (official appointment service)
3. [Work visa](https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/work-visa) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India (official appointment service)
4. [Proclamation 11069: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/23/2026-19554/restriction-on-entry-of-certain-nonimmigrant-workers) — Federal Register (US Government)